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In 1940, he married the former Ethel Jeanne Matherne (1916–2002). She was originally from the Bayou Blue community near Houma in Terrebonne Parish, the daughter of Ellis Thomas and Ada E. Matherne. Their children are Dr. Dianna Drew Johnson of [[Memphis]],  [[Tennessee]], formerly Dr. Dianna D. Redburn of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], Texas,<ref name=lwa>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38834032|title=Larry Wayne Ammons|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=December 24, 2010}}</ref> and Suzanne Jeanne Ammons, Robert Dale Ammons, and Kenneth Ellis Ammons, all of Many.<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38833989|title=Ethel Jeanne Matherne Ammons|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=December 24, 2010}}</ref> The youngest son, Larry Wayne Ammons (1953–1993), died at the age of thirty-nine of heart complications in [[Lafayette]].<ref name=lwa/>​

In 1940, he married the former Ethel Jeanne Matherne (1916–2002). She was originally from the Bayou Blue community near Houma in Terrebonne Parish, the daughter of Ellis Thomas and Ada E. Matherne. Their children are Dr. Dianna Drew Johnson of [[Memphis]],  [[Tennessee]], formerly Dr. Dianna D. Redburn of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], Texas,<ref name=lwa>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38834032|title=Larry Wayne Ammons|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=December 24, 2010}}</ref> and Suzanne Jeanne Ammons, Robert Dale Ammons, and Kenneth Ellis Ammons, all of Many.<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38833989|title=Ethel Jeanne Matherne Ammons|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=December 24, 2010}}</ref> The youngest son, Larry Wayne Ammons (1953–1993), died at the age of thirty-nine of heart complications in [[Lafayette]].<ref name=lwa/>​

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From 1940 to 1944, Ammons operated a dairy. From 1945 to 1947, he worked for the Veterans Farm Assistance Program. From 1947 to1948, he was the principal of Fisher High School in Sabine Parish.<ref name=cra/> From 1948 to 1967, he was an agriculture teacher at Many High School, with service there corresponding with his term in the state legislature.<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=http://www.lahistory.org/site18.php|title=Ammons, Cliff|publisher=[[Louisiana Historical Association]], ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'' (lahistory.org)|accessdate=December 24, 2010}}</ref> As an agriculture instructor, he was also the advisor to Future Farmers of America. During summers he organized two-week trips, many out-of-state, for the FFA members. He taught his classes with a "learn-by-doing" approach.<ref name=cra/>​

From 1940 to 1944, Ammons operated a dairy. From 1945 to 1947, he worked for the Veterans Farm Assistance Program. From 1947 to1948, he was the principal of Fisher High School in Sabine Parish.<ref name=cra/> From 1948 to 1967, he was an agriculture teacher at Many High School, with service there corresponding with his term in the state legislature.<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=http://www.lahistory.org/site18.php|title=Ammons, Cliff|publisher=[[Louisiana Historical Association]], ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'' (lahistory.org)|accessdate=September 26, 2019}}</ref> As an agriculture instructor, he was also the advisor to Future Farmers of America. During summers he organized two-week trips, many out-of-state, for the FFA members. He taught his classes with a [[John Dewey]] "learn-by-doing" approach.<ref name=cra/>​

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==Toledo Bend==​

==Toledo Bend Reservoir==​

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In the late 1950s, Ammons developed an interest in building Toledo Bend Reservoir. He visited Lake Texoma on the Texas/[[Oklahoma]] border to study how a reservoir could produce an economic boom in a local area. He returned to Many so committed to the project that he ran for the legislature despite his lack of political experience. His motto was "Let's Build Toledo Bend Dam."<ref name=tbend>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=1767|author=Andy Crawford|title=Ruby Anniversary|date=August 4, 2009|publisher=lousianasportsman.com|accessdate=December 24, 2010}}</ref>​

