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Born in the [[village]] of Florien in Sabine Parish, he resided in the [[Shreveport]]-[[Bossier City]] metropolitan area for most of his life.<ref name=obit>Ned O. Touchstone obituary, 'The Shreveport Times,'' July 30, 1988.</ref>​  

Born in the [[village]] of Florien in Sabine Parish, he resided in the [[Shreveport]]-[[Bossier City]] metropolitan area for most of his life.<ref name=obit>Ned O. Touchstone obituary, 'The Shreveport Times,'' July 30, 1988.</ref>​  

Touchstone was a descendant of Richard Touchstone (1657-1729), a [[New Jersey]] native who settled in [[Maryland]]. Another of his ancestors was Captain Benjamin Merrell (1731-1771) of Mercer County, New Jersey, who was [[Hanging|hanged]], drawn, and quartered in [[North Carolina]] in an early attack on the [[Great Britain|British]] crown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/mckstorymerrell.htm|title=The Merrell Family|publisher=[[Texas A&M University]]|accessdate=March 24, 2017}}</ref> Other family members were pioneers in 1798 in the settlement of [[Mississippi]].​

Touchstone was a descendant of Richard Touchstone (1657-1729), a [[New Jersey]] native who settled in [[Maryland]]. Another of his ancestors was Captain Benjamin Merrell (1731-1771) of Mercer County, New Jersey, who was [[Hanging|hanged]], drawn, and quartered in [[North Carolina]] in an early attack on the [[Great Britain|British]] crown prior to the [[American Revolution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/mckstorymerrell.htm|title=The Merrell Family|publisher=[[Texas A&M University]]|accessdate=March 24, 2017}}</ref> Other family members were pioneers in 1798 in the settlement of [[Mississippi]].​

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Touchstone was a professional researcher and writer and owned and for a time and operated the largest retail book store in Shreveport. He was an avid reader and was known for his extensive vocabulary and for remembering and quoting large portions of published books and poetry. For eight years, he published in his print shop in Bossier City numerous weekly newspapers in Louisiana and [[Texas]], including the former ''Bossier Press'' and the ''Waskom Gazette'' in Waskom in Harrison County in east Texas.<ref name=obit/>

Touchstone was a professional researcher and writer and owned and for a time and operated the largest retail book store in Shreveport. He was an avid reader and was known for his extensive vocabulary and for remembering and quoting large portions of published books and poetry. For eight years, he published in his print shop in Bossier City numerous weekly newspapers in Louisiana and [[Texas]], including the former ''Bossier Press'' and the ''Waskom Gazette'' in Waskom in Harrison County in east Texas.<ref name=obit/>

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==The fight against integration, the Warren Report, and globalism==

==Integration, the Warren Report, and globalism==

​Touchstone decried the civil rights activists and their determination to bring desegregation to the South. He claimed that [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], whom he claimed had political and financial ties with international [[communism]]. Touchstone targeted the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, a communist front group in which [[Lee Harvey Oswald]] had been active prior to 1963. The "Fair Play" group sent busloads of northern blacks into the South to accelerate [[Segregation|desegregation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/docid-32129399.pdf|title=Kennedy Assassination Collection Full Results|author=William A.  

​Touchstone decried the civil rights activists and their determination to bring desegregation to the South. He claimed that [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], whom he claimed had political and financial ties with international [[communism]]. Touchstone targeted the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, a communist front group in which [[Lee Harvey Oswald]] had been active prior to 1963. The "Fair Play" group sent busloads of northern blacks into the South to accelerate [[Segregation|desegregation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/docid-32129399.pdf|title=Kennedy Assassination Collection Full Results|author=William A.  

