Risley C. Triche
Encyclopedia
Risley Claiborne Triche, also known as Pappy Triche (born January 31, 1930), is an attorney in Napoleonville
, Louisiana
, who served as a Democratic
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from 1955-1976. Known for his flamboyance and theatrics in political circles, Triche represented Assumption Parish
during his entire legislative tenure and also Ascension Parish
during his last four-year term, from 1972-1976.
and merchant
, and the former Heloise Gilbert, the daughter of prominent sugar
grower and Louisiana State Senator
Philip H. Gilbert
(born 1870). Triche received his law degree from Louisiana State University Law Center in Baton Rouge
, where he was affiliated with Phi Delta Phi
international legal fraternity
.
during the administration of Governor Jimmie Davis
. In 1960, the legislature in special session
adopted twenty-nine laws in a vain attempt to block the integration of public schools in Orleans Parish, as ordered by U.S. District Judge J. Skelly Wright
. Triche headed an eight-member legislative committee to supervise the schools based on the new measures. He vowed: "We are going to operate the schools the same on Monday as they are operating today, with the same students assigned to the same schools with the same teachers. There will be no change. . . . We know of no transfer of students nor requests for transfer which have been approved." Judge Wright, however, issued orders restraining Governor Davis, Education Superintendent Shelby M. Jackson
, Louisiana state police, sheriff
s, and local officials, and legislatures from interfering with his order, as desegregation slowly expanded in New Orleans
. Much of the remainder of the state remained for several more years under continued segregated education.
Triche's views on race changed in time. Years later, he and two other Louisiana Democrats, U.S. District Judge Adrian Duplantier and former State Treasurer
Mary Evelyn Parker
, were interviewed for the 2001 book Welfare Racism: Playing the Race Card Against America's Poor. The three testified to their personal knowledge of racism
in 1960-1961 in Louisiana against African American
public assistance recipients.
In his last legislative session, Triche was a floor leader for Governor Edwin Washington Edwards but resigned in 1974 from the leadership post.
In 1975, Triche challenged fellow Democrat William J. Guste
, who sought a fifth and final term as state attorney general. Guste prevailed with 672,065 votes (63 percent) to Triche's 398,088 (37 percent). In the campaign, Triche accused Guste of being less than vigilant in the prosecution of illegal drug cases and "too political" in the prosecution of the office itself. Triche claimed further that he had seen the attorney general's office under Guste "deteriorate and decline in authority and respect to where it is almost useless."
of New Orleans., the Louisiana State Democratic Party, and U.S. Representative Charles Melancon of Napoleonville, who failed in his challenge of Republican
U.S. Senator David Vitter
in 2010.
In 2010, Triche was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
in Winnfield
, along with Louisiana GOP
pioneer Charlton Lyons
and U.S. Representative Rodney Alexander
.
Napoleonville, Louisiana
Napoleonville is a village in and the parish seat of Assumption Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 686 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Pierre Part Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, 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...
, who served as a Democratic
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 1955-1976. Known for his flamboyance and theatrics in political circles, Triche represented Assumption Parish
Assumption Parish, Louisiana
Assumption Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and was formed in 1807 as an original parish of the Louisiana Territory. Its parish seat is Napoleonville. In 2000, its population was 23,388. Assumption is one of the 22 Acadiana parishes. Its major product is sugarcane...
during his entire legislative tenure and also Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish, Louisiana
Ascension Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is the fastest growing parish in the state. Its population is 107,215 which is 39.9% greater than the 2000 census...
during his last four-year term, from 1972-1976.
Early years and education
Triche was born in Napoleonville to Risley C. Triche (middle name not available), a planterPlantations in the American South
Plantations were an important aspect of the history of the American South, particularly the antebellum .-Planter :The owner of a plantation was called a planter...
and merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, and the former Heloise Gilbert, the daughter of prominent sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
grower and Louisiana 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...
Philip H. Gilbert
Philip H. Gilbert
-Early years:Philip H. Gilbert was born on October 25, 1870, the son of Pierre J. Gilbert of Louisiana. From his youth up he was a faithful son of the Roman Catholic Church and did much for its support....
(born 1870). Triche received his law degree from Louisiana State University Law Center in 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...
