Bob Angelle
Encyclopedia
Robert Joseph Angelle, known as Bob Angelle (August 26, 1896 – December 22, 1979), was a businessman and politician
from Breaux Bridge
in St. Martin Parish, who was the Speaker
of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from 1957-1960, the last term of Governor Earl Kemp Long. Angelle was part of the powerful Long
faction
of Louisiana
politics. He is probably best remembered for sponsoring the bill which declared Breaux Bridge "the Crawfish Capital of the World".
in St. Martin Parish to Drauzin Angelle
and the former Agnes Guidry Dupuis. He was educated in public schools in Cecilia and Breaux Bridge. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
, then known as Southwest Louisiana Institute. On July 8, 1919, Angelle married the former Madge Germaine Begnaud (1899-1985). She was the daughter of P.L. Begnaud and the former Germaine Richard. They had four daughters.
Angelle was the commission agent for Standard Oil Company from 1921-1932. He operated Acadian
Lumber Company from 1936-1973. He was the organizer and the first president of the Breaux Bridge Sugar
Co-op. He was a license building contractor and operated dairy
farms as well. He was the organizer and first president of the Breaux Bridge Bank and Trust Company.
He was a town council member and mayor
of Breaux Bridge in the early 1920s. Angelle was also a member of the St. Martin Parish Democratic
Executive Committee.
One of Angelle's sons-in-law, Louis M. Kern (1922-2005), was elected mayor of Breaux Bridge in 1957. An Angelle nephew, the son of his sister Agnes Hardy, was State Senator
, Louisiana Secretary of State, and Lieutenant Governor
Paul Hardy
, the first Republican
to hold the state's second highest office, having served from 1988 to 1992.
Angelle won his first legislative race in a special election in 1934 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Representative Gaston Thibodeaux. He served until 1964 during the second term of Governor Jimmie Davis
.
In the Democratic primary held on November 4, 1967, Angelle sought a comeback to the state House. When he appeared out of the running by three votes, he sued the St. Martin Parish Democratic Executive Committee regarding the questionable tabulation of absentee ballots. Therefore, the court ordered that he was placed into the runoff election held on December 16, 1967, but he was still defeated by the one-term incumbent J. Burton Angelle,, the father of future Lieutenant Governor Scott Angelle
.
After he left the legislature, Angelle became involved in a dispute with Mrs. Litie B. Bienvenu who was in line to be appointed director of public welfare in St. Martin Parish. Angelle went to Baton Rouge
and told the commissioner of public welfare, Mary Evelyn Parker
, the future Louisiana state treasurer, that Mrs. Bienvenu had a questionable reputation in the community and should not be appointed. The appointment was withdrawn, and she sued to obtain the position. Civil service ordered that she be given the job. She then filed a personal defamation suit against Angelle, alleging that his comments about her were made with malice
.
Earlier in 1959, Governor Long had named Angelle to the Louisiana State Board of Liquidation. Angelle was a member of the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Association from 1960 until his death. He was a charter member of the Breaux Bridge Lions Club. He was a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge and the men's organization the Knights of Columbus
.
Robert and Madge Angelle are interred in St. Bernard's cemetery. Angelle Hall, which houses the music department at ULL, is named for Robert Angelle.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Breaux Bridge
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
Breaux Bridge is a city in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population is 8,139 as of the 2010 census. It is part of the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in St. Martin Parish, who was the Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
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...
from 1957-1960, the last term of Governor Earl Kemp Long. Angelle was part of the powerful Long
Earl Long
Earl Kemp Long was an American politician and the 45th Governor of Louisiana for three non-consecutive terms. Long termed himself the "last of the red hot poppas" of politics, referring to his stump-speaking skills...
faction
Political faction
A political faction is a grouping of individuals, such as a political party, a trade union, or other group with a political purpose. A faction or political party may include fragmented sub-factions, “parties within a party," which may be referred to as power blocs, or voting blocs. The individuals...
of 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...
politics. He is probably best remembered for sponsoring the bill which declared Breaux Bridge "the Crawfish Capital of the World".