Branigan|publisher=archives.gov|accessdate=August 14, 2017}}</ref>

Branigan|publisher=archives.gov|accessdate=August 14, 2017}}</ref>

==Candidate for Louisiana school superintendent==

==Candidate for Louisiana school superintendent==

On November 4, 1967, Touchstone ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for Louisiana state superintendent of education. He claimed that he would use administrative measures to thwart the accelerating process of school desegregation in Louisiana, which was completed fully under federal court decrees in August 1970. He was badly defeated by [[incumbent]] [[Bill Dodd|William J. "Bill" Dodd]], a long-time Louisiana politician who sought a second term as superintendent.<ref>''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' November 6, 1967, p. 1.</ref> Dodd formerly served as lieutenant governor under [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]]. Touchstone was born in Sabine Parish, and Dodd, who was seventeen years Touchstone's senior, was reared in Sabine Parish.​

On November 4, 1967, Touchstone ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for Louisiana state superintendent of education. He claimed that he would use administrative measures to thwart the accelerating process of school desegregation in Louisiana, which was completed fully under federal court decrees in August 1970. He was badly defeated by [[incumbent]] [[Bill Dodd|William J. "Bill" Dodd]], a long-time Louisiana politician who sought a second term as superintendent.<ref>''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' November 6, 1967, p. 1.</ref> Dodd formerly served as lieutenant governor under [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]].

 

Touchstone was born in Sabine Parish, and Dodd, who was seventeen years Touchstone's senior, was reared in Sabine Parish.​

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

Most of his lifetime work was donated to the Noel Memorial Library at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. His large personal library became the property of his children. Touchstone was known for his vast knowledge of facts and ability to call to mind complete passages from the thousands of books that he had read and collected. He was a world traveler and could discuss nearly any subject intellectually with any expert. His expertise included the fields of ancient history, languages, sciences, poetry, art, and the [[Bible]].<ref name=obit/>

Most of his lifetime work was donated to the Noel Memorial Library at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. His large personal library became the property of his children. Touchstone was known for his vast knowledge of facts and ability to call to mind complete passages from the thousands of books that he had read and collected. He was a world traveler and could discuss nearly any subject intellectually with any expert. His expertise included the fields of ancient history, languages, sciences, poetry, art, and the [[Bible]].<ref name=obit/>

Touchstone's mother, Carrie Moore Touchstone (1906-1982), is interred at Old Town Cemetery in Haynesville in Claiborne Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Touchstone&GSfn=Carrie&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=15890296&df=all&|title=Carrie Lee Moore Touchstone|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=March 24, 2017}}</ref> ​His father, Sam F. Touchstone (1904-2002), a native of Clarke County, Mississippi, was a taxidermist and inventor in Bossier City. He was affiliated with a half-dozen [[Baptist]] churches during his sixty-seven years as a professing [[Christianity|Christian]]. Like his son Ned, he is interred at Hill Crest Memorial Park in Haughton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Touchstone&GSfn=Sam&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=99633398&df=all&|title=Sam F. Touchstone|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=March 24, 2017}}</ref>​

Touchstone's mother, Carrie Moore Touchstone (1906-1982), is interred at Old Town Cemetery in Haynesville in Claiborne Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Touchstone&GSfn=Carrie&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=15890296&df=all&|title=Carrie Lee Moore Touchstone|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=March 24, 2017}}</ref> ​His father, Sam F. Touchstone (1904-2002), a native of Clarke County, Mississippi, was a [[Taxidermy|taxidermist]] and inventor in Bossier City. He was affiliated with a half-dozen [[Baptist]] churches during his sixty-seven years as a professing [[Christianity|Christian]]. Like his son Ned, he is interred at Hill Crest Memorial Park in Haughton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Touchstone&GSfn=Sam&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=99633398&df=all&|title=Sam F. Touchstone|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=March 24, 2017}}</ref>​

Touchstone was married to the former June A. McGehee (born April 19, 1927), a native of Homer in Claiborne Parish who resides in Shreveport and is Republican. The Touchstones have a surviving son, David Mark Touchstone (born September 23, 1952), a business [[attorney]] in Shreveport-Bossier City and also a Republican;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/david-touchstone/e826621971708|title=David Touchstone|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=August 26, 2019}}</ref> two daughters, Lia Touchstone Tippit then of Rockwall, Texas, and Lauren Touchstone Webb of Shrevport.<ref name=obit/>​

