Changes

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.​

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.​

 

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 Lee Richardson (1935-1999), then the regional 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 political 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 Lee Richardson (1935-1999), then the regional 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 political 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/>​

In 1969, Ammons established the Merritt Mountain Church Park, located on the banks of Toledo Bend Lake.  The [[non-profit organization]] is open to all religious denominations. The Tom Sawyer Chapel atop the hill is regularly used for services<ref name=cra/> He was active in the creation of the Sabine Parish Housing Authority, of which Mrs. Ammons once served as director.<ref name=findagrave/> Ammons built several subdivisions on Toledo Bend Lake, including Sportsman Paradise, Peaceful Valley, Terra II, Lakeland, and Beaver Village. He was a charter member of the Sabine Parish [[Chamber of Commerce]], having served as president from 1966 o 1967. He established the general aviation facility known as Ammons Airport on Toledo Bend Lake. During his legislative career he worked for passage of the constitutional amendment providing the funds to build Toledo Bend.<ref name=lahist/>​

In 1969, Ammons established the Merritt Mountain Church Park, located on the banks of Toledo Bend Lake.  The [[non-profit organization]] is open to all religious denominations. The Tom Sawyer Chapel atop the hill is regularly used for services<ref name=cra/> He was active in the creation of the Sabine Parish Housing Authority, of which Mrs. Ammons once served as director.<ref name=findagrave/> Ammons built several subdivisions on Toledo Bend Lake, including Sportsman Paradise, Peaceful Valley, Terra II, Lakeland, and Beaver Village. He was a charter member of the Sabine Parish [[Chamber of Commerce]], having served as president from 1966 o 1967. He established the general aviation facility known as Ammons Airport on Toledo Bend Lake. During his legislative career he worked for passage of the constitutional amendment providing the funds to build Toledo Bend.<ref name=lahist/>​

​

​

==Death==

==Death==