Changes

[[Business]]man​

[[Business]]man​

| spouse= Maxine Evans Batton ​

| spouse= Maxine Evans Batton ​

| children=Roger Evans Batton<br>​

| children=Roger Evans Batton​

John Willis Batton<br>​

John Willis Batton​

Karen Sue Batton​

Karen Sue Batton​

| relations=[[Jack Batton]] (brother)​

| relations=[[Jack Batton]] (brother)​

Police Chief Batton and Sheriff O. H. Haynes, Sr., net in a runoff election held on February 19, 1952. Batton unseated the senior sheriff by 43 votes, 5,444 (50.2 percent) to 5,401 (49.8 percent).<ref>"Batton Elected Sheriff," ''Minden Herald'', February 21, 1952, p. 1.</ref> On January 17, 1956, in conjunction with the successful gubernatorial comeback waged by [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], Batton thwarted the attempt by former Sheriff Haynes, then sixty-seven, to return to office as well as the candidacy of C. Kelly McWilliams of Sarepta. Batton received 5,254 votes; Haynes, Sr., 3,134, and McWilliams, 1,493.<ref>"Batton Wins in First Primary", ''Minden Herald'', January 19, 1956, p. 1.</ref>​

Police Chief Batton and Sheriff O. H. Haynes, Sr., net in a runoff election held on February 19, 1952. Batton unseated the senior sheriff by 43 votes, 5,444 (50.2 percent) to 5,401 (49.8 percent).<ref>"Batton Elected Sheriff," ''Minden Herald'', February 21, 1952, p. 1.</ref> On January 17, 1956, in conjunction with the successful gubernatorial comeback waged by [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], Batton thwarted the attempt by former Sheriff Haynes, then sixty-seven, to return to office as well as the candidacy of C. Kelly McWilliams of Sarepta. Batton received 5,254 votes; Haynes, Sr., 3,134, and McWilliams, 1,493.<ref>"Batton Wins in First Primary", ''Minden Herald'', January 19, 1956, p. 1.</ref>​

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Shortly after his first reelection, Batton was named one of seventeen directors of the Webster Parish Citizens' Council, a body which sought to prevent school desegregation.  Others in the council were the mortician Ed Kleinegger, Tax Assessor Richard B. Garrison, and the Minden High School principal, [[W. W. Williams]].<ref>"Rainach to Speak at Council Meet Tomorrow Night," ''Minden Press,'' April 16, 1956, p. 1.</ref>​

Shortly after his first reelection, Batton was named one of seventeen directors of the Webster Parish Citizens' Council, a body which sought to prevent school desegregation.  Others in the council were the mortician Ed Kleinegger, Tax Assessor Richard B. Garrison, and the Minden High School principal, [[W. W. Williams, Jr.]].<ref>"Rainach to Speak at Council Meet Tomorrow Night," ''Minden Press,'' April 16, 1956, p. 1.</ref>​

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====Key deputies====​

====Key deputies====

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Long-serving deputy Clarence Roland Hennigan (1905-1992),<ref name=hennigangrave>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=20795846|title=Clarence Roland Hennigan|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 12, 2014}}</ref> a native of bordering Bienville Parish and the father of the retired professional [[football]] player Charlie Hennigan, joined the sheriff's department under Batton and was still in service at the time of his death<ref name=hennigangrave/> At the time he was the oldest active deputy in the state. Hennigan recalls that in 1952 the department had eight deputies, two per shift. So primitive were communications that the sheriff's telephone was on a pole in front of the current downtown courthouse, which opened in 1953.<ref name=crhennigan/>​

Long-serving deputy Clarence Roland Hennigan (1905-1992),<ref name=hennigangrave>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=20795846|title=Clarence Roland Hennigan|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 12, 2014}}</ref> a native of bordering Bienville Parish and the father of the retired professional [[football]] player Charlie Hennigan, joined the sheriff's department under Batton and was still in service at the time of his death<ref name=hennigangrave/> At the time he was the oldest active deputy in the state. Hennigan recalls that in 1952 the department had eight deputies, two per shift. So primitive were communications that the sheriff's telephone was on a pole in front of the current downtown courthouse, which opened in 1953.<ref name=crhennigan/>​

