Sam Houston Jones
Governor of Louisiana
— 1940 - 1944 —
Sam Houston Jones (1897 -1978) was born in Merryville and spent his youth in DeRidder. He is the only native of Beauregard Parish ever elected Governor of Louisiana.
Jones graduated from DeRidder High School in 1915. He then enrolled at Louisiana State University, but left college in 1917 to serve in the army during World War I. He ultimately retired from the Army Reserve in 1957 with the rank of Major.
In 1919, Jones began studying law while working for his father, Robert Jones, the Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court. He passed the Louisiana bar in 1921 — without a college degree — and practiced law in DeRidder before moving to Lake Charles in 1924. At one time, he served as assistant prosecutor for the Southwest Region of Louisiana. He was the lead prosecutor in the famous "Double Hanging" case in DeRidder in 1928.
In a bitter campaign in 1940, Jones defeated Earl K. Long, brother of Kingfish Huey Long, for the Louisiana Governor's seat.
Governor Jones delivered Louisiana from 12 years of near dictatorship and restored respect for our State. His long list of accomplishments includes competitive bidding on state contracts, a civil service system, eliminating the mandatory deduct system for state employees, introducing voting machines, eliminating annual registration for poll taxes as a requirement for voting,
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Governor Jones is buried in Lake Charles where Sam Houston Jones State Park is named in his honor.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Education • War, World I.
Location. 30° 50.764′ N, 93° 17.162′ W. Marker is in DeRidder, Louisiana, in Beauregard Parish. Marker is on South Washington Street south of Ronald Reagan Highway (U.S. 190), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Deridder LA 70634, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. DeRidder - The Sawmill Hub (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Beauregard Parish Gothic Jail (about 800 feet away); Shootout At Grabow (approx. 2.9 miles away); World War II DeRidder Army Air Base Memorial (approx. 3 miles away); Grabow Riot (approx. 3.8 miles away); Rosepine, Louisiana (approx. 5.1 miles away); Shady Grove School/Community Building (approx. 7.2 miles away); Wolf Rock Cave (approx. 10.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeRidder.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2019, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 232 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2019, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.
