Changes

As a representative, Bethard succeeded Lester Vetter, a former mayor of Coushatta who died in office with two months remaining in his second term as state representative. In 1962, Bethard went to [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the [[United States Constitution]]. He delivered a speech standing on the steps of [[Independence Hall]].<ref name=obit/> The next year, he fell short in his primary bid for re-nomination in the primary election held on December 7, 1963, just three weeks after the assassination of [[John F. Kennedy]]. Samuel Moore Morgan, Jr. (1922-1982), who had run unsuccessfully for the position four years earlier against Lester Vetter,<ref>''The Shreveport Times'', December 7, 1959, p. 2-A</ref> led a five-candidate field. Bethard finished second and faced Morgan in a runoff contest on January 11, 1964. The Coushatta barber and landowner, Oneld Walter Driggers (1921-2011), a native of Saline in Bienville Parish,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockettnettles.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1192580&fh_id=12668|title=Oneld Walter Driggers|publisher=rockettnettles.com|accessdate=November 16, 2014}}</ref> finished in third place in the primary. Harvey Gates and L. S. Huckaby completed the field.<ref>''The Shreveport Times'', December 8, 1963, p. 1.</ref> On January 11, 1964, Morgan won the  runoff election for the state House held in conjunction with the Democratic gubernatorial showdown between Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[John J. McKeithen]] and deLesseps Story Morrison, Sr. (1912-1964), the former [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]]. Morgan obtained 1,590 votes to Bethard's 1,531 votes.<ref>''The Shreveport Times'', January 12, 1964, p. 14-A.</ref>Bethard's grandmother, Fannie M. Bethard (1874-1963) of Harrisonburg, Louisiana, died on Sunday, December 8, 1963, the day after the state primary election.<ref>''The Shreveport Times'', December 9, 1963.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55744769|title=Fannie M. Bethard|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref>  

As a representative, Bethard succeeded Lester Vetter, a former mayor of Coushatta who died in office with two months remaining in his second term as state representative. In 1962, Bethard went to [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the [[United States Constitution]]. He delivered a speech standing on the steps of [[Independence Hall]].<ref name=obit/> The next year, he fell short in his primary bid for re-nomination in the primary election held on December 7, 1963, just three weeks after the assassination of [[John F. Kennedy]]. Samuel Moore Morgan, Jr. (1922-1982), who had run unsuccessfully for the position four years earlier against Lester Vetter,<ref>''The Shreveport Times'', December 7, 1959, p. 2-A</ref> led a five-candidate field. Bethard finished second and faced Morgan in a runoff contest on January 11, 1964. The Coushatta barber and landowner, Oneld Walter Driggers (1921-2011), a native of Saline in Bienville Parish,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockettnettles.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1192580&fh_id=12668|title=Oneld Walter Driggers|publisher=rockettnettles.com|accessdate=November 16, 2014}}</ref> finished in third place in the primary. Harvey Gates and L. S. Huckaby completed the field.<ref>''The Shreveport Times'', December 8, 1963, p. 1.</ref> On January 11, 1964, Morgan won the  runoff election for the state House held in conjunction with the Democratic gubernatorial showdown between Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[John J. McKeithen]] and deLesseps Story Morrison, Sr. (1912-1964), the former [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]]. Morgan obtained 1,590 votes to Bethard's 1,531 votes.<ref>''The Shreveport Times'', January 12, 1964, p. 14-A.</ref>Bethard's grandmother, Fannie M. Bethard (1874-1963) of Harrisonburg, Louisiana, died on Sunday, December 8, 1963, the day after the state primary election.<ref>''The Shreveport Times'', December 9, 1963.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55744769|title=Fannie M. Bethard|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref>  

In March 1980, Bethard was named an assistant district attorney for Red River Parish.<ref name=leaglecom>{{cite web|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/19831552430So2d1122_11218.xml/BETHARD%20v.%20STATE,%20THROUGH%20BD.%20OF%20TRUSTEES|title=Henry W. Bethard, III, v. State of Louisiana, through the Board of Trustees of the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System|date=June 10, 1983|publisher=leagle.com|accessdate=September 6, 2014}}</ref>

In March 1980, Bethard was named an assistant district attorney for Red River Parish.<ref name=leaglecom>{{cite web|url=https://www.leagle.com/decision/19831552430So2d1122_11218.xml/BETHARD%20v.%20STATE,%20THROUGH%20BD.%20OF%20TRUSTEES|title=Henry W. Bethard, III, v. State of Louisiana, through the Board of Trustees of the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System|date=June 10, 1983|publisher=leagle.com|accessdate=September 6, 2014}}</ref>

Bethard married the former Olive Ann Guenard (August 2, 1927 &ndash; October 31, 2012), whom he called for the sixty-two years of their marriage "Sweetie Ann".<ref name=obit/> She was a daughter of James Hortaire Guenard, Sr., and the former Rubye Nelson. She was a native of Lake Providence in East Carroll Parish, though born across the [[Mississippi River]] in Vicksburg, [[Mississippi]]. The two met as students at [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge. There are two living Bethard sons, his law partners James G. and Robert E. Bethard,<ref name=bethardbethard>{{cite web|url=http://www.goguild.com/redrivervalley/bethard-bethard-law-office/about|title=Law Offices of Bethard & Bethard, L.L.P.|publisher=goguild.com|accessdate=September 6, 2014}}</ref>and their wives, Florence and Rhoda, respectively, all of Coushatta. The Bethards' daughter, Suzanne B. Hearne, lives in [[Shreveport]] with her husband, Sanders Hearne. A third son, Henry Bethard, IV, is deceased.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?pid=160774530|title=Olive Bethard obituary|date=November 2, 2012|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=September 6, 2014}}</ref>

Bethard married the former Olive Ann Guenard (August 2, 1927 &ndash; October 31, 2012), whom he called for the sixty-two years of their marriage "Sweetie Ann".<ref name=obit/> She was a daughter of James Hortaire Guenard, Sr., and the former Rubye Nelson. She was a native of Lake Providence in East Carroll Parish, though born across the [[Mississippi River]] in Vicksburg, [[Mississippi]]. The two met as students at [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge. There are two living Bethard sons, his law partners James G. and Robert E. Bethard,<ref name=bethardbethard>{{cite web|url=http://www.goguild.com/redrivervalley/bethard-bethard-law-office/about|title=Law Offices of Bethard & Bethard, L.L.P.|publisher=goguild.com|accessdate=September 6, 2014}}</ref>and their wives, Florence and Rhoda, respectively, all of Coushatta. The Bethards' daughter, Suzanne B. Hearne, lives in [[Shreveport]] with her husband, Sanders Hearne. A third son, Henry Bethard, IV, is deceased.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?pid=160774530|title=Olive Bethard obituary|date=November 2, 2012|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=September 6, 2014}}</ref>