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Another long-serving deputy who began his law-enforcement tenure in the tax-collection division in 1956 under Sheriff Batton was Thomas Cameron "T. C." Bloxom, Jr. (1929-2014), a native of Mansfield in DeSoto Parish. Bloxom continued in the department and was named chief criminal deputy under Sheriffs Haynes, Jr., and then Royce L. "Doc" McMahen, until he resigned in 1982, joined the [[coroner]]'s office as an investigator,<ref>Marilyn Miller, "T. C. Bloxom Retires from Law Enforcement: Well, I Gave It My Best Shot", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 6, 1982, p. 1.</ref> and then challenged McMahen unsuccessfully for reelection to a second term as sheriff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10221983/10221983_60.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/22/1983: Webster Parish|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 13, 2014}}</ref> The Democrat Bloxom ran again for sheriff in 1999, when he polled 45.7 percent of the vote against the incumbent [[Larkin T. Riser]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10231999/10231999_60.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/23/1999: Webster Parish|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=September 15, 2014}}</ref>​ McMahen's son, [[Royce Wayne McMahen is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] and the current state representative for Webster Parish.  

Another long-serving deputy who began his law-enforcement tenure in the tax-collection division in 1956 under Sheriff Batton was Thomas Cameron "T. C." Bloxom, Jr. (1929-2014), a native of Mansfield in DeSoto Parish. Bloxom continued in the department and was named chief criminal deputy under Sheriffs Haynes, Jr., and then Royce L. "Doc" McMahen, until he resigned in 1982, joined the coroner's office as an investigator,<ref>Marilyn Miller, "T. C. Bloxom Retires from Law Enforcement: Well, I Gave It My Best Shot", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 6, 1982, p. 1.</ref> and then challenged McMahen unsuccessfully for reelection to a second term as sheriff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10221983/10221983_60.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/22/1983: Webster Parish|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 13, 2014}}</ref> The Democrat Bloxom ran again for sheriff in 1999, when he polled 45.7 percent of the vote against the incumbent [[Larkin T. Riser]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10231999/10231999_60.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/23/1999: Webster Parish|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=September 15, 2014}}</ref>​ McMahen's son, [[Royce Wayne McMahen is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] and the current state representative for Webster Parish.  

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In 1962, Batton hired as a deputy John T. Kennon, Jr. (1928-2005), a nephew of former Louisiana Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]], a former Minden mayor, district attorney, and circuit court judge.<ref>"Kennon Hired As Sheriff's Deputy Here", ''Minden Herald'', May 17, 1962, p. 1.</ref> John Kennon later served as the Minden city marshal and ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in the 1971 Democratic primary against O. H. Haynes, Jr.​

In 1962, Batton hired as a deputy John T. Kennon, Jr. (1928-2005), a nephew of former Louisiana Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]], a former Minden mayor, district attorney, and circuit court judge.<ref>"Kennon Hired As Sheriff's Deputy Here", ''Minden Herald'', May 17, 1962, p. 1.</ref> John Kennon later served as the Minden city marshal and ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in the 1971 Democratic primary against O. H. Haynes, Jr.​

In the 1959 sheriff's campaign for his third term, Batton pledged to continue "a business-like administration" of the department, to fight juvenile delinquency and to maintain "our southern way of life."<ref>Batton advertisement, ''Minden Press'', November 30, 1959, p. 11.</ref>​

In the 1959 sheriff's campaign for his third term, Batton pledged to continue "a business-like administration" of the department, to fight juvenile delinquency and to maintain "our southern way of life."<ref>Batton advertisement, ''Minden Press'', November 30, 1959, p. 11.</ref>​

