Lillian Walker (Louisiana politician)
Encyclopedia
Lillian W. Walker is a former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
, having served from 1964–1972, corresponding with the administration of Governor John J. McKeithen, her fellow Democrat
.
Walker was narrowly unseated in the general election
held on February 1, 1972, by the Republican
Clark Gaudin
, also of Baton Rouge
. Gaudin polled 6,949 votes (51 percent) to Walker’s 6,645 (49 percent). Only the fourth Republican to have served in the Louisiana legislature since Reconstruction, Gaudin had served a partial term from 1967–1968, having won a special election created by the resignation of Luther F. Cole, who became a judge
.
For most of her two terms, Walker was the only woman among the 105 House members. In 1969, she was joined by Helen L. Laperouse of New Iberia
, who followed her late husband, Lionel Laperouse, Jr. In 1971, Dorothy Mae Taylor of New Orleans became the first African American
female representative. Early in her tenure, she persuaded Governor McKeithen to establish the Louisiana Commission on the Status of Women.
Walker, a native of a rural
community near Meridian
in Lauderdale County
in eastern Mississippi
, was an alternate delegate from Louisiana to the 1960 Democratic National Convention
, which met in Los Angeles
to nominate the John F. Kennedy
and Lyndon B. Johnson
ticket.
In 1996, Walker was inducted into the Louisiana Center for
Women and Government at Nicholls State University
in Thibodaux
. In 2002, she was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
in Winnfield
.
Walker is the widow of Edward E. Walker (1921–1998). Her daughter is Betti Helen Walker (born June 2, 1952). Her mentally handicapped son is Edward Theodore "Eddie" Walker (born 1945). When Eddie was denied entry into the public schools, Mrs. Walker entered the political arena to work for the betterment of the mentally retarded and physically handicapped. Her work led to the creation of the Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens. She pushed for handicapped accessibility in the Louisiana State Capitol
and other public buildings.
Walker still resides in Baton Rouge.
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 East Baton Rouge Parish, 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...
, having served from 1964–1972, corresponding with the administration of Governor John J. McKeithen, her fellow 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...
.
Walker was narrowly unseated in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
held on February 1, 1972, by the 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...
Clark Gaudin
Clark Gaudin
Edward Clark Gaudin is a Baton Rouge attorney who served for twenty-one years in the Louisiana House of Representatives as the first Republican member from East Baton Rouge Parish in the 20th century....
, also of Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. Gaudin polled 6,949 votes (51 percent) to Walker’s 6,645 (49 percent). Only the fourth Republican to have served in the Louisiana legislature since Reconstruction, Gaudin had served a partial term from 1967–1968, having won a special election created by the resignation of Luther F. Cole, who became a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
.
For most of her two terms, Walker was the only woman among the 105 House members. In 1969, she was joined by Helen L. Laperouse of New Iberia
New Iberia, Louisiana
New Iberia is a city in and the parish seat of Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States, 30 miles southeast of Lafayette. In 1900, 6,815 people lived in New Iberia; in 1910, 7,499; and in 1940, 13,747...
, who followed her late husband, Lionel Laperouse, Jr. In 1971, Dorothy Mae Taylor of New Orleans became the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
female representative. Early in her tenure, she persuaded Governor McKeithen to establish the Louisiana Commission on the Status of Women.
Walker, a native of a rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
community near Meridian
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
in Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,161 people, 29,990 households, and 20,573 families residing in the county. The population density was 111 people per square mile . There were 33,418 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile...
in eastern Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, was an alternate delegate from Louisiana to the 1960 Democratic National Convention
1960 Democratic National Convention
The 1960 Democratic National Convention was held in Los Angeles. In the end, the Kennedy-Johnson ticket was assembled and went on to secure an electoral college victory and a narrow popular vote plurality in the fall over the Republican candidates Richard M...
, which met in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to nominate the John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
ticket.
In 1996, Walker was inducted into the Louisiana Center for
Women and Government at Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA. Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System of universities. Originally called Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the institution split from the Louisiana State University System in...
in Thibodaux
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Thibodaux is a small city in and the parish seat of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States, along the banks of Bayou Lafourche in the northwestern part of the parish. The population was 14,431 at the 2000 census. Thibodaux is a principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux...
. In 2002, she was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
The Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield, Louisiana, highlights the careers of more than a hundred of the state’s leading politicians and political journalists. Because three governors, Huey P. Long, Jr., Oscar K...
in Winnfield
Winnfield, Louisiana
Winnfield is a city in and the parish seat of Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census. It has long been associated with the Long faction of the Louisiana Democratic Party and was home to three governors of Louisiana.-Geography:Winnfield is located at ...
.
Walker is the widow of Edward E. Walker (1921–1998). Her daughter is Betti Helen Walker (born June 2, 1952). Her mentally handicapped son is Edward Theodore "Eddie" Walker (born 1945). When Eddie was denied entry into the public schools, Mrs. Walker entered the political arena to work for the betterment of the mentally retarded and physically handicapped. Her work led to the creation of the Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens. She pushed for handicapped accessibility in the Louisiana State Capitol
Louisiana State Capitol
The Louisiana State Capitol building is the capitol building of the state of Louisiana, located in Baton Rouge. The capitol houses the Louisiana State Legislature, the governor's office, and parts of the executive branch...
and other public buildings.
Walker still resides in Baton Rouge.