Theo Cangelosi
Encyclopedia
Theodore F. "Theo" Cangelosi (December 14, 1911 - July 14, 1992) was a Baton Rouge attorney
, banker, businessman, a former Democratic
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
, and a confidant of Governor
s Earl Kemp Long and John J. McKeithen
.
Cangelosi was descended from an old-line Italian-American family in Baton Rouge. In 1934, he graduated from the Louisiana State University
Law School. He served in the state House for a single term from 1940-1944 during the administration of the anti-Long
Governor Sam Houston Jones. In July 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army
at Camp Beauregard
near Pineville
in Rapides Parish. He was the first enlisted man ever to become a Judge Advocate General
at the rank of first lieutenant
. He remained in the legislature until his term ended though he was actually in the military for the last two years.
Cangelosi was a high-profile supporter of Earl Long in the latter's 1948 election to a full-term as governor. In that campaign, Long trounced former Governor Sam Jones, who was attempting a comeback.
Long named Cangelosi to the influential LSU Board of Supervisors, Cangelosi at first opposed a stadium addition approved by the legislature in 1952. He agreed with colleague Margaret Dixon
, managing editor
of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, who suggested that a new library would be preferable to an enclosed LSU stadium. The legislature, explained LSU President Troy Middleton, had approved the stadium, not a new library. So Cangelosi and Dixon were recommending policy beyond the scope of the LSU administration. The stadium hence triumphed.
Though he was Earl Long's regular attorney, Louisiana First Lady Blanche R. Long
tried to retain him in 1959 to file separation papers against Earl Long. Caught in the crossfire before the two Longs, Cangelosi first tried and without success to reconcile the couple. Long began to distrust Cangelosi and called Joseph A. Sims
of Hammond
to perform several legal maneuvers to get Long removed from confinement in the Southeast Louisiana Hospital, the mental facility in Mandeville
, where Long had been admitted against his wishes through the intervention of his wife. Earl Long died in September 1960, still separated from Blanche and reportedly involved with the controversial stripper
, Blaze Starr
.
In 1964, Cangelosi was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, which met in Atlantic City, New Jersey
, to confirm the Lyndon B. Johnson
-Hubert Humphrey
ticket.
In 1965, Governor McKeithen appointed Cangelosi chairman of the newly-established Louisiana State Science Foundation, with former Shreveport Mayor
James C. Gardner
as the vice-chairman. The foundation was designed to fund research proposals submitted by the private Gulf South Research Institute, a creation of the interest group called Council for a Better Louisiana. One of the research projects funded was to investigate possible uses of bagasse
, the dry pulp remaining from sugar cane after the juice has been extracted. Cangelosi knew the state bureaucracy and was able to get the new foundation an office constructed in New Orleans. When Cangelosi had a major illness in October 1966, Gardner moved up to the chairmanship
McKeithen also tapped Cangelosi to serve on a committee to oversee the design of the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans.
Cangelosi was married to the former Kathleen Flores Webre (born ca. 1940 and presumably a second wife). The obituary lists ten children, only one named "Cangelosi", seventeen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren at the time of Cangelosi's death in Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, banker, businessman, a former 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 House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
, and a confidant of Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
s Earl Kemp Long and John J. McKeithen
John McKeithen
John Julian McKeithen was the 49th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1964 to 1972. A Democrat from the town of Columbia, he was the first governor of his state in the twentieth century to serve two consecutive terms...
.
Cangelosi was descended from an old-line Italian-American family in Baton Rouge. In 1934, he graduated from the Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
Law School. He served in the state House for a single term from 1940-1944 during the administration of the anti-Long
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
Governor Sam Houston Jones. In July 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
at Camp Beauregard
Camp Beauregard
For the American Civil War site, see Camp Beauregard Memorial in Water Valley.Camp Beauregard is a U.S. Army installation located northeast of Pineville, Louisiana, primarily in Rapides Parish, but also extending northward into Grant Parish. It is currently operated by the Louisiana National Guard...
near Pineville
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
in Rapides Parish. He was the first enlisted man ever to become a Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army
The Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army is composed of Army officers who are also lawyers and who provide legal services to the Army at all levels of command. The Judge Advocate General's Legal Service includes judge advocates, warrant officers, paralegal noncommissioned...
at the rank of first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
. He remained in the legislature until his term ended though he was actually in the military for the last two years.
Cangelosi was a high-profile supporter of Earl Long in the latter's 1948 election to a full-term as governor. In that campaign, Long trounced former Governor Sam Jones, who was attempting a comeback.
Long named Cangelosi to the influential LSU Board of Supervisors, Cangelosi at first opposed a stadium addition approved by the legislature in 1952. He agreed with colleague Margaret Dixon
Margaret Dixon
Margaret Richardson Dixon, usually known as Maggie Dixon , was perhaps the most influential woman journalist of 20th century Louisiana. She was the managing editor of her state's capital city newspaper, the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, from 1949 until her death some two decades later...
, managing editor
Managing editor
A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...
of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, who suggested that a new library would be preferable to an enclosed LSU stadium. The legislature, explained LSU President Troy Middleton, had approved the stadium, not a new library. So Cangelosi and Dixon were recommending policy beyond the scope of the LSU administration. The stadium hence triumphed.
Though he was Earl Long's regular attorney, Louisiana First Lady Blanche R. Long
Blanche Long
Blanche Beulah Revere Long was the first lady of Louisiana from 1939–1940, 1948–1952, and 1956-1960. She was also a "partner in power" to her husband, Governor Earl Kemp Long. From 1956-1963, she was the Democratic national committeewoman from Louisiana...
tried to retain him in 1959 to file separation papers against Earl Long. Caught in the crossfire before the two Longs, Cangelosi first tried and without success to reconcile the couple. Long began to distrust Cangelosi and called Joseph A. Sims
Joseph A. Sims
Joseph Arthur Sims, Sr. , was a Democratic operative from Hammond, Louisiana, who was associated with his state's Long political faction. As the legal advisor to Governor Earl Kemp Long, he obtained Long's discharge from the Southeast Louisiana State Hospital in Mandeville in St...
of Hammond
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
to perform several legal maneuvers to get Long removed from confinement in the Southeast Louisiana Hospital, the mental facility in Mandeville
Mandeville, Louisiana
Mandeville is a city in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,421 in 2008. Mandeville is located on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, south of Interstate 12. It is across the lake from the city of New Orleans and its southshore suburbs...
, where Long had been admitted against his wishes through the intervention of his wife. Earl Long died in September 1960, still separated from Blanche and reportedly involved with the controversial stripper
Stripper
A stripper is a professional erotic dancer who performs a contemporary form of striptease at strip club establishments, public exhibitions, and private engagements. Unlike in burlesque, the performer in the modern Americanized form of stripping minimizes the interaction of customer and dancer,...
, Blaze Starr
Blaze Starr
Blaze Starr is an American former stripper and American burlesque star. Her vivacious presence and inventive use of stage props earned her the nickname "The Hottest Blaze in Burlesque"...
.
In 1964, Cangelosi was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, which met in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, to confirm the 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...
-Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
ticket.
In 1965, Governor McKeithen appointed Cangelosi chairman of the newly-established Louisiana State Science Foundation, with former Shreveport Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
James C. Gardner
James C. Gardner
James Creswell Gardner, I, known as Jim Gardner , was a power company executive best known as the mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, who served a single term from 1954-1958....
as the vice-chairman. The foundation was designed to fund research proposals submitted by the private Gulf South Research Institute, a creation of the interest group called Council for a Better Louisiana. One of the research projects funded was to investigate possible uses of bagasse
Bagasse
Bagasse is the fibrous matter that remains after sugarcane or sorghum stalks are crushed to extract their juice. It is currently used as a biofuel and as a renewable resource in the manufacture of pulp and paper products and building materials....
, the dry pulp remaining from sugar cane after the juice has been extracted. Cangelosi knew the state bureaucracy and was able to get the new foundation an office constructed in New Orleans. When Cangelosi had a major illness in October 1966, Gardner moved up to the chairmanship
McKeithen also tapped Cangelosi to serve on a committee to oversee the design of the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
in New Orleans.
Cangelosi was married to the former Kathleen Flores Webre (born ca. 1940 and presumably a second wife). The obituary lists ten children, only one named "Cangelosi", seventeen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren at the time of Cangelosi's death in Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge.