Benny Rayburn
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Burras Rayburn, Jr., known as Benny Rayburn (December 23, 1944 - December 14, 2006), was the Democratic
sheriff
of Washington Parish, the easternmost of the Florida Parishes
of southeastern Louisiana
, who served from 1981-1992. He was the only son of legendary Louisiana State Senator
B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn, Sr.
(1916–2008).
Rayburn, who resided in Bogalusa
, the largest city in Washington Parish, won a special election in 1981 to complete the term of Sheriff Robert Lyons, a former Bogalusa municipal juvenile officer, elected in December 1979.
Rayburn filled out the term of Lyons and was subsequently elected to a full term in 1983. In the 1987 contest for a second four-year term, Rayburn defeated three intraparty rivals to win the position outright with 10,366 votes (58.3 percent). Rayburn, Sr., on the same ballot for the state Senate, polled within Washington Parish 13,003 votes (76.8 percent), nearly 3,000 more than his son drew in the sheriff's race.
In 1991, Rayburn was forced into a second round of balloting, called the Louisiana general election
even though his opponent was a fellow Democrat, Duane Blair. Rayburn led with 7,425 votes (43.5 percent) to Blair's 5,093 (29.8 percent). Republican
Johnnie M. Holcomb (born ca. 1932) of Bogalusa, who polled 3,132 votes (18.4 percent), was among three other primary candidates eliminated in the October 19 jungle primary
. In the November 16 general election, Blair upset Rayburn, 9,884 votes (51.4 percent) to 9,332 (48.6 percent).
In 2003, Rayburn unsuccessfully sought election to the District 75 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives
, a position held by his father from 1948-1951. He finished third in the all-Democratic jungle primary with 1,959 votes (15.2 percent). The seat went to Harold L. Ritchie, who was reelected in 2007.
Rayburn graduated in 1962 from Bogalusa High School
. He attended Southeastern Louisiana University
in Hammond
but did not graduate. When he was not sheriff, Rayburn was state steward for the Louisiana Racing Commission. He also was a horse
trainer and worked for a time for the Office of Rural
Development and the B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn Correctional Institute in Washington Parish.
Rayburn died of a heart attack near Franklinton
, the seat of Washington Parish. He was married to the former Cidette Lewis and was the father of one son, Benjamin Avery "Benjy" Rayburn (wife: Michelle) of Denham Springs
in Livingston Parish. He had two grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother, Hazel Blanchard Rayburn (1918–2001) and younger son, Robert B. "Robby" Rayburn (July 14, 1972-March 25, 2000)who died of myocardial infarction Services were held at Annuciation Catholic
Church in Bogalusa. Interment was in Palestine Cemetery
in Washington Parish, where his father, Senator B. B. ``Sixty`` Rayburn and son are buried.
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...
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....
of Washington Parish, the easternmost of the Florida Parishes
Florida Parishes
The Florida Parishes , also known as the North Shore region, are eight parishes in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana, which were part of West Florida in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Unlike much of Louisiana, this region was not part of the Louisiana Purchase, as it had been...
of southeastern 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 from 1981-1992. He was the only son of legendary 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...
B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn, Sr.
Sixty Rayburn
Benjamin Burras Rayburn, Sr., known as B. B. "Sixty" Rayburn , was a veteran politician from Bogalusa, an incorporated city in Washington Parish in southeastern Louisiana in the United States...
(1916–2008).
Rayburn, who resided in Bogalusa
Bogalusa, Louisiana
Bogalusa is a city in Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,365 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Bogalusa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Washington Parish and is also part of the larger New Orleans–Metairie–Bogalusa...
, the largest city in Washington Parish, won a special election in 1981 to complete the term of Sheriff Robert Lyons, a former Bogalusa municipal juvenile officer, elected in December 1979.
Rayburn filled out the term of Lyons and was subsequently elected to a full term in 1983. In the 1987 contest for a second four-year term, Rayburn defeated three intraparty rivals to win the position outright with 10,366 votes (58.3 percent). Rayburn, Sr., on the same ballot for the state Senate, polled within Washington Parish 13,003 votes (76.8 percent), nearly 3,000 more than his son drew in the sheriff's race.
In 1991, Rayburn was forced into a second round of balloting, called the Louisiana general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
even though his opponent was a fellow Democrat, Duane Blair. Rayburn led with 7,425 votes (43.5 percent) to Blair's 5,093 (29.8 percent). 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...
Johnnie M. Holcomb (born ca. 1932) of Bogalusa, who polled 3,132 votes (18.4 percent), was among three other primary candidates eliminated in the October 19 jungle primary
Jungle primary
A nonpartisan blanket primary is a primary election in which all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of political party. Under this system, the top two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the next round, as in a runoff election...
. In the November 16 general election, Blair upset Rayburn, 9,884 votes (51.4 percent) to 9,332 (48.6 percent).
In 2003, Rayburn unsuccessfully sought election to the District 75 seat in 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...
, a position held by his father from 1948-1951. He finished third in the all-Democratic jungle primary with 1,959 votes (15.2 percent). The seat went to Harold L. Ritchie, who was reelected in 2007.
Rayburn graduated in 1962 from Bogalusa High School
Bogalusa High School
Bogalusa High School is the high school of the Bogalusa City Schools district. It is located in Bogalusa, Louisiana, United States.-Schedule Information:...
. He attended Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
in 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...
but did not graduate. When he was not sheriff, Rayburn was state steward for the Louisiana Racing Commission. He also was a horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
trainer and worked for a time for the Office of Rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
Development and the B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn Correctional Institute in Washington Parish.
Rayburn died of a heart attack near Franklinton
Franklinton, Louisiana
Franklinton is a town in and the parish seat of Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,657 at the 2000 census. It is an average of above sea level....
, the seat of Washington Parish. He was married to the former Cidette Lewis and was the father of one son, Benjamin Avery "Benjy" Rayburn (wife: Michelle) of Denham Springs
Denham Springs, Louisiana
Denham Springs is a city in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, United States, and part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. Downtown Denham Springs has transformed itself from hardware stores, drug stores, doctor's offices, and a single movie theater to a collection of various and varied...
in Livingston Parish. He had two grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother, Hazel Blanchard Rayburn (1918–2001) and younger son, Robert B. "Robby" Rayburn (July 14, 1972-March 25, 2000)who died of myocardial infarction Services were held at Annuciation Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Church in Bogalusa. Interment was in Palestine Cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
in Washington Parish, where his father, Senator B. B. ``Sixty`` Rayburn and son are buried.