, where he was affiliated with Phi Delta Phi
Phi Delta Phi
Phi Delta Phi, ΦΔΦ, is the world's second largest legal fraternity. Phi Delta Phi is the second oldest legal organization in continuous existence in the United States and third oldest in North America...
international legal fraternity
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
.
Legislative record
Triche was originally a segregationistRacial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
during the administration of Governor Jimmie Davis
Jimmie Davis
James Houston Davis , better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana...
. In 1960, the legislature in special session
Special session
In a legislature, a special session is a period when the body convenes outside of the normal legislative session. This most frequently occurs in order to complete unfinished tasks for the year , such as outlining the government's budget for the next fiscal year, biennium, or other period...
adopted twenty-nine laws in a vain attempt to block the integration of public schools in Orleans Parish, as ordered by U.S. District Judge J. Skelly Wright
J. Skelly Wright
James Skelly Wright was a judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and anti-segregationist. The J...
. Triche headed an eight-member legislative committee to supervise the schools based on the new measures. He vowed: "We are going to operate the schools the same on Monday as they are operating today, with the same students assigned to the same schools with the same teachers. There will be no change. . . . We know of no transfer of students nor requests for transfer which have been approved." Judge Wright, however, issued orders restraining Governor Davis, Education Superintendent Shelby M. Jackson
Shelby M. Jackson
Shelby M. Jackson was a Democratic superintendent of public education in Louisiana who served from 1948-1964. In the early 1960s, he tried in vain to block federally-authorized school desegregation. Jackson was posthumously honored in 1994, by the naming of the "Shelby M...
, Louisiana state police, sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
s, and local officials, and legislatures from interfering with his order, as desegregation slowly expanded in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. Much of the remainder of the state remained for several more years under continued segregated education.
Triche's views on race changed in time. Years later, he and two other Louisiana Democrats, U.S. District Judge Adrian Duplantier and former State Treasurer
State Treasurer
In the state governments of the United States, 49 of the 50 states have the executive position of treasurer. Texas abolished the position of Texas State Treasurer in 1996....
Mary Evelyn Parker
Mary Evelyn Parker
Mary Evelyn Dickerson Parker is a former Democratic state treasurer of Louisiana, having served from 1968-1987. She was the first woman to have held the position. Prior to her tenure as treasurer, she held several appointed positions in state government...
, were interviewed for the 2001 book Welfare Racism: Playing the Race Card Against America's Poor. The three testified to their personal knowledge of racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
in 1960-1961 in Louisiana against 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...
public assistance recipients.
In his last legislative session, Triche was a floor leader for Governor Edwin Washington Edwards but resigned in 1974 from the leadership post.
In 1975, Triche challenged fellow Democrat William J. Guste
William J. Guste
William J. "Billy" Guste, Jr., is a New Orleans attorney, businessman and popular Democratic attorney general of Louisiana from 1972 to 1992. He succeeded the scandal-plagued Jack P.F. Gremillion, a fellow Democrat who had held the position since 1956. Guste received recognition for molding the...
, who sought a fifth and final term as state attorney general. Guste prevailed with 672,065 votes (63 percent) to Triche's 398,088 (37 percent). In the campaign, Triche accused Guste of being less than vigilant in the prosecution of illegal drug cases and "too political" in the prosecution of the office itself. Triche claimed further that he had seen the attorney general's office under Guste "deteriorate and decline in authority and respect to where it is almost useless."
Triche today
In 2008, the Triche Law Office was a donor to the successful reelection of Democratic U.S. Senator Mary LandrieuMary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
of New Orleans., the Louisiana State Democratic Party, and U.S. Representative Charles Melancon of Napoleonville, who failed in his challenge of 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...
U.S. Senator David Vitter
David Vitter
David Vitter is the junior United States Senator from Louisiana and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served in the United States House of Representatives, representing the suburban Louisiana's 1st congressional district. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of...
in 2010.
In 2010, Triche 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 ...
, along with Louisiana 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...
pioneer Charlton Lyons
Charlton Lyons
Charlton Havard Lyons, Sr., also known as Big Papa Lyons , was a Shreveport oilman who in 1964 waged the first determined Republican bid for the Louisiana governorship since Reconstruction. Lyons also made a strong but losing bid for the United States House of Representatives in a special election...
and U.S. Representative Rodney Alexander
Rodney Alexander
Rodney McKinnie Alexander is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district covers twenty-two parishes in roughly the northeast quadrant of the state...
.