Changes

The youngest of eight children of  Thomas A. Early, Sr. (died 1958), and the late former Rose Parillo, he was married for forty-eight years to the former Betty Franek (1930-2002). The couple has three children: Amy Early Korte (husband Rick), New Orleans Municipal Court Judge Sean Patrick Early (born 1957) (wife Janie), and Erin Early Belleau (husband Chris), and eight grandchildren. He was also survived by his sister, Jacqueline Early Garic (husband Bob), and thirty-seven nieces and nephews. His six other siblings predeceased him.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://obits.nola.com/obituaries/nola/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-a-early-jr&pid=190626364|title=Thomas A. Early, Jr., obituary|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=November 1, 2018}}</ref>

The youngest of eight children of  Thomas A. Early, Sr. (died 1958), and the late former Rose Parillo, he was married for forty-eight years to the former Betty Franek (1930-2002). The couple has three children: Amy Early Korte (husband Rick), New Orleans Municipal Court Judge Sean Patrick Early (born 1957) (wife Janie), and Erin Early Belleau (husband Chris), and eight grandchildren. He was also survived by his sister, Jacqueline Early Garic (husband Bob), and thirty-seven nieces and nephews. His six other siblings predeceased him.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://obits.nola.com/obituaries/nola/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-a-early-jr&pid=190626364|title=Thomas A. Early, Jr., obituary|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=November 1, 2018}}</ref>

Early graduated in 1950 from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Jesuit High School in New Orleans and in 1954 from [[Georgetown University]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]. He was a lieutenant in the [[United States Army]], based in Meintz, [[West Germany]], from 1954 to 1956. He thereafter obtained his legal degree in 1959 from Loyola Law School in New Orleans.<ref name=obit/> From 1964 to 1969, he was a state representative from New Orleans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020|publisher=House.louisiana.gov|accessdate=November 1, 2018}}</ref> His District 24 encompassed Bayou St. John, the French Quarter, and Treme'. [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] in 1969 appointed Early to the Division A judgeship of the New Orleans Civil District Court. He was then elected and served four terms in the civil judgeship. Early's political [[platform]] echoed support for "working people", public education, and integrity in government.<ref name=obit/>

Early graduated in 1950 from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Jesuit High School in New Orleans and in 1954 from [[Georgetown University]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]. He was a lieutenant in the [[United States Army]], based in Meintz, [[West Germany]], from 1954 to 1956. He thereafter obtained his legal degree in 1959 from Loyola Law School in New Orleans.<ref name=obit/>  

 

From 1964 to 1969, he was a state representative from New Orleans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020|publisher=House.louisiana.gov|accessdate=November 1, 2018}}</ref> His District 24 encompassed Bayou St. John, the French Quarter, and Treme'. [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] in 1969 appointed Early to the Division A judgeship of the New Orleans Civil District Court. He was then elected and served four terms in the civil judgeship. Early's political [[platform]] echoed support for "working people", public education, and integrity in government.<ref name=obit/>

Like several other Louisiana politicians, Early was engaged in thoroughbred horse racing at Triple E Farm in Covington in St. Tammany Parish. He died at the age of eighty-seven. His services was held on November 5, 2018, with interment beside his wife at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans.<ref name=obit/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6564885/betty-early|title=Betty Franek Early|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=November 1, 2018}}</ref>

Like several other Louisiana politicians, Early was engaged in thoroughbred horse racing at Triple E Farm in Covington in St. Tammany Parish. He died at the age of eighty-seven. His services was held on November 5, 2018, with interment beside his wife at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans.<ref name=obit/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6564885/betty-early|title=Betty Franek Early|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=November 1, 2018}}</ref>