Gerald Theunissen
Encyclopedia
Gerald Joseph Theunissen, or Jerry Theunissen (born August 19, 1933), is the vice president of Jeff Davis Bank in Jennings
, Louisiana
, USA, and served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from District 37 (1992–1996) and as the state senator
from District 25 (1996–2008). He was term-limited in 2007 from seeking a fourth term in the upper chamber of the legislature.
Theunissen was elected twice to the House in 1991 and 1995 and in his first state Senate race in 1996 as a Democrat
. He later switched to Republican
affiliation and is listed in the official records as a member of the GOP
in the 2000–2004 legislative session. He was also succeeded by a Republican, Dan Morrish
.
Theunissen graduated in 1951 from Jennings High School in Jennings, the seat of Jefferson Parish
. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
, then the University of Southwestern Louisiana, but he received his bachelor's degree
from the University of Nebraska at Omaha
. He is a retired lieutenant colonel
from the United States Air Force
, in which he served from 1953 to 1974. He has been active in Jennings civic and community affairs, including membership on the Louisiana Advisory Commission on Pesticides from 1985 to 1991. In 1985, the Jennings Rotary International
gave him its "Outstanding Community Service Award". He has served on the Jennings Industrial Development Board and as state director of the National Agricultural Aviation Association, the interest group of crop dusters. He is also a past president of the Greater Jennings Chamber of Commerce
. Theunissen, who is Roman Catholic, is wed to the former Patricia Reaud (born ca. 1929).
In 1987, Theunissen forced incumbent
Democratic Representative James P. Martin into a runoff election. Though Martin prevailed, 5,918 (51.2 percent) to Theunissen's 5,631 (48.8 percent), he retired from the House in 1992. Theunissen again ran, having defeated fellow Democrat Andy Buisson of Jennings, in the 1991 primary, 9,549 (60.5 percent) to 6,243 (39.5 percent). In 1995, he was unopposed for his second House term, of which he served less than a year before moving up to the Senate.
When Governor Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
, named Democratic state Senator Cecil J. Picard
as education secretary, a special election was held on August 24, 1996, to begin the process of choosing a successor to Picard. Theunissen led the contest with 7,086 votes (29.5 percent). In second place was the lone Republican on the ballot, party chairman Mike Francis
, with 6,112 votes (25.5 percent). Four other Democrats shared the remaining but crucial 45 percent of the ballots. In the runoff election, Theunissen defeated Francis, 20,320 (55.7 percent) to 16,172 (44.3 percent).
Theunissen was unopposed for his second and third Senate terms in the primaries of 1999 and 2003. In addition to Jefferson Davis Parish, District 25 includes portions of Acadia
, Calcasieu
, Cameron
, and Vermilion
Parishes. Because of his long-term legislative interest in education, Governor-elect Bobby Jindal
named Theunissen to his educational transition advisory council.
Jennings, Louisiana
Jennings is a small city in and the parish seat of Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States, near Lake Charles. The population was 10,986 at the 2000 census....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, USA, and served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from District 37 (1992–1996) and as the state senator
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from District 25 (1996–2008). He was term-limited in 2007 from seeking a fourth term in the upper chamber of the legislature.
Theunissen was elected twice to the House in 1991 and 1995 and in his first state Senate race in 1996 as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He later switched to Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
affiliation and is listed in the official records as a member of the GOP
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in the 2000–2004 legislative session. He was also succeeded by a Republican, Dan Morrish
Dan Morrish
Dan Wesley Morrish, sometimes known as Blade Morrish , is a Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from Jennings, the seat of Jefferson Davis Parish in southwestern Louisiana....
.
Theunissen graduated in 1951 from Jennings High School in Jennings, the seat of Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Davis Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Jennings. As of 2000, its population was 31,435. Jefferson Davis Parish is named after the president of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, Jefferson Davis. It is located in southwestern...
. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
, then the University of Southwestern Louisiana, but he received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University...
. He is a retired lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
from the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, in which he served from 1953 to 1974. He has been active in Jennings civic and community affairs, including membership on the Louisiana Advisory Commission on Pesticides from 1985 to 1991. In 1985, the Jennings Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
gave him its "Outstanding Community Service Award". He has served on the Jennings Industrial Development Board and as state director of the National Agricultural Aviation Association, the interest group of crop dusters. He is also a past president of the Greater Jennings Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
. Theunissen, who is Roman Catholic, is wed to the former Patricia Reaud (born ca. 1929).
In 1987, Theunissen forced incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Democratic Representative James P. Martin into a runoff election. Though Martin prevailed, 5,918 (51.2 percent) to Theunissen's 5,631 (48.8 percent), he retired from the House in 1992. Theunissen again ran, having defeated fellow Democrat Andy Buisson of Jennings, in the 1991 primary, 9,549 (60.5 percent) to 6,243 (39.5 percent). In 1995, he was unopposed for his second House term, of which he served less than a year before moving up to the Senate.
When Governor Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Murphy J. Foster, Jr.
Murphy James "Mike" Foster, Jr. served as 53rd Governor of Louisiana from January 1996 until January 2004. Foster's father was Murphy J. Foster, Jr., but Mike Foster uses "Jr." even though he is technically Murphy J. Foster, III. Foster is a businessman, landowner, and sportsman in St...
, named Democratic state Senator Cecil J. Picard
Cecil J. Picard
Cecil J. Picard was the appointed Louisiana state superintendent of education from 1996 until his death, which followed a 21-month fight against the deadly Lou Gehrig's disease. Picard was also a former Democratic member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature...
as education secretary, a special election was held on August 24, 1996, to begin the process of choosing a successor to Picard. Theunissen led the contest with 7,086 votes (29.5 percent). In second place was the lone Republican on the ballot, party chairman Mike Francis
Mike Francis
Michael Gordon Francis, known as Mike Francis , is a prominent Crowley businessman who was the chairman of the Republican Party in Louisiana from 1994–2000. A staunch fiscal and social conservative, Francis was an unsuccessful candidate for Secretary of State of Louisiana in a special election held...
, with 6,112 votes (25.5 percent). Four other Democrats shared the remaining but crucial 45 percent of the ballots. In the runoff election, Theunissen defeated Francis, 20,320 (55.7 percent) to 16,172 (44.3 percent).
Theunissen was unopposed for his second and third Senate terms in the primaries of 1999 and 2003. In addition to Jefferson Davis Parish, District 25 includes portions of Acadia
Acadia Parish, Louisiana
Acadia Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Crowley. According to the 2010 census, the population of Acadia Parish is 61,773. The parish was founded from parts of St...
, Calcasieu
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish[p] is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lake Charles. As of 2010, the parish population was 192,768...
, Cameron
Cameron Parish, Louisiana
Cameron Parish is the parish with the most land area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Cameron and as of 2010, the population was 6,839...
, and Vermilion
Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
Vermilion Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Abbeville. As of the 2010 census, the population was 57,999....
Parishes. Because of his long-term legislative interest in education, Governor-elect Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
named Theunissen to his educational transition advisory council.