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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = John Sidney Garrett

| name=John Sidney Garrett

| office=[[Louisiana]] State Representative<br>for Claiborne, Bienville, and Webster parishes

| office=[[Louisiana]] State Representative<br>for Claiborne, Bienville, and Webster parishes

| term_start=1948'

| term_start=1948'

| term_end=1972

| term_end=1972

| preceded=[[William Rainach]]

| preceded=[[William Rainach]]

| succeeded =Louise Brazzel Johnson

| succeeded=Louise Brazzel Johnson

| office2=Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives

| office2=Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives

| term_start2=1968

| term_start2=1968

| spouse=Meredith McEachern Garrett  

| spouse=Meredith McEachern Garrett  

| children=Richie, Mark, and Tommy Garrett

| children=Richie, Mark, and Tommy Garrett

| party= [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]

| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]

| occupation=[[Business]]man<br>

| occupation=[[Business]]man<br>

[[United States Army]] in [[World War II]]

[[United States Army]] in [[World War II]]

}}

}}

'''John Sidney Garrett''' (October 29, 1921 &ndash; May 28, 2005) was a [[conservative]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] member of the [[Louisiana]] House of Representatives from 1948 to 1972. He served under four [[gubernatorial]] administrations. Garrett was a successful [[business]]man in the small town of Haynesville in [[Claiborne Parish south of the [[Arkansas]] state line. In his last term, he was defeated for House eelection even though he was the [[Speaker]] of the House.  

'''John Sidney Garrett''' (October 29, 1921 &ndash; May 28, 2005) was a [[conservative]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] member of the [[Louisiana]] House of Representatives, with service from 1948 to 1972. He served under four [[Governor|gubernatorial]] administrations. Garrett was a successful [[business]]man in his small hometown of Haynesville in Claiborne Parish south of the [[Arkansas]] state line. In his last term, he was defeated for House reelection even though he was the [[Speaker]].

In 1966, Garrett made a strong but losing primary race for the Louisiana Public Service Commission to fill the seat vacated by the election of [[John J. McKeithen]] as governor. He was defeated by McKeithen's interim appointee, [[John S. Hunt]]. At the time, there were only three PSC districts; the number was increased to five under the Louisiana Constitution of 1974.

In 1966, Garrett made a strong but losing primary race for the Louisiana Public Service Commission to fill the seat vacated by the election of [[John J. McKeithen]] as governor. He was defeated by McKeithen's interim appointee, [[John S. Hunt]]. At the time, there were only three PSC districts; the number was increased to five under the Louisiana Constitution of 1974.

title=Milestones (Fall 2008)|publisher=homerhospital.com|accessdate=January 2, 2011}}</ref>

title=Milestones (Fall 2008)|publisher=homerhospital.com|accessdate=January 2, 2011}}</ref>

Garrett graduated from Haynesville High Schoo], attended [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], and graduated from [[Louisiana Tech University]] (then Louisiana Polytechnic Institute) in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] in Lincoln Parish. In 1994, Garrett was honored as one of 100 "Outstanding Alumni" of Tech during the institution's [[centennial]] celebration.

Garrett graduated from Haynesville High Schoo], attended [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], and graduated from [[Louisiana Tech University]] (then Louisiana Polytechnic Institute) in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] in Lincoln Parish. In 1994, Garrett was honored as one of 100 "Outstanding Alumni" of Tech during the institution's centennial celebration.

During [[World War II]], Garrett served in the [[United States Army]] in the European theater of operations. He was a member of the 102nd and the 45th infantry divisions. He was a [[captain]] and battery commander with the field artillery.

During [[World War II]], Garrett served in the [[United States Army]] in the European theater of operations. He was a member of the 102nd and the 45th infantry divisions. He was a [[captain]] and battery commander with the field artillery.

In the 1971 closed primary (the last for legislative races in state history), Garrett was surprisingly defeated in his bid for a seventh term by a largely unknown [[insurance]] agent and [[radio]] station owner,  Louise Brazzel Johnson (1924–2002) of Bernice in Union Parish. Garrett, placed in new District 11 (Union and Claiborne parishes) was the most high-profile of numerous legislative veterans defeated in an anti-incumbent year. Previously, it had been thought an impossible task for an inexperienced candidate to oust a senior lawmaker, particularly one who wore the title of "Speaker."  

In the 1971 closed primary (the last for legislative races in state history), Garrett was surprisingly defeated in his bid for a seventh term by a largely unknown [[insurance]] agent and [[radio]] station owner,  Louise Brazzel Johnson (1924–2002) of Bernice in Union Parish. Garrett, placed in new District 11 (Union and Claiborne parishes) was the most high-profile of numerous legislative veterans defeated in an anti-incumbent year. Previously, it had been thought an impossible task for an inexperienced candidate to oust a senior lawmaker, particularly one who wore the title of "Speaker."  

Mrs. Johnson was best known for her opposition to the proposed [[Equal Rights Amendment]]. She did not consolidate a hold on the Claiborne-Union district because she ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 1975, having lost to the more liberal Democrat, former Senator Charles C. Barham of Ruston. Johnson was then defeated for a second House term in the 1979 nonpartisan blanket primary by his fellow Democrat [[Loy F. Weaver]], a [[banker]] from Homer and a  former agent of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] and the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]]. Weaver has succeeded Representative Johnson in 1976.

Mrs. Johnson was best known for her opposition to the proposed [[Equal Rights Amendment]]. She did not consolidate a hold on the Claiborne-Union district because she ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 1975, having lost to the more liberal Democrat, former Senator Charles C. Barham of Ruston. Johnson was then defeated for a second House term in the 1979 nonpartisan blanket primary by his fellow Democrat [[Loy F. Weaver]], a [[banker]] from Homer and a  former agent of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] and the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]]. Weaver has succeeded Representative Johnson in 1976.