Wade O. Martin, Jr.
| Wade Omer Martin Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana Secretary of State | |
|
In office 1944–1976 |
|
| Preceded by | James Gremillion |
| Succeeded by | Paul Hardy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 18, 1911 Arnaudville, St. Landry Parish Louisiana, USA |
| Died | August 6, 1990 (aged 79) |
| Resting place | St. Francis Regis Cemetery in Arnaudville |
| Political party | Democrat-turned-Republican (1979) |
| Spouse(s) | Divorced from Juliette Bonnette Martin |
| Children |
Wade O. Martin, III |
| Alma mater |
University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Wade O. Martin, III
David Mills Martin
Wallace T. Martin
Gregory Bonnette Martin
Mrs. Merle M. Dooley
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Wade Omer Martin Jr. (April 18, 1911 – August 6, 1990) was the Democratic Secretary of State of Louisiana under five governors, having served from 1944 to 1976. Though originally part of the Long faction, Martin quarreled with Governor Earl Kemp Long during Long's third term in office, and Long relieved Martin of nearly all of his powers as secretary of state.
After having considered a gubernatorial bid on several occasions, Martin finally ran for governor in 1975, when, at sixty-six, he was overshadowed by the popular incumbent, Democrat Edwin Washington Edwards, who easily secured a second term. In retirement, the conservative Martin, thereafter firmly anti-Long, switched his party affiliation in 1979 to Republican to support David C. Treen for governor and Ronald W. Reagan for president.
Martin was born in Arnaudville in St. Landry Parish to Wade O. Martin Sr. and the former Alice Mills. His grandfathers were Dr. G.W. Martin and Patrick Mills; his grandmothers were Ida Guilbeau Martin and Justine Fanguy Mills.
Martin received his bachelor's degree from what is now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (then Southwestern Louisiana Institute) in 1932. In 1935, he received his law degree from the Louisiana State University Law Center in Baton Rouge. Martin was also an LSU alumnus. On October 25, 1938, Martin married the former Juliette Bonnette (July 28, 1916—August 24, 1999).
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