Leander Perez
| Leander Perez | |
|---|---|
Perez in 1914 as Tulane Law School graduate
|
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 16, 1891 Dalcour, Louisiana |
| Died | March 19, 1969 (aged 77) Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party |
Democrat Supported George C. Wallace for U.S. president in 1968 |
| Spouse(s) | Agnes Octave Perez |
| Relations | Leander H. Perez, III (grandson who was a son-in-law of State Representative Edward S. Bopp) |
| Children |
Four children, including |
| Profession | District judge, district attorney, and president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission Council |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Four children, including
Joyce Perez O'Connor
Leander H. Perez, Jr.
Betty Perez Carrere
Leander Henry Perez, Sr. (July 16, 1891 – March 19, 1969), was the Democratic political boss of Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes in southeastern Louisiana during the middle third of the 20th century. Officially, he served as a district judge, later as district attorney, and as president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission Council. He was known for enforcing and preserving segregation.
Perez was born in the small town of Dalcour, on the east bank of Plaquemines Parish, to Roselius E. "Fice" Perez (died 1939) and the former Gertrude Solis (died 1944). The Perez and Solis families were Isleño American, an ethnic community descended from settlers from the Canary Islands. Perez was educated in New Orleans schools, Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge, and the Tulane University Law School in New Orleans. Perez opened a law practice in New Orleans and in Plaquemines Parish.
In 1916, Perez was defeated as a candidate from Plaquemines Parish for state representative. In 1919, he was appointed judge of the 29th Judicial District to fill an unexpired term. In 1920, he won a full term as judge by defeating the candidate of a local political machine run by his intra-party rival John Dymond. Perez was elected district attorney in 1924 and became involved in a dispute over trapping lands; this ended in a shootout known as the "Trappers' War." He served as district attorney until 1960, never earning more than $7,000 a year.
In 1928, Perez allied with Huey Pierce Long, Jr., who was elected governor. In 1929, he successfully defended Long in the latter's impeachment trial before the Louisiana State Senate.
Perez became wealthy by subleasing state mineral lands. In 1940, the state Crime Commission investigated Perez at the request of then Governor Sam Houston Jones. In 1943, Jones sent state troopers to Plaquemines Parish to enforce his appointment of an anti-Perez parish sheriff. Perez and Jones both came out of the conservative wing of the Democratic Party, but whereas Perez had been a Huey Long backer, Jones was staunchly anti-Long.
...
Wikipedia