Mary Smith Gleason
Encyclopedia
Mary Smith Gleason was an interim Democratic
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from Webster Parish, who served from 1959–1960, after the death in office of her husband, E.D. Gleason
.
Mrs. Gleason was named to complete the remaining eight months of her husband's second term by then Governor Earl Kemp Long because insufficient time existed to call a special election for the position.
The Gleasons resided in the Evergreen Community south of Shongaloo
in central Webster Parish. They had three sons, Thomas D. Gleason (1924–1944, killed during World War II
), educator William E. Gleason of Minden
and later Plaquemine
, and Charles E. Gleason, later of Shreveport
.
Mrs. Gleason did not seek a full term in the 1959-1960 primaries
. Instead, her son, William, ran for the seat. However, William Gleason finished in fourth place. In a runoff election, Parey P. Branton, a businessman from Shongaloo, defeated the Minden attorney Henry G. Hobbs by sixteen votes. Branton held the seat until 1972; he ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor
in the 1971 Democratic primary.
Mrs. Gleason died in Plaquemine shortly before what would have been her 68th birthday. Services were held at the Evergreen Baptist
Church, and interment followed at the Minden Cemetery
. In addition to her sons William and Charles, she was survived by two sisters and two brothers.
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...
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 Webster Parish, who served from 1959–1960, after the death in office of her husband, E.D. Gleason
E.D. Gleason
Ernest Dewey Gleason, known as E. D. Gleason , was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the Evergreen Community near Minden in Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. Gleason served from 1952 until his death at the end of his second term...
.
Mrs. Gleason was named to complete the remaining eight months of her husband's second term by then Governor Earl Kemp Long because insufficient time existed to call a special election for the position.
The Gleasons resided in the Evergreen Community south of Shongaloo
Shongaloo, Louisiana
Shongaloo is a village in Webster Parish, Louisiana, United States.West of Shongaloo on Louisiana Highway 2 is Munn Hill, a homestead of Daniel and Rebecca Munn, established on July 26, 1900....
in central Webster Parish. They had three sons, Thomas D. Gleason (1924–1944, killed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
), educator William E. Gleason of Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
and later Plaquemine
Plaquemine, Louisiana
Plaquemine is a city in and the parish seat of Iberville Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 7,064 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and Charles E. Gleason, later of Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
.
Mrs. Gleason did not seek a full term in the 1959-1960 primaries
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. Instead, her son, William, ran for the seat. However, William Gleason finished in fourth place. In a runoff election, Parey P. Branton, a businessman from Shongaloo, defeated the Minden attorney Henry G. Hobbs by sixteen votes. Branton held the seat until 1972; he ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
in the 1971 Democratic primary.
Mrs. Gleason died in Plaquemine shortly before what would have been her 68th birthday. Services were held at the Evergreen Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church, and interment followed at the Minden Cemetery
Minden Cemetery
The Minden Cemetery, located in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, United States, has graves dating from 1843, seven years after the founding of the city in 1836...
. In addition to her sons William and Charles, she was survived by two sisters and two brothers.