Henry L. Fuqua

Henry Luse Fuqua ( born November 8, 1865 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, † October 11, 1926 ) was an American politician and 1924-1926 Governor of the State of Louisiana.

Early years and political rise

Henry Fuqua attended Magruder 's Collegiate Institute and the Louisiana State University. After that, he was employed for a short time at a railway company, then he worked as a trader. Finally he built in Baton Rouge own hardware store on which he ran 1883-1922.

Henry Fuqua was a member of the Democratic Party. Besides his work in his iron goods company Fuqua was from 1916 to 1924 head of the penitentiary of Louisiana. In this capacity, he dismissed most of the old guards and replaced them with guards who had the confidence of the prisoners. This part of the stresses at the institution was shut down. He also managed the strips from the convict uniforms. In 1922 the institution was enlarged through the purchase. On April 22, 1924 Fuqua was chosen as the candidate of his party for the new governor of his state.

Governor of Louisiana

Henry Fuqua took up his new post on 19 May 1924. As Governor, he continued the begun by his predecessor, John Milliken Parker fight against the influential Ku Klux Klan. To this end, wearing masks became a punishable offense and crimes that were committed with a mask, have been punished more severely. Excluded from this prohibition mask was of course the well-known in New Orleans under the name Mardi Gras Carnival. Otherwise, the budget for the Louisiana State University has been increased and expanded the road network of the state. The award of the concession of a bridge over Lake Pontchartrain to the represented by former Governor Jared Y. Sanders Watson -Williams group broke from internal political discussions. Governor Henry Fuqua passed away on October 11, 1926 nor during his tenure and Vice Governor Oramel H. Simpson had to quit the partly tenure. With his wife Laura Matta he had two children.