Governor Sam Houston Jones
Born: July 15, 1897 in Merryville, LA
Died: February 8, 1978 in Lake Charles, LA
Elected Governor of Louisiana in 1940

Sam Jones broke the 12-year hold on the Governor's office enjoyed by the Long faction in Louisiana politics. Following the "Louisiana Scandals" of 1939 which focused voters' attention on the corruption of Long's followers, Jones won the gubernatorial election of 1940 defeating Earl Long. Jones had no experience in state government but promised - and delivered - an honest administration. He enacted civil service legislation, established competitive bidding for state purchases, and abolished the practice of annual voter registration. Jones governed during wartime, a difficult period to administer new policies. The reduction of executive power further hindered him. Jones did continue several of the Long programs including free lunches for school- children, equal pay for black and white teachers, increased funding of state colleges and aid to the blind, elderly and indigent families. Chiefly, he restored state and national respect for Louisiana.  Jones did not build a political dynasty. He ran again in 1948, against Earl Long but, as one historian wrote, "Long outpromised Jones." Jones' heritage of good government continues in a group he helped found, the Public Affairs Research Council.

Chris "Red" Cagle
Born: May 1, 1905 in DeRidder, LA
Died: December 26, 1942 in New York, NY

Born in DeRidder, LA he was one of eight children, including 5 brothers and 2 sisters.  Christ attended Merryville High School from 1922 until 1929.  According to legend, he was known for getting off the bus and racing it to school, a race that he quite often won.  The football field at Merryville High School is named Kenner Cagle Field in his honor.  Chris secretly married Marian Haile after meeting her at Louisiana-Lafayette.  Marriage was forbidding at West Point and he was forced to resign from the academy.  Cagle died in 1942, at 37 years of age, from a peculiar mishap the day after Christmas.  He was discovered unconscious at the bottom of a Manhattan subway stairwell.  According to a report he tripped and fell the full length of a flight of subway steps.  He died three days later of a fractured skull. 

Chris "Red" Cagle played college football eight years. He starred at Southwestern Louisiana 1922-25, scoring 235 points on touchdowns, extra points and field goals. This was a school record that lasted until 1989. Cagle played four more years for Army 1926-29, and was All-America halfback the last three years. His longest runs were 75 yards against Yale, 1928; 70 yards against Ohio Wesleyan and 65 yards against Yale, 1929. In four years at Army he scored 169 points, averaged 6.4 yards per attempt in rushing and 26.4 yards on kickoff returns. He was team captain at SW LA in 1925 and Army in 1929. Cagle was a dashing runner who played with the chin strap loose from his helmet, and sometimes without helmet. Southwestern LA had a 23-11-3 record in his time; Army was 30-8-2 with Cagle. Thus he played in 53 winning games in college. He was listed at 5-10 and 167 pounds. He also played five years in pro football and in 1934 founded the Touchdown Club of New York with Pudge Heffelfinger, John Heisman and Charles Pearson.  Chris was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.
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