Touchstone was married to the former June A. McGehee (born April 19, 1927), a native of Homer in Claiborne Parish who resides in Shreveport and is Republican. The Touchstones have a surviving son, David Mark Touchstone (born September 23, 1952), a business [[attorney]] in Shreveport-Bossier City and also a Republican;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/david-touchstone/e826621971708|title=David Touchstone|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=August 26, 2019}}</ref> two daughters, Lia Touchstone Tippit then of Rockwall, Texas, and Lauren Touchstone Webb of Shrevport.<ref name=obit/>​

From 1981 until his death two decades later, Sam Touchstone operated the Touchstone Wildlife & Art Museum on U.S. Highway 80 in Haughton. The facility showcases [[Taxidermy|taxidermist]] exhibits on two floors from floor to ceiling with specimens of animals from all over the world. After Sam Touchstone's death, his second wife, Lura Patrick Touchstone (born September 1931), of Bossier City and her daughter, Samantha Olson, continued to operate and expand the museum. The facility also contains artifacts of [[Native Americans]]  and a section on the outlaws [[Bonnie and Clyde]], who rampaged through [north Louisiana to their deaths in 1934. In March 2017, Mrs. Touchstone, announced that the museum has fallen on difficult economic times with declining attendance, and the future of the facility remained doubtful. She noted that many schools no longer send children to the wildlife museum on field trips though the facility had been very popular with young people in the past.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/haughton-museum-faces-closure/|title=Haughton museum faces closure|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|author=Amanda Simmons|accessdate=March 25, 2017}}</ref>​ As of the summer of 2019, the museum, which is rated highly among its patrons, was still operational.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/touchstonemuseum/|title=Touchstone Wildlife & Art Museum|publisher=[[Facebook]]|accessdate=August 24, 2019}}</ref>

From 1981 until his death two decades later, Sam Touchstone operated the Touchstone Wildlife & Art Museum on U.S. Highway 80 in Haughton. The facility showcases taxidermist exhibits on two floors from floor to ceiling with specimens of animals from all over the world. After Sam Touchstone's death, his second wife, Lura Patrick Touchstone (born September 1931), of Bossier City and her daughter, Samantha Olson, continued to operate and expand the museum. The facility also contains artifacts of [[Native Americans]]  and a section on the notorious outlaws [[Bonnie and Clyde]], who rampaged through [north Louisiana to their deaths in 1934. In March 2017, Mrs. Touchstone, announced that the museum has fallen on difficult economic times with declining attendance, and the future of the facility remained doubtful. She noted that many schools no longer send children to the wildlife museum on field trips though the facility had been very popular with young people in the past.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/haughton-museum-faces-closure/|title=Haughton museum faces closure|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|author=Amanda Simmons|accessdate=March 25, 2017}}</ref>​ As of the summer of 2019, the museum, which is rated highly among its patrons, was still operational.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/touchstonemuseum/|title=Touchstone Wildlife & Art Museum|publisher=[[Facebook]]|accessdate=August 24, 2019}}</ref>

Touchstone was a first cousin of former Louisiana state Senator Danny Roy Moore, a [[civil engineer]] and land surveyor who resides in Arcadia in Bienville Parish. Moore represented Claiborne and Bienville parishes for a single term from 1964 to 1968. Moore's mother, Capitola Touchstone Moore (1902–2002), a native of Perry County, Mississippi, and an older sister of Sam Touchstone, is interred at Arlington Cemetery in Homer, where she had lived for much of her life. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Moore&GSfn=Capitola&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=133990037&df=all&|title=Capitola Touchstone Moore|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=March 24, 2017}}</ref>​

Touchstone was a first cousin of former Louisiana state Senator Danny Roy Moore, a [[civil engineer]] and land surveyor who resides in Arcadia in Bienville Parish. Moore represented Claiborne and Bienville parishes for a single term from 1964 to 1968. Moore's mother, Capitola Touchstone Moore (1902–2002), a native of Perry County, Mississippi, and an older sister of Sam Touchstone, is interred at Arlington Cemetery in Homer, where she had lived for much of her life. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Moore&GSfn=Capitola&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=133990037&df=all&|title=Capitola Touchstone Moore|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=March 24, 2017}}</ref>​