In the late 1950s, Ammons developed an interest in building Toledo Bend Reservoir. He visited Lake Texoma on the Texas/[[Oklahoma]] border to study how a reservoir could produce an economic boom in a local area. He returned to Many so committed to the project that he ran for the legislature despite his lack of political experience. His motto was "Let's Build Toledo Bend Dam."<ref name=tbend>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=1767|author=Andy Crawford|title=Ruby Anniversary|date=August 4, 2009|publisher=lousianasportsman.com|accessdate=December 24, 2010}}</ref>​

 

When Ammons went to Baton Rouge to introduce his bill for reservoir funding, he met immediate hesitation or outright opposition from state officials in the Davis administration who complained about the lack of funds available for expensive new projects. At the close of a strategy session, Ammons said, "Gentlemen, I called the meeting for you to tell me what could be done to build Toledo Bend, but all you have told me is what not to do.”<ref name=tbend/> The head of the state public works department, [[Lorris Wimberly]], a former [[Speaker]] from Arcadia in Bienville Parish,  "shook his finger" at Ammons and warned the new legislator that he did "not have the slightest idea what it would take to get this type of legislation passed. If you do introduce such a bill, you are going to hang yourself on the highest tree around this Capitol, and furthermore you are going to be the laughingstock of the whole Legislature."<ref name=tbend/> Wimberly was soon replaced by [[Claude Kirkpatrick]], formerly a legislator from Jennings in Jefferson Davis Parish, who worked on the administrative end to bring the project to reality.​

When Ammons went to Baton Rouge to introduce his bill for reservoir funding, he met immediate hesitation or outright opposition from state officials in the Davis administration who complained about the lack of funds available for expensive new projects. At the close of a strategy session, Ammons said, "Gentlemen, I called the meeting for you to tell me what could be done to build Toledo Bend, but all you have told me is what not to do.”<ref name=tbend/> The head of the state public works department, [[Lorris Wimberly]], a former House [[Speaker]] from Arcadia in Bienville Parish,  "shook his finger" at Ammons and warned the new legislator that he did "not have the slightest idea what it would take to get this type of legislation passed. If you do introduce such a bill, you are going to hang yourself on the highest tree around this Capitol, and furthermore you are going to be the laughingstock of the whole Legislature."<ref name=tbend/> Wimberly was soon replaced by [[Claude Kirkpatrick]], formerly a legislator from Jennings in Jefferson Davis Parish, who worked on the administrative end to bring the project to reality.​

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Voters approved Amendment 8 to tap income from a pension-fund tax established in 1890 for Louisiana veterans of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] Army. At the time, there was only one remaining [[American Civil War|Civil War]] widow still living. Norman L. Richardson, then the state editor of ''The Shreveport Times'', questioned the project from an historic perspective: the Sabine Breastworks from the Civil War would yield to the water of the reservoir.<ref name=tbend/>  In time, Ammons got his project approved and funded. He picked up support from the plethora of Garden clubs then prevalent in Louisiana, whose members, mostly women, sent chain letters to legislators in support of the reservoir. However, Ammons paid a price for his success with Toledo Bend. He was defeated for reelection to a second term, as many local residents still opposed the project. In time, Toledo Bend became synonymous with bass fishing in Louisiana and Texas.<ref name=tbend/>​

Voters approved Amendment 8 to tap income from a pension-fund tax established in 1890 for Louisiana veterans of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] Army. At the time, there was only one remaining [[American Civil War|Civil War]] widow still living. Norman L. Richardson, then the state editor of ''The Shreveport Times'', questioned the project from an historic perspective: the Sabine Breastworks from the Civil War would yield to the water of the reservoir.<ref name=tbend/>  In time, Ammons got his project approved and funded. He picked up support from the plethora of Garden clubs then prevalent in Louisiana, whose members, mostly women, sent chain letters to legislators in support of the reservoir. However, Ammons paid a price for his success with Toledo Bend. He was defeated for reelection to a second term, as many local residents still opposed the project. In time, Toledo Bend became synonymous with bass fishing in Louisiana and Texas.<ref name=tbend/>​