W. E. Whetstone
Encyclopedia
William Edwin "Ed" Whetstone (August 29, 1908 -- February 28, 1987) was a businessman and civic leader from Monroe
, the seat of Ouachita Parish in northeast Louisiana
, who served as the Fifth Congressional District
member of the Louisiana State Board of Education during the 1960s and 1970s.
Whetstone was born in the village
of Oak Ridge
in Morehouse Parish to Will Whetstone, a farmer, and the former Luta Craig (1883–1967). His formal education was limited to the Oak Ridge public school, and he was self-educated thereafter. On October 3, 1931, Whetstone married the former Josephine Elizabeth Hudson (1911–1984), daughter of C.R. Hudson and the former Annie Childres of Shreveport. The couple had one son, Eddie Craig Whetsone (born 1932) of Collinston
, a village in Morehouse Parish.
From 1928–1977, Whetsone was employed by the former South Central Bell Telephone
in, first, Shreveport, then New Orleans, Birmingham
, and Monroe. He was a company district manager for fourteen years. He was a member of the Monroe Utilities Commission from 1975-1978.
Whetstone, a Democrat
, was chosen by his colleagues as vice president and, then, president of the 11-member State Board of Education. His colleagues included the later state Education Superintendent Louis J. Michot
of Lafayette
. During part of Whetstone's tenure on the board, William J. "Bill" Dodd, a former lieutenant governor
from Baton Rouge was the state superintendent. Michot unseated Dodd as superintendent in the 1971 Democratic primary. Other board of education members who served during Whetstone's tenure included Enoch T. Nix
of Bossier City
, J. Marshall Brown of New Orleans
, and Fred L. Tannehill of Pineville
.
Whetstone was elected to the state board in the Fifth District in 1962. He defeated the Republican
George Snellings, of Monroe, 17,988 (55.6 percent) to 14,352 (44.4 percent). Whetstone lost two parishes in the district, his own Ouachita and Tensas, where Snellings polled 51.5 and 58.2 percent, respectively. Snellings would later become the father-in-law of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
.
In 1970, Whetstone was reelected to his third term on the state board over the Republican Neil R. McDonald. Whetstone polled 26,463 votes (72 percent) to McDonald's 10,307 (28 percent). McDonald's strongest support came in Ouachita Parish, where he finished with 35.3 percent of the ballots. In most of the precincts in northeast Louisiana, the Whetstone-McDonald race was the only contest on the ballot in the general election
that year.
Whetstone held other positions impacting education. He was a 16-year member of the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities. He was president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe
(then Northeast Louisiana University) Scholarship Foundation. He served two appointed terms on the Louisiana Educational Television Authority. He also served two elected terms on the Monroe City School Board.
His civic activities were endless: baseball umpire and coach, president of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce
, the Chamber's "Man of the Year" in 1978, member of the West Monroe Chamber of Commerce, director of the YMCA
and the American Red Cross
, chairman of United Way, Rotary Club, Louisiana Farm Bureau, Ouachita Valley River Association, and the Louisiana Forestry Association. He was cited for "Outstanding Citizen Recognition" by the Louisiana Municipal Review. In 1986, Northeast Louisiana University granted Whetstone an honorary LL.D.
Whetstone was Methodist and active in the Northeast University Wesley
Foundation. After retirement, he farmed in Morehouse Parish near Monroe. Other prominent Morehouse Parish planters include the Barhams, brothers Edwards Barham
and Robert J. Barham
, who have also served in the Louisiana State Senate
.
Whetstone died in Monroe and is interred beside his wife at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Oak Ridge.
Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
, the seat of Ouachita Parish in northeast 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 as the Fifth Congressional District
Louisiana's 5th congressional district
Louisiana's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The district covers most of the northeastern and central portions of the state and contains the cities of Monroe and Alexandria and stretches as far south as Iberville Parish in southern Louisiana.The...
member of the Louisiana State Board of Education during the 1960s and 1970s.
Whetstone was born 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 Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge, Louisiana
Oak Ridge is a village in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 142 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bastrop Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Oak Ridge is located at ....
in Morehouse Parish to Will Whetstone, a farmer, and the former Luta Craig (1883–1967). His formal education was limited to the Oak Ridge public school, and he was self-educated thereafter. On October 3, 1931, Whetstone married the former Josephine Elizabeth Hudson (1911–1984), daughter of C.R. Hudson and the former Annie Childres of Shreveport. The couple had one son, Eddie Craig Whetsone (born 1932) of Collinston
Collinston, Louisiana
Collinston is a village in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 327 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bastrop Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Collinston is located at ....