Career
Angelle was born in CeciliaCecilia, Louisiana
Cecilia is a census-designated place in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,505 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Cecilia is located at ....
in St. Martin Parish to Drauzin Angelle
Drauzin Angelle
Drauzin Angelle was a farmer and a politician from St. Martin Parish in south Louisiana. As the chief deputy sheriff from 1924 until his death, Angelle became a Democratic power broker in his largely rural sugar-producing parish.Born in the Fifth Ward of St...
and the former Agnes Guidry Dupuis. He was educated in public schools in Cecilia and Breaux Bridge. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
, then known as Southwest Louisiana Institute. On July 8, 1919, Angelle married the former Madge Germaine Begnaud (1899-1985). She was the daughter of P.L. Begnaud and the former Germaine Richard. They had four daughters.
Angelle was the commission agent for Standard Oil Company from 1921-1932. He operated Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
Lumber Company from 1936-1973. He was the organizer and the first president of the Breaux Bridge 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...
Co-op. He was a license building contractor and operated dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
farms as well. He was the organizer and first president of the Breaux Bridge Bank and Trust Company.
He was a town council member and mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Breaux Bridge in the early 1920s. Angelle was also a member of the St. Martin Parish 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...
Executive Committee.
One of Angelle's sons-in-law, Louis M. Kern (1922-2005), was elected mayor of Breaux Bridge in 1957. An Angelle nephew, the son of his sister Agnes Hardy, was 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...
, Louisiana Secretary of State, and Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
The Office of Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana is the second highest state office in Louisiana. The current Lieutenant Governor is Jay Dardenne, a Republican...
Paul Hardy
Paul Hardy
Paul Jude Hardy is a Baton Rouge attorney who was the first Republican to have been elected lieutenant governor of Louisiana since Reconstruction...
, the first 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...
to hold the state's second highest office, having served from 1988 to 1992.
Angelle won his first legislative race in a special election in 1934 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Representative Gaston Thibodeaux. He served until 1964 during the second term 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 the Democratic primary held on November 4, 1967, Angelle sought a comeback to the state House. When he appeared out of the running by three votes, he sued the St. Martin Parish Democratic Executive Committee regarding the questionable tabulation of absentee ballots. Therefore, the court ordered that he was placed into the runoff election held on December 16, 1967, but he was still defeated by the one-term incumbent J. Burton Angelle,, the father of future Lieutenant Governor Scott Angelle
Scott Angelle
Scott Anthony Angelle is a former lieutenant governor of Louisiana. He was appointed to the position by Governor Bobby Jindal and confirmed by the Louisiana Legislature in 2010, when Mitch Landrieu resigned the lieutenant governorship to become mayor of New Orleans...
.
After he left the legislature, Angelle became involved in a dispute with Mrs. Litie B. Bienvenu who was in line to be appointed director of public welfare in St. Martin Parish. Angelle went to 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...
and told the commissioner of public welfare, 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...
, the future Louisiana state treasurer, that Mrs. Bienvenu had a questionable reputation in the community and should not be appointed. The appointment was withdrawn, and she sued to obtain the position. Civil service ordered that she be given the job. She then filed a personal defamation suit against Angelle, alleging that his comments about her were made with malice
Malice
Malice may refer to:* Malice , a legal term describing the intent to harm* Jerry Tuite , American professional wrestler also known by the ring name Malice-Entertainment:...
.
Earlier in 1959, Governor Long had named Angelle to the Louisiana State Board of Liquidation. Angelle was a member of the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Association from 1960 until his death. He was a charter member of the Breaux Bridge Lions Club. He was a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge and the men's organization the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
.
Robert and Madge Angelle are interred in St. Bernard's cemetery. Angelle Hall, which houses the music department at ULL, is named for Robert Angelle.