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'''Hall McCord Lyons''' (December 22, 1923 -- July 22, 1998) was a [[Shreveport]] and, later, Lafayette oilman who for a short time was a pioneer in the establishment of a competitive [[Republican Party]] in [[Louisiana]]. He was the son of the party's 1964 gubernatorial nominee, [[Charlton Lyons]]. However, in 1972, despite his father's wishes, Hall Lyons left the GOP to run as the American Independent Party -- the former [[George Wallace]] organization -- nominee for the [[United States Senate]].

'''Hall McCord Lyons''' (December 22, 1923 -- July 22, 1998) was a [[Shreveport]] and, later, Lafayette oilman who for a short time was a pioneer in the establishment of a competitive [[Republican Party]] in [[Louisiana]]. He was the son of the party's 1964 gubernatorial nominee, [[Charlton Lyons]]. However, in 1972, despite his father's wishes, Hall Lyons left the GOP to run as the American Independent Party -- the former [[George Wallace]] organization -- nominee for the [[United States Senate]].

'''5 References'''  

'''5 References'''  

   

   

'''Early years, education, military'''

==Early years, education, military=='

Lyons was born in Shreveport to Charlton Havard Lyons, Sr. (1894-1973), and the former Marjorie Gladys Hall (1895-1971), an actress originally from [[Wisconsin]] for whom the "Marjorie Lyons Playhouse" on the campus of Centenary College in Shreveport is named. He attended the private Southfield elementary school in Shreveport. He then transferred to the Lawrenceville School, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and then attended Louisiana Tech University (at the time "Louisiana Polytechnic Institute") in Ruston.

Lyons was born in Shreveport to Charlton Havard Lyons, Sr. (1894-1973), and the former Marjorie Gladys Hall (1895-1971), an actress originally from [[Wisconsin]] for whom the "Marjorie Lyons Playhouse" on the campus of Centenary College in Shreveport is named. He attended the private Southfield elementary school in Shreveport. He then transferred to the Lawrenceville School, in Lawrenceville,[[ New Jersey]], and then attended [[Louisiana Tech University]] (at the time "Louisiana Polytechnic Institute") in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]].

Lyons volunteered for the U.S. Navy in World War II. Commissioned an ensign, Lyons was posted in the Leyte Gulf in the [[Philippines]]. He was part of the liberation of [[Okinawa]]. After the war ended, he returned home to attend [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. He received a degree in arts and sciences in June 1949.

Lyons volunteered for the U.S. Navy in World War II. Commissioned an ensign, Lyons was posted in the Leyte Gulf in the [[Philippines]]. He was part of the liberation of [[Okinawa]]. After the war ended, he returned home to attend [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. He received a degree in arts and sciences in June 1949.

He was a partner in C. H. Lyons Petroleum in Shreveport. He moved to Lafayette in 1964 to become an independent operator there. His father had lost the governor's election that year to the Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]], but the family retained a keen interest in promoting the Republican Party in Louisiana.  

He was a partner in C. H. Lyons Petroleum in Shreveport. He moved to Lafayette in 1964 to become an independent operator there. His father had lost the governor's election that year to the Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]], but the family retained a keen interest in promoting the Republican Party in Louisiana.  

Challenging Edwin Willis for Congress

 

==Challenging Edwin Willis for Congress==

In 1966, Hall Lyons challenged the reelection of veteran Third District Democratic Congressman Edwin Edward Willis, a member of the Long political faction. The atmosphere of 1966 seemed encouraging to Republicans in Lafayette. Roderick Miller of Lafayette had just become only the third Republican in modern times to win a state legislative seat in a special election. Lyons painted Willis as subservient to President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and the [[Great Society]] programs. Willis nevertheless won, but never before had he faced such a competitive Republican. Willis received 46,533 votes (59.7 percent) to Lyons' 31,444 (40.3 percent).

In 1966, Hall Lyons challenged the reelection of veteran Third District Democratic Congressman Edwin Edward Willis, a member of the Long political faction. The atmosphere of 1966 seemed encouraging to Republicans in Lafayette. Roderick Miller of Lafayette had just become only the third Republican in modern times to win a state legislative seat in a special election. Lyons painted Willis as subservient to President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and the [[Great Society]] programs. Willis nevertheless won, but never before had he faced such a competitive Republican. Willis received 46,533 votes (59.7 percent) to Lyons' 31,444 (40.3 percent).

Do conservatives have a home in the GOP?

==Do conservatives have a home in the GOP?==

In 1968, Charlton Lyons attended the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach and thereafter headed the Louisiana campaign to elect Nixon as president; He had similarly worked for Barry M. Goldwater in 1964. Hall Lyons, however, favored former Alabama Governor George Wallace, a populist-style Democrat and then segregationist, who was running under his own "American Independent Party" label. Wallace won Louisiana's ten electoral votes, and Nixon ran a weak third in the state, losing out even to Democratic national nominee Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

In 1968, Charlton Lyons attended the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach and thereafter headed the Louisiana campaign to elect Nixon as president; He had similarly worked for Barry M. Goldwater in 1964. Hall Lyons, however, favored former Alabama Governor George Wallace, a populist-style Democrat and then segregationist, who was running under his own "American Independent Party" label. Wallace won Louisiana's ten electoral votes, and Nixon ran a weak third in the state, losing out even to Democratic national nominee Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

'''Lyons' obituary'''

==Lyons' obituary==

Hall Lyons died in Jefferson, Louisiana, in Jefferson Parish after a brief illness. He had been in semi-retirement on Grand Isle in the Gulf of Mexico for a number of years. While Lyons was in Shreveport, he had been active in the musical community. He was a former president of the Shreveport Symphony. He sang numerous principal and supporting roles in operas produced by the symphony. He was an optimistic person with a big smile and a pleasant personality.

Hall Lyons died in Jefferson, Louisiana, in Jefferson Parish after a brief illness. He had been in semi-retirement on Grand Isle in the Gulf of Mexico for a number of years. While Lyons was in Shreveport, he had been active in the musical community. He was a former president of the Shreveport Symphony. He sang numerous principal and supporting roles in operas produced by the symphony. He was an optimistic person with a big smile and a pleasant personality.

'''References'''

==References=='

 

 

Billy Hathorn, "The Republican Party in Louisiana, 1920-1980", Master's thesis at Northwestern State University at Natchitoches, 1980

Billy Hathorn, "The Republican Party in Louisiana, 1920-1980", Master's thesis at Northwestern State University at Natchitoches, 1980

[[Category:Louisiana]]

[[Category:Louisiana]]

[[Category:Business People]]

[[Category:Business People]]

[[Category:Republican Party]]

[[Category:Former Republicans]]

[[Category:Mormons]]

[[Category:Mormons]]