Robert Floyd "Bob" Kennon, Sr. | |
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Robert F. Kennon
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48th Governor of Louisiana | |
In office May 13, 1952 – May 8, 1956 |
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Lieutenant | C. E. "Cap" Barham |
Preceded by | Earl Kemp Long |
Succeeded by | Earl K. Long |
Judge of the Second Circuit Court of Appeal in Shreveport, Louisiana | |
In office May 1945 – 1952 |
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Preceded by | Harmon Caldwell Drew |
Succeeded by | J. Frank McInnis |
District Attorney of Bossier and Webster parishes | |
In office December 6, 1930 – January 6, 1941 |
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Preceded by | R. H. Lee |
Succeeded by | Graydon K. Kitchens, Sr. (interim) |
Mayor of Minden, Louisiana | |
In office 1926–1928 |
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Preceded by | Connell Fort |
Succeeded by | Henry L. Bridges |
Personal details | |
Born | August 21, 1902 Dubberly, Webster Parish Louisiana, USA |
Died | January 11, 1988 Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
(aged 85)
Resting place | Young Cemetery in East Baton Rouge Parish |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Eugenia Sentell Kennon |
Relations | Nephew Edward Kennon |
Children |
Robert Kennon, Jr. |
Alma mater |
Minden High School |
Profession | Lawyer |
Religion | Presbyterian |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Army |
Rank | Colonel |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Robert Kennon, Jr.
Charles Sentell "Charlie" Kennon
Minden High School
Louisiana State University
Robert Floyd Kennon, Sr., known as Bob Kennon (August 21, 1902 – January 11, 1988), was the 48th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1952 to 1956. From 1954 to 1955, he was chairman of the National Governors Association. In 1955, he was also the chairman of the Council of State Governments.
Kennon failed to win a second non-consecutive term in the 1963 Democratic primary election, having lost a runoff berth, with the position going to John McKeithen.
The conservative Kennon grew disillusioned with his national party and endorsed Republican presidential nominees Dwight D. Eisenhower,Barry Goldwater, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan.
Kennon was born in rural Dubberly, south of Minden, the seat of government of Webster Parish. He was the fifth child of Floyd Kennon (1871–1966), who was born the year that Webster Parish was established, and the former Annie Laura Bopp. The Kennons operated an Independent Grocers Alliance store in Minden. After Floyd Kennon's retirement, the store was managed by two sons, Francis Edward Kennon, Sr., and Webb Kennon. Young Bob Kennon was an avid Boy Scout (See Scouting in Louisiana.) who attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated in 1919 from Minden High School, then a comparatively new institution. Thereafter, he attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he procured numerous honors. At the end of his freshman year, he received an award for the best academic record in his class. He was captain of his company in Reserve Officers Training Corps and the vice president of the Interfraternity Council. He was on the debate team and wrote for the campus newspaper, The Daily Reveille. He earned his first letter playing center for the LSU Tigers football team. He helped to organize the university tennis team and was one of the first two people to letter in tennis at LSU, from which he graduated in June 1923.