Jessel Ourso
| Jessel Mitchell Ourso, Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Sheriff of Iberville Parish, Louisiana | |
|
In office May 1, 1964 (suspended 1968-1972) – August 28, 1978 |
|
| Preceded by | Charles A. Griffon, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Freddie H. Pitre |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 28, 1932 Louisiana |
| Died | August 28, 1978 (aged 46) Houston, Texas |
| Resting place | Grace Memorial Park in Plaquemine |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Eula May Ourso |
| Children |
Jessel Mitchell "Mitch" Ourso, Jr. |
| Parents |
Rudolph Vectorenu Ourso |
| Occupation | Law-enforcement officer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
March 28, 1932
Plaquemine
Jessel Mitchell "Mitch" Ourso, Jr.
Blane Michael Ourso
Vesta Ourso Falcon
Jessica A. Ourso
Lisa Jo Ourso
Rudolph Vectorenu Ourso
Jessel Mitchell Ourso, Sr. (March 28, 1932 – August 28, 1978), was from 1964 to 1968 and from 1972 until his death in office, a popular, colorful Democratic sheriff of Iberville Parish, located near the capital city of Baton Rouge in South Louisiana. He is thus far the youngest person elected sheriff in Louisiana.
Ourso was the youngest of eleven children born to a Cajun couple, Rudolph and Ida Ourso of Plaquemine, Louisiana, the Iberville parish seat. He was a boxer at Plaquemine Senior High School, as were his friends and later political allies, state representative and then Lieutenant Governor Robert "Bobby" Freeman, school superintendent Sam Distefano, and District Attorney Sam Cashio. After high school graduation, Ourso served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954, including fifteen months in combat in the Korean War. All seven of his brothers engaged in military service, a point which he emphasized in his political races.
Ourso was sometimes called "The Black Stallion", the name of the family trucking company. Ourso and his wife, the former Eula Mae Leblanc (1933-1996), had six children, Jessel M. Ourso, Jr. (born 1953), Blane Michael Ourso (born 1955), Vesta Ourso Falcon, Jessica A. Ourso (born 1958), Lisa Jo Ourso (born 1959), and Shannon Paul Ourso (born 1964).
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