Robert Floyd Kennon (August 12, 1902 - January 11, 1988) was the Democratic governor of the state of Louisiana, United States between 1952-1956. August 12 is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1902 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... January 11 is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... A governor is also a device that regulates the speed of a machine. ... State nickname: Pelican State Other U.S. States Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans Governor Kathleen Blanco (D) Senators Mary Landrieu (D) David Vitter (R) Official language(s) None; English and French de facto Area 134,382 km² (31st)  - Land 112,927 km²  - Water 21,455 km² (16%) Population... 1952 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

After the Brown v. Board of Education decision, Kennon said that the Louisiana state legislature would provide a public school system "which will include segregation in fact." Kennon also ordered the enforcement of laws relating to segregation. Holding Racial segregation in public education violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment; separate facilities are “inherently unequal. ... It has been suggested that Apartheid outside South Africa be merged into this article or section. ...

On numerous occasions, Kennon backed Republican candidates for President, such as Dwight Eisenhower, Barry Goldwater, and Gerald Ford. Dwight David Ike Eisenhower (October 14, 1890–March 28, 1969), American soldier and politician, was the 34th President of the United States (1953–1961) and supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, with the rank of General of the Army. ... Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater (January 1, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was a United States politician and a founding figure in the modern conservative movement in the USA. Goldwater personified the shift in balance in American culture from the Northeast to the West. ... Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. ...

After his term ended in 1956, Kennon unsuccessfully attempted to run for Governor again in 1963. 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1963 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Early Life and Education

He was the fifth child of Floyd and Annie Laura Bopp Kennon. An avid Boy Scout, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He grew up in Minden, Louisiana, and graduated from Minden High School in 1919. He attended LSU, where he received many honors. At the end of his freshman year, he received an award for the best academic record. He was captain of his company in ROTC, as well as the vice president of the Interfraternity Council. He also partcipated in debate team and wrote for the school paper. He earned his first letter playing center for the LSU football team. He helped organize LSU's tennis team and was one of the first two people to letter in tennis at LSU. He graduated LSU in June of 1923. Polish Boy Scouts fighting in the Warsaw Uprising Boy Scouts originally denoted the organization that developed and rapidly grew up during 1908 in the wake of the publication by Lord Robert Baden-Powell of his book Scouting for Boys. ... Minden is a small city located in Webster Parish, Louisiana, twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport. ... Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, or simply Louisiana State University or LSU is a public university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the main campus of the Louisiana State University System. ... The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a training program of the United States armed forces present on college campuses to recruit and educate commissioned officers. ...

Kennon then attended LSU Law School, graduating in June of 1925. In July of 1925, he passed the bar exam at the age of 22. By the time he was 23, he had successfully challenged the incumbent Minden Mayor, Connell Fort, making him the youngest mayor in the United States. Although his term was considered to be successful, he did not seek reelection. He was a commander in the National Guard during his stint as mayor.

Early Political Career

In 1930, he won the election for District Attorney for the 26th Judicial District and would serve for 11 years. He also married Eugenia Sentell that year. Eugenia was a graduate of Louisiana Tech and taught Home Economics. More importantly, she was a wonderful hostess and was able to cultivate several friendships that would later play key roles in her husband's race for Governor. A district attorney is the title of an American public official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminals. ...

During his time as the D.A., he chose not to seek indictments for several high profile cases, even though there was enough evidence to support the indictments. He was very popular with many citizens of Webster Parish and North Louisiana. During this time, he had also attained the rank of Lt. Colonel in the National Guard, making him one of the highest ranked officers. He was active with the Masonic Lodge and was named Most Worshipful Grand Master of Louisiana Masons in 1936. In most areas of the world Masons gather together in Masonic Lodges to work the three degrees of Freemasonry: 1° = Entered Apprentice 2° = Fellow Craft 3° = Master Mason Blue Lodge is used to specify the basic Masonic Lodge granting the first three degrees and to differentiate it from other Masonic...

Kennon took advantage of his growing circle of influential friends and ran for the Justice of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 1940. He almost won a victory in the primary, but he was just shy of it with 46% of the vote. In the run off, his opponent was the incumbent Judge Harmon C. Drew, a fellow citizen of Minden. He was a powerful opponent, and the Drew family has often held judicial positions in North Louisiana for 150 years. The race was close, with quite a bit of mud slinging. Kennon won by a margin of 9,000 votes, but did not carry his home parish (Webster) or Bossier Parish.

The seat would not become vacant until 1942. As an active member of the National Guard, he was called to duty in 1941. Although Kennon did not see active combat, he did not return home from World War II until May of 1945. Judge Drew served as Justice until Kennon returned to claim his seat in 1945. World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb. ...

When U.S. Senator John Overton died in office, a special election was called. Kennon's opponent, Russell Long of the Huey Long family was still too young to take office at the time the election. It was a close a election, but Kennon ultimately lost by about 11,000 votes. However, since the race was so close, many of the anti-Long faction began to consider him as a possible candidate for governor.