George Despot
| George Joseph Despot | |
|---|---|
Despot at his desk in his early career
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| Chairman, Louisiana Republican Party | |
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In office 1978–1985 |
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| Preceded by | John H. Cade, Jr., of Alexandria |
| Succeeded by | Donald G. Bollinger of Lockport |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 28, 1927 Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, USA |
| Died | February 14, 1991 (aged 64) Shreveport, Louisiana |
| Resting place | Forest Park East Cemetery in Shreveport |
| Spouse(s) | Pearla Tinsley Despot (born 1928) |
| Children |
Susan A. Despot Bittles |
| Alma mater | Louisiana State University Law Center |
| Occupation | Businessman and lawyer |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Despot, the Louisiana Republican state chairman from 1978 to 1985, was removed from the position by a faction in the party identified with the "Religious Right", a number of whom had been supporters of former Governor David C. Treen. | |
Susan A. Despot Bittles
Rebecca A. Despot
Grandchildren:
Mark Bittles
Lorraine Bittles
George Joseph Despot (January 28, 1927 – February 14, 1991) was a businessman in his native Shreveport and a pioneer in the establishment of a competitive Republican Party in the U.S. state of Louisiana. He was the state Republican chairman from 1978 to 1985. His leadership began when the state party was so small that there was a standing joke that the Louisiana GOP could operate from a phone booth, few of which still exist, though the Republicans became the majority party in Louisiana by 2012.
Despot was born to George G. Despot (1898-1969) and Katherine "Katie" Despot (1901-1977). The Despots were Roman Catholics and Croatian; they came to the United States under an "Old World" arranged marriage. There were trials in the home, with more than one separation.
George Despot's younger daughter, Rebecca A. Despot (born 1961), reflected on her paternal grandparents: "My grandfather and his brother had a restaurant in Shreveport called "the Columbia," [which was] open twenty-four hours a day. ... It became the businessman's hangout in town. When [one sees] old pictures of Shreveport, there are always pictures of the Columbia. They sent Daddy to school when he was three because they did not know [that] they were not supposed to send him so early."
For a time, young George Despot attended a Catholic high school in New Orleans. Despot graduated from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and Louisiana State University Law Center in Baton Rouge.
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