Charles Vining
| Charles Leroy Vining, Jr. | |
| In office 1968 – 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Vail M. Delony |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | George F. Fox, Jr. |
| Born | September 28, 1935 Darnell, West Carroll Parish, Louisiana |
| Died | November 30, 2003 (aged 68) West Monroe, Louisiana |
| Resting place | Providence Memorial Park in Lake Providence, Louisiana |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Missing (2) Reta Sparks Vining |
| Children | Vicki Baker Charles L. Vining, III |
| Residence | Sondheimer East Carroll Parish |
| Occupation | Farmer; Educator; Storekeeper |
| Religion | Southern Baptist |
Charles Leroy Vining, Jr. (September 28, 1935 – November 30, 2003),[1] was a farmer, educator, and politician from rural Sondheimer in East Carroll Parish in the northeastern corner of Louisiana, who was Democratic state legislator for a single term from 1968 to 1972. He represented East and West Carroll parishes, having served a single term fror District 32, including East and West Carroll parishes in the far northeastern corner of the state.[2]
Vining was one of five children of Charles Vining, Sr. (1910-1984) and Bobbie Jean Vining (1913-1993). His parents divorced, and Bobbie married Eugene Edward "Gene" Beatty (1926-1971) of Sibley in Webster Parish. Beatty was killed in a tractor accident at the age of forty-five.[3] Charles Vining, Jr., graduated from Lake Providence High School in Lake Providence, the seat of government for East Carroll Parish. He served four years in the United States Army. He obtained a master's degree in education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, then known as Northeast Louisiana University He began a teaching and coaching career at Transylvania Junior High School in East Carroll Parish, He taught science and coached girls' and boys' basketball. He later became the principal. He was also a letter carrier, managed the state trucking scales, and operated Farmers Quik Stop. He served on the East Carroll Parish Police Jury and the East Carroll Port Commission. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sondheimer and was also affiliated with the Masonic lodge and its companion organization, the Shriners.[4]
Vining was elected to succeed House Speaker Vail M. Delony of Lake Providence, the seat of government for East Carroll Parish, who died in office in November 1967. In the general election held on February 6, 1968, Vining defeated his Republican challenger, Orlando Nicholas "Nick" Hamilton, Sr.[5] (1897–1968), of Lake Providence, 52.3 to 47.7 percent.[6] Hamilton died ten months after losing the legislative race to Vining. After one term, Vining was succeeded by a fellow Democrat, George F. Fox, Jr., an attorney from Lake Providence, who also served one term in the House, 1972 to 1976.[2] In his state House term, Vining sponsored bills that led to the establishment of Poverty Point State Park in West Carroll Parish, and the funding of ULM and the Malone Stadium in Monroe.[4]
Vining was married to the former Reta Sparks, who was born in 1944 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and is a retired nurse practitioner. He had five children: daughter and son-in-law, Vicki and John Edward Baker of Tallulah in Madison Parish; son and daughter-in-law, Charles L. Vining, III, and Bobbie Vining; son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Jeanie Vining of Warner Robbins, Georgia; son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Crystal Paris of Transylvania in East Carroll Parish; daughter and son-in-law, Sheila Paris and Mark Alan Caballero, then of Tustin, later Irvine, California. Vining died of cancer at the age of sixty-eight while undergoing treatment at Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe, Louisiana.[4]
References
- ↑ Charles L. Vining, Jr.. tributes.com. Retrieved on March 21, 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024. Louisiana House of Representatives. Retrieved on March 21, 2020.
- ↑ Eugene Edward "Gene" Beatty. Findagrave.com. Retrieved on March 22, 2020.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Charles Leroy Vining, Jr.. Cox Funeral Home (November 30, 2003). Retrieved on March 22, 2020.
- ↑ Orlando Hamilton, Jr. (1928-2013), a veteran of the Korean War, practiced law in Oak Grove in West Carroll Parish from 1954 until his death. A Libertarian, the junior Hamilton was a past president of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association and a member of the Louisiana State Disciplinary Board.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election returns, February 6, 1968.