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In the 1959 returns, Batton narrowly prevailed over two opponents, businessman Lawrence Harold Gilbert (1911-1995) of Minden and Thomas Guice McGinty (1893-1983) of Sibley, the older brother of the Louisiana [[historian]] Garnie W. McGinty (1900-1984). Batton polled 4,211 votes to Gilbert's 4,063. McGinty held the remaining 145 votes cast, three votes more than required to avoid a runoff contest.<ref>"Batton Apparent Winner in Webster Sheriff's Race", ''The Shreveport Times'', December 7, 1959, p. 2-A.</ref> Sixteen absentee ballots from the Minden City Hall precinct which were not available for counting on the night of the election were tossed aside. A recount increased Batton's total to 4,222; Gilbert, 4,065, and McGinty, 148. Batton was four votes, instead of three, ahead of the 4,218 need to win the position outright.<ref>"Batton Increases Majority in Recount", ''Minden Herald'', December 10, 1959, p. 1.</ref>​

In the 1959 returns, Batton narrowly prevailed over two opponents, businessman Lawrence Harold Gilbert (1911-1995) of Minden and Thomas Guice McGinty (1893-1983) of Sibley, the older brother of the Louisiana [[historian]] Garnie William McGinty (1900-1984). Batton polled 4,211 votes to Gilbert's 4,063. McGinty held the remaining 145 votes cast, three votes more than required to avoid a runoff contest.<ref>"Batton Apparent Winner in Webster Sheriff's Race", ''The Shreveport Times'', December 7, 1959, p. 2-A.</ref> Sixteen absentee ballots from the Minden City Hall precinct which were not available for counting on the night of the election were tossed aside. A recount increased Batton's total to 4,222; Gilbert, 4,065, and McGinty, 148. Batton was four votes, instead of three, ahead of the 4,218 need to win the position outright.<ref>"Batton Increases Majority in Recount", ''Minden Herald'', December 10, 1959, p. 1.</ref>​

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Though Gilbert had threatened legal action,<ref>"Batton Declared Winner After 16 Absentee Votes Are Voided; Gilbert Plans Legal Action", ''Minden Press'', December 15, 1959, p. 1.</ref> he soon conceded his narrow loss. According to Gilbert, the attorney that he consulted said that any appeal had to be presented by midnight December 20 but more time was needed to prepare for any challenge which was likely to be successful.<ref>"Sheriff's Race Uncontested; Write-In Candidate Hinted", ''Minden Herald'', December 17, 1959, p. 1.</ref> Gilbert further indicated that any plan for legal action died when the Webster Parish Democratic Executive Committee certified Batton as the party nominee for sheriff.<ref>"Candidate Denies Plan to Contest Close Vote", ''The Shreveport Times'', December 16, 1959, p. 8-A.</ref>​

Though Gilbert had threatened legal action,<ref>"Batton Declared Winner After 16 Absentee Votes Are Voided; Gilbert Plans Legal Action", ''Minden Press'', December 15, 1959, p. 1.</ref> he soon conceded his narrow loss. According to Gilbert, the attorney that he consulted said that any appeal had to be presented by midnight December 20 but more time was needed to prepare for any challenge which was likely to be successful.<ref>"Sheriff's Race Uncontested; Write-In Candidate Hinted", ''Minden Herald'', December 17, 1959, p. 1.</ref> Gilbert further indicated that any plan for legal action died when the Webster Parish Democratic Executive Committee certified Batton as the party nominee for sheriff.<ref>"Candidate Denies Plan to Contest Close Vote", ''The Shreveport Times'', December 16, 1959, p. 8-A.</ref>​