, a village in Morehouse Parish.
From 1928–1977, Whetsone was employed by the former South Central Bell Telephone
Bell Telephone
Bell Telephone may refer to:* Bell Telephone Company, several telephone companies with similar names* Bell Telephone Building , various* The Bell Telephone Hour, a long-running radio and television concert program...
in, first, Shreveport, then New Orleans, Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, and Monroe. He was a company district manager for fourteen years. He was a member of the Monroe Utilities Commission from 1975-1978.
Whetstone, 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...
, was chosen by his colleagues as vice president and, then, president of the 11-member State Board of Education. His colleagues included the later state Education Superintendent Louis J. Michot
Louis J. Michot
Louis Joseph Michot, Jr. , is a prominent Lafayette, Louisiana, businessman, entrepreneur of the former Burger Chef restaurant chain, philanthropist, and a former Democratic state representative , member of the Louisiana Board of Education , and Louisiana State Education Superintendent...
of Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
. During part of Whetstone's tenure on the board, William J. "Bill" Dodd, a former lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
from Baton Rouge was the state superintendent. Michot unseated Dodd as superintendent in the 1971 Democratic primary. Other board of education members who served during Whetstone's tenure included Enoch T. Nix
Enoch T. Nix
Enoch Talton Nix was a banker and civic figure from Bossier City, Louisiana, who served for thirty years on the elected Louisiana State Board of Education and its successor organization established under the Louisiana State Constitution of 1974, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary...
of Bossier City
Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States.As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 61,315. Bossier City is closely tied to its larger sister city Shreveport, located on the western bank of the Red River. The Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area is the...
, J. Marshall Brown of 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...
, and Fred L. Tannehill of Pineville
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
.
Whetstone was elected to the state board in the Fifth District in 1962. He defeated the 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...
George Snellings, of Monroe, 17,988 (55.6 percent) to 14,352 (44.4 percent). Whetstone lost two parishes in the district, his own Ouachita and Tensas, where Snellings polled 51.5 and 58.2 percent, respectively. Snellings would later become the father-in-law of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
Mary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
.
In 1970, Whetstone was reelected to his third term on the state board over the Republican Neil R. McDonald. Whetstone polled 26,463 votes (72 percent) to McDonald's 10,307 (28 percent). McDonald's strongest support came in Ouachita Parish, where he finished with 35.3 percent of the ballots. In most of the precincts in northeast Louisiana, the Whetstone-McDonald race was the only contest on the ballot in the 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...
that year.
Whetstone held other positions impacting education. He was a 16-year member of the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities. He was president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
(then Northeast Louisiana University) Scholarship Foundation. He served two appointed terms on the Louisiana Educational Television Authority. He also served two elected terms on the Monroe City School Board.
His civic activities were endless: baseball umpire and coach, president of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, the Chamber's "Man of the Year" in 1978, member of the West Monroe Chamber of Commerce, director of the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
and the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, chairman of United Way, Rotary Club, Louisiana Farm Bureau, Ouachita Valley River Association, and the Louisiana Forestry Association. He was cited for "Outstanding Citizen Recognition" by the Louisiana Municipal Review. In 1986, Northeast Louisiana University granted Whetstone an honorary LL.D.
Whetstone was Methodist and active in the Northeast University Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
Foundation. After retirement, he farmed in Morehouse Parish near Monroe. Other prominent Morehouse Parish planters include the Barhams, brothers Edwards Barham
Edwards Barham
Erle Edwards Barham is an American farmer and conservationist in Oak Ridge, a village in Morehouse Parish in north Louisiana, best known for having been the first Republican elected—by a 29-vote margin—to the Louisiana State Senate since the era of Reconstruction. Barham represented the...
and Robert J. Barham
Robert J. Barham
Robert Jocelyn Barham is a large-scale farmer from Morehouse Parish who has been appointed by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as the secretary of the state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries...
, who have also served in the Louisiana State Senate
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...
.
Whetstone died in Monroe and is interred beside his wife at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Oak Ridge.