James H. Morrison | |
---|---|
![]() Jimmy Morrison in 1939 | |
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 6th district | |
In office January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1967 | |
Preceded by | Jared Y. Sanders Jr. |
Succeeded by | John Rarick |
Personal details | |
Born | James Hobson Morrison December 8, 1908 Hammond, Louisiana, U.S. |
Died | July 20, 2000 Hammond, Louisiana, U.S. | (aged 91)
Resting place | Episcopal Church Cemetery in Hammond, Louisiana |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Marjorie Abbey Morrison (married 1940–2000, his death) |
Children | James Hobson Morrison, Jr. Benjamin Abbey Morrison |
Residence(s) | Hammond, Louisiana Loranger Tangipahopa Parish |
Alma mater | Tulane University School of Law |
Occupation | Attorney |
James Hobson Morrison (December 8, 1908 – July 20, 2000) was an American lawyer and politician who served twelve terms as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana from 1943 to 1967. [1]
James H. Morrison was born in Hammond, Louisiana on December 8, 1908. He attended the public schools [2] and graduated from the Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans in 1934. [3] He passed the bar and began a private legal practice in Hammond. He supported better treatment for strawberry pickers and founded a labor newspaper. [4]
He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1939 and again in 1944. [5]
In 1942, he ran as a Democrat for a seat in the U.S. House, seeking to represent Louisiana's 6th congressional district. He won election and would serve in Congress for the next 24 years. [6] [7]
He was initially assigned to serve on five committees, but after only a few days he stepped down from those committees because they dealt with issues less directly impactful to his district than the agricultural concerns he sought to represent. [8] He quickly gained a reputation as a populist and supporter of federal highway funding in his district. [9] [10]
He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in both 1956 and 1960. [11]
In 1956, Morrison was a signatory of the Southern Manifesto. He voted against the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, and 1964. [12] [13] [14] However in 1965, he voted for the Voting Rights Act, which many believe cost him his seat. [15]
In 1966, he was defeated in the Democratic primary election by Louisiana judge John R. Rarick. [16]
After leaving Congress, he returned to Hammond to take up his law practice. [17] He became a prolific fundraiser and supporter of Southeastern Louisiana University, to which he had also steered federal contracts during his time in office. [18] [19]
James Morrison died in Hammond on July 20, 2000, following a series of health problems, including two heart attacks and a stroke. His body is interred at Episcopal Church Cemetery in Hammond.
He was survived by his wife of 60 years, Marjorie Abbey Morrison and their two sons, James Jr. and Benjamin. [20] [21]
Congressional Quarterly's Guide to Elections", Gubernatorial primary elections, 1940, 1944, 1948; Congressional general elections, 1960 and 1964
James H. Morrison | |
---|---|
![]() Jimmy Morrison in 1939 | |
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 6th district | |
In office January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1967 | |
Preceded by | Jared Y. Sanders Jr. |
Succeeded by | John Rarick |
Personal details | |
Born | James Hobson Morrison December 8, 1908 Hammond, Louisiana, U.S. |
Died | July 20, 2000 Hammond, Louisiana, U.S. | (aged 91)
Resting place | Episcopal Church Cemetery in Hammond, Louisiana |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Marjorie Abbey Morrison (married 1940–2000, his death) |
Children | James Hobson Morrison, Jr. Benjamin Abbey Morrison |
Residence(s) | Hammond, Louisiana Loranger Tangipahopa Parish |
Alma mater | Tulane University School of Law |
Occupation | Attorney |
James Hobson Morrison (December 8, 1908 – July 20, 2000) was an American lawyer and politician who served twelve terms as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana from 1943 to 1967. [1]
James H. Morrison was born in Hammond, Louisiana on December 8, 1908. He attended the public schools [2] and graduated from the Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans in 1934. [3] He passed the bar and began a private legal practice in Hammond. He supported better treatment for strawberry pickers and founded a labor newspaper. [4]
He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1939 and again in 1944. [5]
In 1942, he ran as a Democrat for a seat in the U.S. House, seeking to represent Louisiana's 6th congressional district. He won election and would serve in Congress for the next 24 years. [6] [7]
He was initially assigned to serve on five committees, but after only a few days he stepped down from those committees because they dealt with issues less directly impactful to his district than the agricultural concerns he sought to represent. [8] He quickly gained a reputation as a populist and supporter of federal highway funding in his district. [9] [10]
He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in both 1956 and 1960. [11]
In 1956, Morrison was a signatory of the Southern Manifesto. He voted against the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, and 1964. [12] [13] [14] However in 1965, he voted for the Voting Rights Act, which many believe cost him his seat. [15]
In 1966, he was defeated in the Democratic primary election by Louisiana judge John R. Rarick. [16]
After leaving Congress, he returned to Hammond to take up his law practice. [17] He became a prolific fundraiser and supporter of Southeastern Louisiana University, to which he had also steered federal contracts during his time in office. [18] [19]
James Morrison died in Hammond on July 20, 2000, following a series of health problems, including two heart attacks and a stroke. His body is interred at Episcopal Church Cemetery in Hammond.
He was survived by his wife of 60 years, Marjorie Abbey Morrison and their two sons, James Jr. and Benjamin. [20] [21]
Congressional Quarterly's Guide to Elections", Gubernatorial primary elections, 1940, 1944, 1948; Congressional general elections, 1960 and 1964