====Defeat in 1964====​

====Defeat in 1964====​

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In a field of eight candidates, the junior Haynes emerged as Batton's principal rival in the 1963-1964 primaries. Haynes had once been a deputy under his father's tutelage and thereafter for eight years supervised the state driver's license office with jurisdiction over all of North Louisiana.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N5eVZvsyb00C&pg=PA94&lpg=PA94&dq=J.+D.+Batton+of+Minden,+LA&source=bl&ots=G_xmoAl3pF&sig=gy2tY1NMiqDXK94gKqkvh0XP0hU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=e-YEVPmJG8f28QG5sIDICA&ved=0CF8Q6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=J.%20D.%20Batton%20of%20Minden%2C%20LA&f=false|title=Minden|series=Images of America|author=John A. Agan|date=2000|publisher=Arcadia Publishing Company|location=[[Charleston]], [[South Carolina]]|pages=94|isbn=0-7385-0580-3|accessdate=September 1, 2014}}</ref> He was also the [[Exxon]] distributor in Webster Parish for some four decades. Freddie Lynn "Fred" Haynes, the second of four sons of the junior Haynes, was a  [[Louisiana State University]] Tigers football star. Fred Haynes was the winning [[quarterback]] for his Minden High School Crimson Tide team which won the 1963 state championship.<ref name=mindenandperseverance/>​

In a field of eight candidates, the junior Haynes emerged as Batton's principal rival in the 1963-1964 primaries. Haynes had once been a deputy under his father's tutelage and thereafter for eight years supervised the state driver's license office with jurisdiction over all of North Louisiana.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N5eVZvsyb00C&pg=PA94&lpg=PA94&dq=J.+D.+Batton+of+Minden,+LA&source=bl&ots=G_xmoAl3pF&sig=gy2tY1NMiqDXK94gKqkvh0XP0hU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=e-YEVPmJG8f28QG5sIDICA&ved=0CF8Q6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=J.%20D.%20Batton%20of%20Minden%2C%20LA&f=false|title=Minden|series=Images of America|author=John A. Agan|date=2000|publisher=Arcadia Publishing Company|location=[[Charleston]], [[South Carolina]]|pages=94|isbn=0-7385-0580-3|accessdate=September 1, 2014}}</ref> He was also the [[Exxon]] distributor in Webster Parish for some four decades. Freddie Lynn "Fred" Haynes, the second of four sons of the junior Haynes, was a  [[Louisiana State University]] Tigers football star. Fred Haynes was the winning [[quarterback]] for his Minden High School Crimson Tide team which won the 1963 state championship.<ref name=mindenandperseverance/>​

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Other candidates included Royce McMahen, a [[veterinarian]] and a member of the Springhill City Council in Springhill in the northern end of the parish, Harold Gilbert, by then the Minden police chief, H. G. "Cy" Williams, an automobile dealer who was  the president of the Minden City Council,<ref>''Minden Herald'', July 5, 1962, p. 1.</ref> and offered an "Independent and [[conservative]]" platform.<ref>''Minden Herald'', May 29, 1962, p. 8.</ref> and G. E. "Doc" Steed, a former contractor and the town marshal in Cotton Valley.<ref>''Minden Press'', September 16, 1963, p. 3.</ref> Another primary candidate for sheriff, Guice McGinty ran again in 1963 and polled thirty-three votes parishwide. George Alvin Pipes (1913-1976), a graduate of Plain Dealing High School in Bossier Parish, a guard at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, and a pipefitter from Dubberly ran in 1963<ref>"Seventh candidate for sheriff's race revealed", ''Minden Press'', April 29, 1963, p. 1.</ref> too and later switched to Republican affiliation to challenge Haynes in the [[general election]]s of February 6, 1968, and February 1, 1972.<ref>"Haynes Winner Over Pipes in Sheriff's Race", ''Minden Press-Herald'', February 7, 1968, p. 1.</ref><ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', February 2, 1972.</ref>​

