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'''William Ezra Kees, Jr.''', known as ''''Willie Kees'' or as ''Willie E. Kees, Jr.''' (August 30, 1916 – June 12, 2002),<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=53835991|title=Willie E. Kees, Jr.|publisher=finagrave.com|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref> was a [[business]]man who served from 1946 to 1952 as the [[mayor]] of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]].
'''William Ezra Kees, Jr.''', known as ''''Willie Kees'' or as ''Willie E. Kees, Jr.''' (August 30, 1916 – June 12, 2002),<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=53835991|title=Willie E. Kees, Jr.|publisher=finagrave.com|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref> was a [[business]]man who served from 1946 to 1952 as the [[mayor]] of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]].
Kees was descended from a prominent Central Louisiana family which operated Kees General Store on the [[Red River]]. He was the third of four children of William "Billy" Kees, Sr. (1881-1938), who was named the Pineville postmaste] in 1911, when the mail office was located in the Kees store.<ref name=keespark/> His mother was the former Julia Elizabeth Bradford (1886-1961). He had two sisters, Ruby Kees Wise (1905-1975) and Myrtle Lucille Kees Freeman (1913-1998),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=106550480|title=William E. Kees, Sr.|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref> and a brother, Stafford Kees (1919-1991).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMRT-3VB|titlle=W. E. Kees|publisher=familysearch.org|accessdate=July 24, 2015}]</ref>
Kees was descended from a prominent Central Louisiana family which operated Kees General Store on the Red River. He was the third of four children of William "Billy" Kees, Sr. (1881-1938), who was named the Pineville postmaste] in 1911, when the mail office was located in the Kees store.<ref name=keespark/> His mother was the former Julia Elizabeth Bradford (1886-1961). He had two sisters, Ruby Kees Wise (1905-1975) and Myrtle Lucille Kees Freeman (1913-1998),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=106550480|title=William E. Kees, Sr.|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref> and a brother, Stafford Kees (1919-1991).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMRT-3VB|titlle=W. E. Kees|publisher=familysearch.org|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Kees was elected mayor at the age of twenty-nine. That same year a flood of the Red River spilled over into Pineville because of levee height and strength. However, the taller and stronger levee held in the sister city of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]. Mayor Kees set forth to bring the levee on the eastern side of the river on par with that in Alexandria.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-QGyaGsLxLYC&pg=PA226&lpg=PA226&dq=Willie+E.+Kees,+Jr.+of+Pineville&source=bl&ots=elegIHGf9X&sig=Men7nxEUB6L4Z5wlQaebU-o-JL0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEIQ6AEwBmoVChMI0rCm3_XyxgIVRo4NCh1L4Q7y#v=onepage&q=Willie%20E.%20Kees%2C%20Jr.%20of%20Pineville&f=false|title=Talk of the Town: The Rise of Alexandria, Louisiana, and the Daily Town
A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Kees was elected mayor at the age of twenty-nine. That same year a flood of the Red River spilled over into Pineville because of levee height and strength. However, the taller and stronger levee held in the sister city of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]. Mayor Kees set forth to bring the levee on the eastern side of the river on par with that in Alexandria.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-QGyaGsLxLYC&pg=PA226&lpg=PA226&dq=Willie+E.+Kees,+Jr.+of+Pineville&source=bl&ots=elegIHGf9X&sig=Men7nxEUB6L4Z5wlQaebU-o-JL0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEIQ6AEwBmoVChMI0rCm3_XyxgIVRo4NCh1L4Q7y#v=onepage&q=Willie%20E.%20Kees%2C%20Jr.%20of%20Pineville&f=false|title=Talk of the Town: The Rise of Alexandria, Louisiana, and the Daily Town
Talk|publisher=|author=Frederick Marcel Spletstoser|pages=125-126|publisher=[[Louisiana State University]] Press|location=[[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]]|date=2005|isbn=0-8071-2934-8|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
Talk|publisher=|author=Frederick Marcel Spletstoser|pages=125-126|publisher=[[Louisiana State University]] Press|location=[[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]]|date=2005|isbn=0-8071-2934-8|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
In 1948, Pineville had only one police car and one fire truck. With city finances at a low ebb, Kees went to his store, Kees General Store on the Red River to obtain gasoline for both vehicles. Nearly seventy years later the size of the city and its service employees have mushroomed beyond what many at that time would not have thought likely or possible.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thetowntalk.com/article/20060419/COMMUNITIES/50608024/Pineville-s-rich-history-dates-1714|title=Pineville's rich history dates to 1714|author=Oberia Price|publisher=''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk'|date=June 8, 2005|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
