Cat Doucet
| Daly Joseph "Cat" Doucet, Sr. | |
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Sheriff of St. Landry Parish Louisiana, USA |
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In office 1936–1940 |
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In office 1952–1968 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 8, 1899 Grand Prairie, St. Landry Parish Louisiana |
| Died | February 9, 1975 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Anna Dorcey Doucet (married 1919-1975, his death) |
| Children | Alberta, Harold, Yvonne, Louis Austin, Anna Dale, and Daly, Jr. |
| Occupation | Law-enforcement officer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Daly Joseph Doucet, Sr., known as Cat Doucet (November 8, 1899 – February 9, 1975), was a Democratic politician and a law enforcement officer from St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana. He served as sheriff of St. Landry Parish for a total of twenty years.
Doucet was born in Grand Prairie in St. Landry Parish to Lucius Doucet and the former Aza Lafleur (1879–1970). He was educated in the public schools of Ville Platte, the seat of Evangeline Parish. In 1919, Doucet married the former Anna Dorcey (1892–1979) of Lafayette. The couple had six children, Albertas (deceased), Harold John, I (deceased), Yvonne (deceased), Louis Austin, Anna Dale (1940-2015), and Daly, Jr. (1941–1974).
The Doucets were followers of the legendary Huey Pierce Long, Jr., who stayed at their home when he was in the area. Elton J. Doucet (1901–1992), Cat's younger brother, recalled in 1991: "All the farmers and all the poor people was [sic] for Huey P. Long, The Pavys (a reference to anti-Long Judge Benjamin Pavy who was the father-in-law of presumed Long assassin Dr. Carl Weiss) couldn't get nothing [sic] they wanted from Huey. If he was your friend, he'd help you. If you were his enemy he'd stomp you down."
Running as a Long Democrat, Doucet was elected in 1936 as sheriff of St. Landry Parish. He emerged as a colorful, controversial figure, much like that of the later Sheriff F.O. "Potch" Didier, who served from 1960-1980 in Avoyelles Parish to the north. Didier once even spent time in his own jail on a charge of malfeasance.
Based in Opelousas, Doucet served as sheriff from 1936–1940 and again from 1952-1968. He was unseated in the 1940 anti-Long surge that elected Sam Houston Jones of Lake Charles as governor, rather than incumbent Earl Kemp Long, younger brother of Huey Long. Doucet survived another anti-Long sweep in 1952, which brought Robert F. Kennon of Minden to the governorship, to regain the sheriff's position, which he thereafter held in four consecutive elections. Doucet was among the first white politicians in Louisiana to endorse the civil rights agenda.
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