Block, Upload, Automoderated users, edit, move, protect, rollback
57,799
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 24:
Line 24: − + − + − + Line 69:
Line 69: − + Line 85:
Line 85: − + +
no edit summary
|footnotes=}}
|footnotes=}}
'''William Dudley Lastrapes, Jr.''', known as '''Dud Lastrapes''' (born November 30, 1929), is a [[business]]man and [[politician]] who from 1980 to 1992 was the first [[Republican Party|Republican]] since [[Reconstruction]] to have served as [[mayor]] of [[Lafayette]], the fourth largest city in [[Louisiana]].
'''William Dudley Lastrapes, Jr.''', known as '''Dud Lastrapes''' (born November 30, 1929), is a [[business]]man and [[politician]] who from 1980 to 1992 was the first [[Republican Party|Republican]] since [[Reconstruction]] to have served as [[mayor]] of [[Lafayette]], the fourth largest city in [[Louisiana]].
Prior to his three-term mayoralty tenure, Lastrapes (pronounced LA STRAPS) was a member of the Lafayette Parish School Board from 1972 to 1980. After his mayoral service, Lastrapes served a term as chairman of his state's Republican Party from 1992 to 1994. In 1997, Lastrapes was appointed to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board by then Republican [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.]] He served until 2008 and was ineligible for reappointment.
Prior to his three-term mayoralty tenure, Lastrapes (pronounced LA STRAPS) was a member of the Lafayette Parish School Board from 1972 to 1980. After his mayoral service, Lastrapes served a term as chairman of his state's Republican Party from 1992 to 1994. In 1997, Lastrapes was appointed to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board by then Republican [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.]] He served until 2008 and was ineligible for reappointment.
Originally a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Lastrapes switched his registration to Republican in 1959, when he was not quite thirty years of age. At the time, the state Republican Party had fewer than nine thousand registered members. Hence very few living Louisiana Republicans have been members of the party longer than Lastrapes.
Originally a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Lastrapes switched his registration to Republican in 1959, when he was not quite thirty years of age. At the time, the state Republican Party had fewer than nine thousand registered members. Hence very few living Louisiana Republicans have been members of the party longer than Lastrapes.
A Republican, Lester Joseph "Joey" Durel, Jr., reclaimed for his party the combined mayor/presidency of the City of Lafayette and Lafayette Parish in the 2003 primary election.
A Republican, Lester Joseph "Joey" Durel, Jr., reclaimed for his party the combined mayor/presidency of the City of Lafayette and Lafayette Parish in the 2003 primary election.
==Lastrapes as party chairman==
==As GOP state chairman==
Lastrapes was the second Lafayette Republican to serve as state party chairman in twenty years. [[Charles and Mary de Gravelles|Charles de Gravelles]] had held the post from 1968 to 1972, during a difficult period for the Louisiana GOP.
Lastrapes was the second Lafayette Republican to serve as state party chairman in twenty years. [[Charles and Mary de Gravelles|Charles de Gravelles]] had held the post from 1968 to 1972, during a difficult period for the Louisiana GOP.
A [[Roman Catholic]], Lastrapes is a member of Lafayette [[Right to Life]]. He was active in [[Little League]] baseball, when his sons were players. He is a veteran member of Rotary International and has been active in blood donor drives. He is also a [[cancer]] survivor.
A [[Roman Catholic]], Lastrapes is a member of Lafayette [[Right to Life]]. He was active in [[Little League]] baseball, when his sons were players. He is a veteran member of Rotary International and has been active in blood donor drives. He is also a [[cancer]] survivor.
==Lastrapes analyzes GOP growth in Acadiana==
==Lastrapes and GOP growth in Acadiana==
Years after leaving the mayor's position, Lastrapes was asked to give his take on why Republicanism took root in Acadiana. Here is his verbatim reply:
Years after leaving the mayor's position, Lastrapes was asked to give his take on why Republicanism took root in Acadiana. Here is his verbatim reply: