By James Ronald Skains
Journal Correspondent

"It really is an honor to the recipient of this award," former State Representative Jimmy Long told the Piney Woods Journal. Long joined a group of other Louisianians in Baton Rouge on April 30 as a recipient of the "Legends" award, presented by the Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Jimmy Long, a native of Winnfield and a member of the Long Political family of Winn parish, has been a member of the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame for since 2000. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1968, serving under five Governors, John McKeithen, Edwin Edwards, Dave Treen, Buddy Roemer, and Mike Foster. Likewise, Long served under five different Speakers of the House of Representative, John Garrett, Bubba Henry, John Hankle, John Alario, and Charlie DeWitt.

"During my 32 years in the House, I had the pleasure of serving as Chairman of the House education Committee for 16 of those years," Long pointed out. "Being on the House Education committee really came in handy back in the 1980's during the oil crunch when finances caused Northwestern State University so much difficultly."

"So I can relate first hand to problem of budget cuts to higher education," Long who still serves on the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors, stated. "Some how or another we have to prevent cuts to higher education this legislative session. Otherwise we are creating a disaster."

"Not only did I serve in the House on the Education Committee, but I have three brothers who were teachers," said Long, who was born in 1931 into a family of seven siblings. During his tenure as an elected official, Long was the guiding force in the in the creation of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and Arts in Natchitoches which is located on the NSU campus.

The Legends Award is presented by the Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting systems. This will be the 19th Legends awards event and it will take place at the Old state Capitol in Baton Rouge on April 30.

Jimmy Long was previously named by the Shreveport Times as on of the "100 Most Influential People of the Century in Northwest Louisiana."

To say that Long comes from a political family would be an understatement. He was second or third cousins to two former Louisiana Governors, two U.S. Senators, and three U.S. Congressmen.\par }{\plain Also, Long's younger brother, Gerald is currently the State Senator for the 31st District succeeding in office his first cousin, former state Senator, Mike Smith of Winnfield.

Ironically, all of Long's political family except former U.S. Senator Russell Long were graduates of Winnfield High School.

After serving in the W.S. Navy during the late 1940's, Long settled in Natchitoches and worked for his cousin, Glenn Smith in the grocery business before later becoming Smith's partner in a grocery store. Long's specialty was the fine art of cutting meat.

"Growing up in Winnfield, I began working in meat markets while still in high school," Long recalled. "Most of my mother's family, the Smiths were butchers and grocerymen."

"A soon as I got settled in Natchitoches and could afford it, I began to run a few head of cows on my little farm," Long remembered. "Even though that was years ago when I started in the cattle business, I still have a few head of cows. It gives me something to do and its really like nothing else to have a few head of cows to tend to."

Long has one son, Jimmy D. Long of Natchitoches who is married to Dr. Mary Ingram Long.

"I was in my early 30's before Jimmy was born," Long explained. "And then Jimmy didn't start having kids until he was in his thirties, so at age 78, I got young grandkids."

"It's actually a blessing and joy for us to have young grandkids in the family in the family at our age," said Long, who is married to the former Dorothy Griffin of the Calvin area in Winn parish.

Long attended Northwestern State University off and on for several years but never obtained a degree.

"Being in the grocery business didn't give me much time to go to college," Long acknowledged, "but I did know the importance of higher education even in those days."

"Since I was only going part time when I could work classes into my schedule, I took courses that I thought could be of immediate help for me such as business courses."

"Also, I took courses in speech and political science because I knew that sooner or later I would get into politics," said Long, who first ran for State Representative from Natchitoches in 1963.

"Also, in practice of politics and running for office, I found out first hand what a difference a few votes can make in an election," Long stated. "In my first political race, I lost by 84 votes, and in my last race, I lost by 240 votes running in two parishes."

Joining Jimmy Long as award recipients at the LPB event on the 30th of April were Terry Bradshaw, former NFL quarterback, and Joy Nalty Hodges of Alexandria. Hodges is a large timber landowner and was the first female president of the Louisiana Forestry Association.

Also, being honored is former Congressman William H. Gray a native of Louisiana, and Ken Wells, an acclaimed author and former Wall Street Journal editor.

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