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| parents=Julius Luther and Mary Theodosia Shumaker Willis}}
| parents=Julius Luther and Mary Theodosia Shumaker Willis}}
'''Horace Luther Willis''', known as '''H. L. Willis''' (March 5, 1892 – June 12, 1979),<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=54473746|title=Horace Luther Willis|publisher=finagrave.com|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref> was the long-term building superintendent at [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated Louisiana College who served from 1952 to 1954 as the [[mayor]] of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]].
'''Horace Luther Willis''', known as '''H. L. Willis''' (March 5, 1892 – June 12, 1979),<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=54473746|title=Horace Luther Willis|publisher=finagrave.com|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref> was the long-term building superintendent at [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated Louisiana College who served from 1952 to 1954 as the [[mayor]] of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]].
==Background==
==Background==
Willis was born in the Winn Parish community of Newport to a Southern Baptist couple, [[farmer]] Julius Luther Willis (1867-1934) and the former Mary Theodosia Shumaker (1866-1936). He had six siblings, all of whom he outlived. Two died before the age of three. Julius Willis died at the age of sixty-seven from injuries sustained when he was struck by a car on the Dodson Road in Winnfield while he was attempting to retrieve a wandering cow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=54460232|title=Julius Luther Nugent|publisher=''Winn Parish Enterprise''|date=April 26, 1934|location=Winnfield, Louisiana|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref> Mary Willis died of an illness two years after her husband. The state legislator and journalist Harley Bozeman of Winnfield, a confidante of [[Huey Long]], was a pallbearer at her funeral. Julius and Mary Willis are interred at Winnfield Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=54460227|title=Mary Theodosia Shumaker Willis|publisher=''Winn Parish Enterprise''|date=November 18, 1936|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref>
Willis was born in the Winn Parish community of Newport to a Southern Baptist couple, [[farmer]] Julius Luther Willis (1867-1934) and the former Mary Theodosia Shumaker (1866-1936). He had six siblings, all of whom he outlived. Two died before the age of three. Julius Willis died at the age of sixty-seven from injuries sustained when he was struck by a car on the Dodson Road in Winnfield while he was attempting to retrieve a wandering cow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=54460232|title=Julius Luther Nugent|publisher=''Winn Parish Enterprise''|date=April 26, 1934|location=Winnfield, Louisiana|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref> Mary Willis died of an illness two years after her husband. The state legislator and journalist Harley Bozeman of Winnfield, a confidante of [[Huey Long]], was a pallbearer at her funeral. Julius and Mary Willis are interred at Winnfield Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=54460227|title=Mary Theodosia Shumaker Willis|publisher=''Winn Parish Enterprise''|date=November 18, 1936|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref>
==Career==
==Career==
Willis graduated in 1919 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from Louisiana College and was the first winner of the intercollegiate medal for track and field awarded in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]]. For decades he was one of the most recognized faces on the LC campus through his position for fifty years as the superintendent of grounds and buildings.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OjpHAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA78&lpg=RA2-PA78&dq=Horace+Luther+Willis&source=bl&ots=eETbV8oV_Z&sig=IvL2AQT-ByzPelM3JdWerFCTgL4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAWoVChMI9vzY3br2xgIVgooNCh3Pww_R#v=onepage&q=Horace%20Luther%20Willis&f=false|title=Catalog of Louisiana College Session ... with Announcements for the Session ...|page=78|publisher=[[Louisiana College]]|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref><ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Willis&GSfn=H&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1148&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=54473746&df=all&|title=Horace Luther Willis|publisher=''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk'' on findagrave.com|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref> In the summer of 1932, the Louisiana College power plant was struck by a bolt of lightning and a student assistant engineer was injured. The problem was not resolve until January 1933.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/2715913/|title=Switch at Louisiana College is repaired|publisher=''Ruston Daily Leader''|date=January 26, 1933|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref>
Willis graduated in 1919 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from Louisiana College and was the first winner of the intercollegiate medal for track and field awarded in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]]. For decades he was one of the most recognized faces on the LC campus through his position for fifty years as the superintendent of grounds and buildings.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OjpHAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA78&lpg=RA2-PA78&dq=Horace+Luther+Willis&source=bl&ots=eETbV8oV_Z&sig=IvL2AQT-ByzPelM3JdWerFCTgL4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAWoVChMI9vzY3br2xgIVgooNCh3Pww_R#v=onepage&q=Horace%20Luther%20Willis&f=false|title=Catalog of Louisiana College Session ... with Announcements for the Session ...|page=78|publisher=[[Louisiana College]]|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref><ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Willis&GSfn=H&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1148&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=54473746&df=all&|title=Horace Luther Willis|publisher=''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk'' on findagrave.com|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref> In the summer of 1932, the Louisiana College power plant was struck by a bolt of lightning and a student assistant engineer was injured. The problem was not resolve until January 1933.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/2715913/|title=Switch at Louisiana College is repaired|publisher=''Ruston Daily Leader''|date=January 26, 1933|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref>
A veteran of the [[United States Army]], Willis served overseas during [[World War I]], with the 7t5h Railroad Artillery as chief mechanic before his discharge in 1919. In 1926, he was commissioned in the [[Louisiana National Guard]] as a second lieutenant; in 1943, he was placed on inactive reserve with the rank of [[major]]. Willis was highly involved in civic activities. A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], he served on the Pineville City Council from 1946 to 1952.<ref name=bio/> When [[Wille Kees|Willie E. Kees, Jr.]], resigned as mayor, the council appointed Willis to complete the term which expired on June 30, 1954.<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>
A veteran of the [[United States Army]], Willis served overseas during [[World War I]], with the 7t5h Railroad Artillery as chief mechanic before his discharge in 1919. In 1926, he was commissioned in the Louisiana National Guard as a second lieutenant; in 1943, he was placed on inactive reserve with the rank of major. Willis was highly involved in civic activities. A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], he served on the Pineville City Council from 1946 to 1952.<ref name=bio/> When [[Willie Kees|Willie E. Kees, Jr.]], resigned as mayor, the council appointed Willis to complete the term which expired on June 30, 1954.<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>
He was a member and president of the Red River Atchafalaya and Bayou Bouef Levee Board. For a decade, he was the Pineville civil defense director.<ref name=bio/>
He was a member and president of the Red River Atchafalaya and Bayou Bouef Levee Board. For a decade, he was the Pineville civil defense director.<ref name=bio/>