Other candidates included Royce McMahen, a [[veterinarian]] and a member of the Springhill City Council in Springhill in the northern end of the parish, Harold Gilbert, by then the Minden police chief, H. G. "Cy" Williams, an automobile dealer who was  the president of the Minden City Council,<ref>''Minden Herald'', July 5, 1962, p. 1.</ref> and offered an "[[Independent voter|Independent]] and [[conservative]]" platform.<ref>''Minden Herald'', May 29, 1962, p. 8.</ref> and G. E. "Doc" Steed, a former contractor and the town marshal in Cotton Valley.<ref>''Minden Press'', September 16, 1963, p. 3.</ref> Another primary candidate for sheriff, Guice McGinty ran again in 1963 and polled thirty-three votes parishwide. George Alvin Pipes (1913-1976), a graduate of Plain Dealing High School in Bossier Parish, a guard at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, and a pipefitter from Dubberly ran in 1963<ref>"Seventh candidate for sheriff's race revealed", ''Minden Press'', April 29, 1963, p. 1.</ref> too and later switched to Republican affiliation to challenge Haynes in the [[general election]]s of February 6, 1968, and February 1, 1972.<ref>"Haynes Winner Over Pipes in Sheriff's Race", ''Minden Press-Herald'', February 7, 1968, p. 1.</ref><ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', February 2, 1972.</ref>​

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Haynes trailed Batton by 722 votes in the primary, 1,993 to 2,719 votes.<ref>"Batton and Haynes Paired in Runoff for Sheriff's Post", ''Minden Press'', December 9, 1963, p. 1.</ref> McMahen finished third with 1,484 votes in the primary. He then endorsed Haynes in the runoff contest with Batton, and Haynes announced McMahen as his choice for chief deputy. In the second campaign, Haynes ran a newspaper advertisement in which he promised "capable, conscientious, and sober leadership." He claimed that the issue was not one of physical equipment or the training of deputies but the leadership of the sheriff.<ref>''Minden Press,'' January 6, 1964.</ref> In the January 11 runoff, Haynes prevailed, 5,190 votes (53.4 percent) to Batton's 4,523 (46.6 percent).<ref>''Minden Press'', January 13, 1964, p. 1.</ref><ref>"Haynes Defeats Batton in Webster Runoff Vote", ''The Shreveport Times'', January 12, 1964, p. 1.</ref>​

Haynes trailed Batton by 722 votes in the primary, 1,993 to 2,719 votes.<ref>"Batton and Haynes Paired in Runoff for Sheriff's Post", ''Minden Press'', December 9, 1963, p. 1.</ref> McMahen finished third with 1,484 votes in the primary. He then endorsed Haynes in the runoff contest with Batton, and Haynes announced McMahen as his choice for chief deputy. In the second campaign, Haynes ran a newspaper advertisement in which he promised "capable, conscientious, and sober leadership." He claimed that the issue was not one of physical equipment or the training of deputies but the leadership of the sheriff.<ref>''Minden Press,'' January 6, 1964.</ref> In the January 11 runoff, Haynes prevailed, 5,190 votes (53.4 percent) to Batton's 4,523 (46.6 percent).<ref>''Minden Press'', January 13, 1964, p. 1.</ref><ref>"Haynes Defeats Batton in Webster Runoff Vote", ''The Shreveport Times'', January 12, 1964, p. 1.</ref>​

Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 12, 2014}}</ref> His father, J. B. Batton, is interred at Brushwood Cemetery in Dubberly;<ref name=battondies/> his brother, Jack, and nephew,  James Howard "Jimmy" Batton (1943–1997), are interred at the Minden Cemetery. Jimmy Batton was a sheriff's deputy and later an investigator for the district attorney's office.<ref>"James Howard (Jimmy) Batton", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 30, 1997, p. 1.</ref>​

Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 12, 2014}}</ref> His father, J. B. Batton, is interred at Brushwood Cemetery in Dubberly;<ref name=battondies/> his brother, Jack, and nephew,  James Howard "Jimmy" Batton (1943–1997), are interred at the Minden Cemetery. Jimmy Batton was a sheriff's deputy and later an investigator for the district attorney's office.<ref>"James Howard (Jimmy) Batton", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 30, 1997, p. 1.</ref>​

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==References==​

==References==​

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