In 1948, Pineville had only one police car and one fire truck. With city finances at a low ebb, Kees went to his store, Kees General Store on the Red River to obtain gasoline for both vehicles. Nearly seventy years later the size of the city and its service employees have mushroomed beyond what many at that time would not have thought likely or possible.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thetowntalk.com/article/20060419/COMMUNITIES/50608024/Pineville-s-rich-history-dates-1714|title=Pineville's rich history dates to 1714|author=Oberia Price|publisher=''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk'|date=June 8, 2005|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
Kees resigned as mayor midway in his second term in August 1952 to become director of the 1,150-patient Louisiana Colony and Training School at nearby Kingsville. He was succeeded as mayor by Horace Luther "H. L." Willis (1892-1979), a five-year member of the Pineville City Council and a long-term building superintendent for his alma mater, Louisiana College.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thetowntalk.com/article/20120826/OPINION/208260321/From-Past|title=From the Past|date=August 26, 1952|publisher=''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk''|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref> Early in 1955, Kees was installed as superintendent of the state school. This brought him into conflict with clinical director William P. Hurder, a [[psychologist]] and [[physician]], with whom he had earlier shared authority. Kees' promotion touched off charges of "politics" in his selection. State Representative] Cecil R. Blair of Alexandria defended the selection. Because of the controversy, Kees resigned from the school to return to the private sector.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm/ref/collection/LSUHSC_NCC/id/2319|title=Hurder takes post as colony superintendent|publisher=louisdl.louislibraries.org|date=January 19, 1955|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/24584268/|title=State Colony Resignation Brings Rift|date=January 19, 1955|publisher=''Lake Charles American-Press''|page=2|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
Kees resigned as mayor midway in his second term in August 1952 to become director of the 1,150-patient Louisiana Colony and Training School at nearby Kingsville. He was succeeded as mayor by Horace Luther "H. L." Willis (1892-1979), a five-year member of the Pineville City Council and a long-term building superintendent for his alma mater, Louisiana College.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thetowntalk.com/article/20120826/OPINION/208260321/From-Past|title=From the Past|date=August 26, 1952|publisher=''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk''|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref> Early in 1955, Kees was installed as superintendent of the state school. This brought him into conflict with clinical director William P. Hurder, a [[psychologist]] and [[physician]], with whom he had earlier shared authority. Kees' promotion touched off charges of "politics" in his selection. State Representative] Cecil R. Blair of Alexandria defended the selection. Because of the controversy, Kees resigned from the school to return to the private sector.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm/ref/collection/LSUHSC_NCC/id/2319|title=Hurder takes post as colony superintendent|publisher=louisdl.louislibraries.org|date=January 19, 1955|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/24584268/|title=State Colony Resignation Brings Rift|date=January 19, 1955|publisher=''Lake Charles American-Press''|page=2|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
Kees and his wife, the former Eloise Hutchinson (1917-2005), and other family members are interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville.<ref name=findagrave/>
Kees and his wife, the former Eloise Hutchinson (1917-2005), and other family members are interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville.<ref name=findagrave/>
Kees Park, located at the intersection of the Pineville Expressway and Louisiana Highway 28 East, is named for William Kees, Sr. The facility hosts a large number of community events.<ref name=keespark>{{cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=8ec70710-a4d1-4e5a-b4a3-c456233b5e97&gid=3|title=Kees Park historical marker|publisher=waymarking.com|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
Kees Park, located at the intersection of the Pineville Expressway and Louisiana Highway 28 East, is named for William Kees, Sr. The facility hosts a large number of community events.<ref name=keespark>{{cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=8ec70710-a4d1-4e5a-b4a3-c456233b5e97&gid=3|title=Kees Park historical marker|publisher=waymarking.com|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
==References==
==References==