C. H. "Sammy" Downs

Crawford Hugh "Sammy" Downs (October 1, 1911 – May 14, 1985) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives.[2] Downs also served as a member of the Louisiana State Senate.[3]

C. H. "Sammy" Downs
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
In office
1944–1948
Serving with Carl B. Close
John R. Hunter Jr.
Preceded byT. C. Brister
Neil Haven Klock
W. H. Smith
Succeeded byT. C. Brister
W. George Bowdon Jr.
Lawrence T. Fuglaar
Member of the Louisiana State Senate
In office
1948–1952
Preceded byGrove Stafford
Succeeded byJohn R. Hunter Jr.
In office
1960–1964
Preceded byJohn R. Hunter Jr.
Succeeded byCecil R. Blair
Personal details
Born
Crawford Hugh Downs

(1911-10-01)October 1, 1911
Effie, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedMay 14, 1985(1985-05-14) (aged 73)
Alexandria, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLaura Eskew[1]
Children2[1]
Alma materLouisiana Christian University
Louisiana State University

Life and career

Davis was born in Effie, Louisiana, the son of Callie McCann and U. T. Downs, a mayor and sheriff. He attended Louisiana Christian University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1932.[1] He then attended Louisiana State University, where he earned his law and master's degree.[1] Downs taught athletics at the Glenmora High School, and was the head teacher at the Cheneyville High School.[1]

In 1944, Downs was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, serving until 1948.[2] In that year, Downs was elected to the Louisiana State Senate,[3] succeeding Grove Stafford.[3] In 1952, Downs was succeeded by John R. Hunter Jr.[3] He then succeeded Hunter in 1956.[3] Downs was succeeded by Cecil R. Blair in 1960.[3] He was later the executive counsel for the 49th Governor of Louisiana, John McKeithen.[1] Downs was the chairperson of the Louisiana Democratic Party. In 1964 was one of the master of ceremonies at John McKeithen's inauguration.[4]

According to Life magazine, McKeithen described Downs as "the only Mafia link I know of in my administration".[5] Davis was involved in 1973 in a case involving the Shoup Voting Machine Corporation which resulted in a hung jury.[6][7]

Downs died in May 1985 at the Rapides General Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana, at the age of 73.[1] He was buried in Greenwood Memorial Park.[8]

References
  1. "Ex-Lawmaker 'Sammy' Downs Dies", The Town Talk, May 15, 1985
  2. "Membership In The Louisiana House Of Representatives 1812 - 2012" (PDF). David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  3. McEnany, Arthur (January 2008). "Membership in the Louisiana Senate: 1880 - Present" (PDF). Louisiana State Senate. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  4. "Inauguration Plans Revealed". Judge Edmund M. Reggie Family Archives. April 9, 1964. p. 29. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  5. Life Magazine (Vol. 68, No. 13), p. 53
  6. "Gallinghouse's Goal--Fill Void, Clean Up State" (PDF). New Orleans States-Item. Associated Press. April 28, 1972. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  7. Lynch, Bill (October 2, 1973). "Garrison case subdues prosecutors" (PDF). New Orleans States-Item. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 23, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  8. "Funerals". The Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. May 16, 1985. p. 48. Retrieved September 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. open access


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