H. Welborn Ayres
Encyclopedia
Harrison Welborn Ayres was a 20th century judge
of the Louisiana
Second Judicial District Court, based in Jonesboro
, and the state Second Circuit Court of Appeal, anchored in Shreveport
.
He served on the district court from 1942 to 1953, having been unopposed in 1948. He was thereafter elected as a Democrat
to the ten-parish circuit court, on which he served beginning January 1, 1954, after his election to succeed the retiring Judge J. Frank McInnis
of Minden
. Under state law, Ayres retired from the bench when he reached his 75th birthday in 1975.To win the circuit court seat, Ayres defeated the Minden
attorney John T. Campbell, a member of a prominent political family.
Ayres was born to James W. Ayres (1867–1922) and the former Lula Bumgardner (1869–1942) in the village
of Ashland
in northern Natchitoches Parish
. On May 21, 1918, Ayres graduated from the former Ashland High School
. The commencement ceremony was held in the since disbanded Ashland Methodist Church because a fire had destroyed the school building only a few weeks earlier. He then obtained his law degree from the Louisiana State University Law Center in Baton Rouge
. In 1979, Ayres, as a former judge, penned a manuscript containing part of the history of the village within the annual report of the Ramah Cemetery Association.
After law school, Ayres practiced in both Jonesboro, the seat of Jackson Parish
, and Arcadia
, the seat of adjacent Bienville Parish
, from 1925 to 1942. His Third Judicial District included Jackson, Bienville, and Claiborne
parishes. He also presided for 3.5 years over Lincoln
and Union
parishes within the Third District. Toward the end of his twenty-one years on the circuit court, Ayres was the presiding judge. He also headed a special panel of the state Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal in New Orleans
, not to be confused with the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, also in New Orleans. He was also a judge ad hoc of the Louisiana Supreme Court
.
Though he maintained his official domicile in Jonesboro, on retirement Ayres continued to reside in Shreveport, where his son, James Ewing Ayres (born 1936), practices law. In 1929, Ayres married to the former Edna Ewing (1904–1991), the daughter of William Oliver Ewing, Sr., and the former Caledonia Maudie May. In addition to their son, the couple had two grandchildren, Laura Jean Ayres LeBlanc and Leland Harrison "Lee" Ayres, both of Baton Rouge. Ayres was a member of the Noel Memorial United Methodist Church in Shreveport. He was also affiliated with the Masonic lodge
in Jonesboro and the Louisiana and American bar associations.
Ayres died in Shreveport at the age of eighty-five after a brief illness. Services were held at a Rose-Neath Funeral Home chapel in Shreveport, with Noel Memorial pastor W.O. Lynch officiating. Ayres is interred at Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport. Pallbearers included fellow Judges Pike Hall, Jr., James E. Bolin
, O. E. Price, and Charles A. Marvin.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the 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...
Second Judicial District Court, based in Jonesboro
Jonesboro, Louisiana
Jonesboro is a town in and the parish seat of Jackson Parish in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 3,914 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ruston Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and the state Second Circuit Court of Appeal, anchored in Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
.
He served on the district court from 1942 to 1953, having been unopposed in 1948. He was thereafter elected as a Democrat
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...
to the ten-parish circuit court, on which he served beginning January 1, 1954, after his election to succeed the retiring Judge J. Frank McInnis
J. Frank McInnis
Jesse Frank McInnis, known as J. Frank McInnis , was a judge of his state's Second Circuit Court of Appeal from Minden, Louisiana. In 1952, McInnis succeeded Robert F. Kennon of Minden, in the circuit judgeship which Kennon vacated to become governor of Louisiana...
of Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
. Under state law, Ayres retired from the bench when he reached his 75th birthday in 1975.To win the circuit court seat, Ayres defeated the Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
attorney John T. Campbell, a member of a prominent political family.
Ayres was born to James W. Ayres (1867–1922) and the former Lula Bumgardner (1869–1942) in the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Ashland
Ashland, Louisiana
Ashland is a village located in the northernmost portion of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. It was incorporated in 1963. A few residences and a convenience store to the north spill over into neighboring Bienville Parish. The population was 291 at the 2000 census...
in northern Natchitoches Parish
Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Natchitoches Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Natchitoches. As of 2000, the population was 39,080. This is the heart of the Cane River Louisiana Creole community...
. On May 21, 1918, Ayres graduated from the former Ashland High School
Ashland High School (Ashland, Louisiana)
Ashland High School was a rural public kindergarten-grade 12 primary and secondary educational institution located in the village of Ashland in northern Natchitoches Parish from 1907 until its closing in 1981.-Background:...
. The commencement ceremony was held in the since disbanded Ashland Methodist Church because a fire had destroyed the school building only a few weeks earlier. He then obtained his law degree from the Louisiana State University Law Center in 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...
. In 1979, Ayres, as a former judge, penned a manuscript containing part of the history of the village within the annual report of the Ramah Cemetery Association.
After law school, Ayres practiced in both Jonesboro, the seat of Jackson Parish
Jackson Parish, Louisiana
Jackson Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish was formed in 1845 from parts of Claiborne, Ouachita, and Union Parishes. In 2010, its population was 16,274. The parish seat is Jonesboro...
, and Arcadia
Arcadia, Louisiana
Arcadia is a town in and the parish seat of Bienville Parish in north Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,041 at the 2000 census....
, the seat of adjacent Bienville Parish
Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Bienville Parish is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Arcadia and as of the 2000 census, the population is 15,752....
, from 1925 to 1942. His Third Judicial District included Jackson, Bienville, and Claiborne
Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
Claiborne Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Homer and as of 2000, the population is 16,851.-History:The parish is named for the first Louisiana governor, William C. C. Claiborne....
parishes. He also presided for 3.5 years over Lincoln
Lincoln Parish, Louisiana
Lincoln Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Ruston. In 2004, its population was estimated to be 42,382...
and Union
Union Parish, Louisiana
Union Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Farmerville....
parishes within the Third District. Toward the end of his twenty-one years on the circuit court, Ayres was the presiding judge. He also headed a special panel of the state Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, not to be confused with the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, also in New Orleans. He was also a judge ad hoc of the Louisiana Supreme Court
Louisiana Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Louisiana is the highest court and court of last resort in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The modern Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, meets in the French Quarter of New Orleans....
.
Though he maintained his official domicile in Jonesboro, on retirement Ayres continued to reside in Shreveport, where his son, James Ewing Ayres (born 1936), practices law. In 1929, Ayres married to the former Edna Ewing (1904–1991), the daughter of William Oliver Ewing, Sr., and the former Caledonia Maudie May. In addition to their son, the couple had two grandchildren, Laura Jean Ayres LeBlanc and Leland Harrison "Lee" Ayres, both of Baton Rouge. Ayres was a member of the Noel Memorial United Methodist Church in Shreveport. He was also affiliated with the Masonic lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
in Jonesboro and the Louisiana and American bar associations.
Ayres died in Shreveport at the age of eighty-five after a brief illness. Services were held at a Rose-Neath Funeral Home chapel in Shreveport, with Noel Memorial pastor W.O. Lynch officiating. Ayres is interred at Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport. Pallbearers included fellow Judges Pike Hall, Jr., James E. Bolin
James E. Bolin
James Edwin Bolin, Sr. was an American jurist and politician who served as a judge of the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal and Louisiana Supreme Court as well as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in the northwestern part...
, O. E. Price, and Charles A. Marvin.