| 1918 May 28 |
Born in Grayson, Caldwell Parish, La. His father is a farmer and contractor. | 1940 | Graduated from Louisiana State University. | 1942 | Graduated from Louisiana State University Law School. | 1942 | Marries Marjorie Howell Funderburk. They will have six children including Fox who serves as Louisiana Secretary of State (1987-). Sets up a law practice in Columbia. | 1945 | Honorable discharge from the Army after serving in World War II. | 1947 | Elected to the State House of Representatives and serves as a floor leader for Governor Earl K. Long. | 1951 | Loses race for Lt. Governor on the Long organization ticket with Carlos Spaht. C. E Cap Barham takes the post with Governor Robert F. Kennon as governor. | 1954 | Elected to the Public Service Commission representing north Louisiana and works to keep the nickel phone call alive. | 1963 | Runs for Governor of Louisiana against fore runner Governor Robert F. Kennon as well as New Orleans Mayor deLesseps S. Chep Morrison, Gillis Long of Alexandria and Education Superintendent Shelby Jackson. In the Democratic primary McKeithen forces a run-off with Morrison by promising the West Bank to take away bridge tolls on the downtown bridge. After picking up Jackson's segregationist support wins a spot in the general election against Republican Charlton Lyons. He wins the governor's seat with his trademark line Will you he'p me? which was a result of a long day of shooting commercials for the race. |
1964-1972 | Governor of Louisiana. McKeithen is the first Louisiana governor in the this century to serve two consecutive terms. Previously they had been constitutionally barred from succeeding themselves. Although he was elected as a segregationist he was able to guide the state away from the racial strife that ravaged other southern states by working for racial harmony. His reform plan for the first term included the statelines first code of ethics and was headed by former governor Sam Jones. He aggressively sought economic development for the whole state |
1965 | A racial crisis is quelled in Bogalousa by McKeithen with the help of civil rights leader A. Z. Young | 1965 | Pushes legislation leading to the construction of the Superdome and a second down bridge for New Orleans. He also wins legislation to allow a second consecutive term for governors. |
1965 | McKeithen appoints the state's first two African-American judges Isreal Augustine and Dutch Morial. | 1967 | Wins a second term easily over a Klan-backed candidate. | 1967 | His second term is less effective and runs into fiscal problems leading to a tax increase and charges of Mafia influences in the revenue department. | 1972 | Loses a race for U.S. Senate to J. Bennett Johnston and returns to his law practice. | 1981 | Appointed to the LSU Board of Supervisors by Governor Dave Treen. He will continue this position under governors Edwards and Roemer | 1991 | Resigns from the Caldwell Country Club when a black high school golfer is barred from playing a tournament. | 1999 June 4 |
Dies at Citizens Medical Center in Columbia, Louisiana, his home town at age 81. |