Oramel H. Simpson

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Oramel H. Simpson (March 20, 1870 -- November 17, 1932) became governor of the state of Louisiana in 1926, upon the death of his predecessor, Henry L. Fuqua.

Simpson was born in Washington, a small town in St. Landry Parish. He was educated at Centenary College, then in Jackson but later moved to Shreveport. He also attended the Tulane University Law School in New Orleans. Simpson achieved the rank of lieutenant governor before Fuqua's death and succeeded to the governorship on October 11, 1926.

During his term as governor, Simpson, a Democrat, opposed a toll bridge across the eastern portion of Lake Pontchartrain which was being built to connect New Orleans and Slidell in St. Tammany Parish. Simpson proposed instead that a free bridge to be built from Chef Menteur, but influential figures in New Orleans worked to authorize the toll bridge built despite Simpson's objections. However, Simpson was able to start a free ferry service, which reduced the revenue to the toll bridge.

The Ku Klux Klan proved to be a problem during Simpson's term of office. Legislation was passed to outlaw hoods, masks and robes excepting those worn during Mardi Gras and at masked balls or parties.

A great flood in 1927 forced Simpson to order a "downriver cut" of the levee in order to protect New Orleans. Afterwards, the affected states of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi worked together to secure federal aid for flood prevention. Also, property owners from the downriver parishes were compensated by the state for losses resulting from the levee cut.

Simpson became secretary of the state Senate after leaving office. He died of a heart seizure in New Orleans some two weeks after the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt as president.