Benny Rayburn
| Benjamin Burras "Benny" Rayburn, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Sheriff of Washington Parish, Louisiana, USA | |
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In office 1981 – July 1992 |
|
| Preceded by | Robert Lyons |
| Succeeded by | Duane Blair |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 23, 1944 Bogalusa, Washington Parish, Louisiana |
| Died | December 14, 2006 (aged 61) Franklinton, Washington Parish, Louisiana |
| Resting place | Palestine Cemetery in Washington Parish, Louisiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Cidette Lewis Rayburn (born 1946) |
| Children | Benjamin Avery "Benjy" Rayburn (born 1967) Robby Rayburn (1972-2000) Two grandchildren |
| Occupation |
Sheriff Steward for Louisiana Racing Commission |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
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(1) Rayburn assumed the sheriff's office in Washington Parish when the incumbent was forced to resign because of a narcotics scandal. (2) Rayburn benefited from the political success of his father, Sixty Rayburn, but could not match the senior Rayburn's longevity in Louisiana politics. |
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(1) Rayburn assumed the sheriff's office in Washington Parish when the incumbent was forced to resign because of a narcotics scandal.
Benjamin Burras Rayburn, Jr., known as Benny Rayburn (December 23, 1944 - December 14, 2006), was the Democratic sheriff of Washington Parish, the easternmost of the Florida Parishes of southeastern Louisiana, who served from 1981-1992. He was the only son of legendary Louisiana State Senator B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn, Sr. (1916–2008).
Rayburn, who resided in Bogalusa, the largest city in Washington Parish, won a special election in 1981 to complete the term of Sheriff Robert Lyons, a former Bogalusa municipal juvenile officer, elected in December 1979.
Rayburn filled out the term of Lyons and was subsequently elected to a full term in 1983. In the 1987 contest for a second four-year term, Rayburn defeated three intraparty rivals to win the position outright with 10,366 votes (58.3 percent). Rayburn, Sr., on the same ballot for the state Senate, polled within Washington Parish 13,003 votes (76.8 percent), nearly 3,000 more than his son drew in the sheriff's race.
In 1991, Rayburn was forced into a second round of balloting, called the Louisiana general election even though his opponent was a fellow Democrat, Duane Blair. Rayburn led with 7,425 votes (43.5 percent) to Blair's 5,093 (29.8 percent). Republican Johnnie M. Holcomb (born ca. 1932) of Bogalusa, who polled 3,132 votes (18.4 percent), was among three other primary candidates eliminated in the October 19 jungle primary. In the November 16 general election, Blair upset Rayburn, 9,884 votes (51.4 percent) to 9,332 (48.6 percent).
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