E. W. Gravolet

Ezekiel Winnfield Kelly Gravolet, Jr., usually known as E. W. Gravolet or E. W. "Kelly" Gravolet (March 11, 1919–October 24, 1968), was a businessman from Pointe a la Hache, Louisiana, who served in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature from 1948 until his death at the age of forty-nine.

Gravolet was the son of E. W. Gravolet, Sr., and the former Marceline Hingle. He was born in Pointe à la Hache^[1] and educated at Holy Cross High School in New Orleans. He received an undergraduate degree from Loyola University New Orleans and a law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Gravolet married the former Grace Corrine Miller (1919–2000), a daughter of Lloyd and Ruby Miller and a native of Gainesville, Florida. Grace's first husband was King Austin Yawn, Jr. Grace's son and E. W.'s stepson was King Austin Yawn, III (1941–2000), who preceded his mother in death by some two months.^[2] The couple's two surviving daughters are Grace Kay Gravolet Priestly and Gayle Marceline Gravolet Loupe, later Gayle Darden. A third daughter, Patricia Grace Gravolet, died on December 8, 1951, at the age of ten days.^[3]

During World War II, Gravolet served in the United States Army Air Corps, forerunner of the United States Air Force. He thereafter assumed management in 1950 of his father's seafood canning business.^[4] He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1948, with the return of Earl Kemp Long to the state's governorship. He served in the House until 1960,^[5] when he was elected to the Louisiana State Senate. He was the Senate President Pro Tem during the administration of Governor John J. McKeithen from 1964 until his death. Gravolet's Senate District 26 included Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and Jefferson parishes.^[6]

Gravolet was allied with Plaquemines Parish political boss Leander Perez in unsuccessfully opposing the desegregation of public schools.^[4] He also helped write and sponsored numerous grants-in-aid bills.^[4]

A Roman Catholic, Gravolet is interred alongside his wife at the St. Thomas Catholic Church Cemetery in Pointe à la Hache.^[4][7]

Gravolet died less than a year into his third Senate term. In a special election in 1969, his fellow Democrat, Sammy Nunez of Chalmette, won the seat and held it until 1996.

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