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'''Eugene Preston Campbell''', known as '''Gene Campbell''' (February 18, 1870 – January 30, 1940), was thus far the longest serving sheriff in the history of Concordia Parish in eastern [[Louisiana]]. He served nearly thirty-two years from June 1908 until his death, which occurred the same month as his reelection to a ninth four-year term.​

'''Eugene Preston Campbell''', known as '''Gene Campbell''' (February 18, 1870 – January 30, 1940), was thus far the longest serving sheriff in the history of Concordia Parish in eastern [[Louisiana]]. He served nearly thirty-two years from June 1908 until his death, which occurred the same month as his reelection to a ninth four-year term.​

 

==Background==​

==Background==​

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After Campbell died in Ferriday of a lingering illness,<ref name=natchez/> ​Mrs. Campbell served under appointment of Governor [Earl LOng|[Earl Kemp Long]] as sheriff until her death a year and a half later on July 25, 1941. By that time Noah W. Cross of Ferriday began the first of his twenty-five years as sheriff, seven nonconsecutive and interrupted terms, in the combined law-enforcement and tax-collecting position.<ref>List of 20th century sheriffs of Concordia Parish, Concordia Parish Library, Vidalia branch</ref>  Darlene Campbell was the daughter of Mike J. Schuchs and the former Julia Brunk. She was quickly buried on the same day that she died.<ref name=natchez>"Mrs Campbell Died Yesterday: Splendid Lady of Vidalia Called by Death, Buried Yesterday", ''The Natchez Democrat'', Natchez, [[Mississippi]], July 26, 1941.</ref> Mrs. Campbell was not the first widow appointed in Louisiana to fill the remaining term of her husband as sheriff. In 1936, when Sheriff Wyatt Luther Nugent of Grant Parish was killed in the line of his duty, his widow, Lydia Ann Rosier Nugent, served briefly thereafter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=frances-nugent-petrus&pid=171817799&fhid=10218|title=Frances Nugent Petrus|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=July 25, 2014}}</ref>   

After Campbell died in Ferriday of a lingering illness,<ref name=natchez/> ​Mrs. Campbell served under appointment of Governor [Earl LOng|[Earl Kemp Long]] as sheriff until her death a year and a half later on July 25, 1941. By that time Noah W. Cross of Ferriday began the first of his twenty-five years as sheriff, seven nonconsecutive and interrupted terms, in the combined law-enforcement and tax-collecting position.<ref>List of 20th century sheriffs of Concordia Parish, Concordia Parish Library, Vidalia branch</ref>  Darlene Campbell was the daughter of Mike J. Schuchs and the former Julia Brunk. She was quickly buried on the same day that she died.<ref name=natchez>"Mrs Campbell Died Yesterday: Splendid Lady of Vidalia Called by Death, Buried Yesterday", ''The Natchez Democrat'', Natchez, [[Mississippi]], July 26, 1941.</ref> Mrs. Campbell was not the first widow appointed in Louisiana to fill the remaining term of her husband as sheriff. In 1936, when Sheriff Wyatt Luther Nugent of Grant Parish was killed in the line of his duty, his widow, Lydia Ann Rosier Nugent, served briefly thereafter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=frances-nugent-petrus&pid=171817799&fhid=10218|title=Frances Nugent Petrus|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=July 25, 2014}}</ref>   

However, no woman was elected sheriff in Louisiana until 1956 when Eloise Bouanchaud was elected in Pointe Coupee Parish to succeed her late husband.<ref>[https://newspaperarchive.com/us/louisiana/monroe/monroe-news-star/1956/04-18/ Monroe News Star. "Sheriff's Widow Wins Election in Point Coupee." April 18, 1956. p. 1.]</ref> The next woman elected sheriff in Louisiana was in 1999, when Beth Oakley Lundy won the position in Calcasieu Parish, which encompasses [[Lake Charles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reocities.com/vbenson_2000/sheriffs.htm|title=First Woman Sheriffs in the United States of America|publisher=reocities.com|accessdate=July 25, 2014}}</ref> Lundy polled 51.5 percent of the vote cast against a fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] in the nonpartisan blanket primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10231999/10231999_10.html|title=Election returns: Calcasieu Parish|date=October 23, 1999|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 25, 2014}}</ref>​

However, no woman was elected sheriff in Louisiana until 1956 when Eloise Bouanchaud was elected in Pointe Coupee Parish to succeed her late husband.<ref>[https://newspaperarchive.com/us/louisiana/monroe/monroe-news-star/1956/04-18/ Monroe News Star. "Sheriff's Widow Wins Election in Point Coupee." April 18, 1956. p. 1.]</ref> The next woman elected sheriff in Louisiana was in 1999, when Beth Oakley Lundy won the position in Calcasieu Parish, which encompasses [[Lake Charles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reocities.com/vbenson_2000/sheriffs.htm|title=First Woman Sheriffs in the United States of America|publisher=reocities.com|accessdate=July 25, 2014}}</ref> Lundy polled 51.5 percent of the vote cast against a fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] in the nonpartisan blanket primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10231999/10231999_10.html|title=Election returns: Calcasieu Parish|date=October 23, 1999|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 25, 2014}}</ref>

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Services for both Campbells were held at the family residence, which was designed in Queen Anne Revival style architecture, included on the National Register of Historic Places. The residence burned to the ground in January 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archiplanet.org/wiki/Campbell,_Sheriff_Eugene_P.,_House|title=Sheriff Eugene P. Campbell House|publisher=archiplanet.org|accessdate=May 30, 2012}}</ref> Both are interred at Natchez City Cemetery.<ref name=tpg/><ref name=natchez/>​

Services for both Campbells were held in Vidalia at the family residence, which was designed in Queen Anne Revival style architecture and was included on the National Register of Historic Places. The residence burned to the ground in January 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archiplanet.org/wiki/Campbell,_Sheriff_Eugene_P.,_House|title=Sheriff Eugene P. Campbell House|publisher=archiplanet.org|accessdate=May 30, 2012}}</ref> Both Campbells are interred at Natchez City Cemetery.<ref name=tpg/><ref name=natchez/>​

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The ''Tensas Gazette'' in neighboring St. Joseph in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, opined at the time of Campbell's death:​  

The ''Tensas Gazette'' in neighboring St. Joseph in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, opined at the time of Campbell's death:​  

There was probably no other man in public life in this section at least, who had a greater hold on the people of his parish than Gene Campbell enjoyed. Indeed, it was often said that Gene Campbell held every public office in Concordia Parish in the hollow of his hand. ... The heavy load laid upon him in the last year of his life almost proved his undoing and unquestionable hastened his death. Gene Campbell's own weakness ... was his devotion and loyalty to his friends, oft at his own prejudice ...<ref name=tpg/></blockquote>​

There was probably no other man in public life in this section at least, who had a greater hold on the people of his parish than Gene Campbell enjoyed. Indeed, it was often said that Gene Campbell held every public office in Concordia Parish in the hollow of his hand. ... The heavy load laid upon him in the last year of his life almost proved his undoing and unquestionable hastened his death. Gene Campbell's own weakness ... was his devotion and loyalty to his friends, oft at his own prejudice ...<ref name=tpg/></blockquote>​

==References==​

==References==

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