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From 1970 to 1987, Lynn was affiliated with the former Louisiana Bank and Trust Company in Shreveport]].<ref name=lynnobit>{{cite news|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=181679727|title=Bruce Lynn-obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref>​

From 1970 to 1987, Lynn was affiliated with the former Louisiana Bank and Trust Company in Shreveport]].<ref name=lynnobit>{{cite news|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=181679727|title=Bruce Lynn-obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref>​

==-Legislative elections==

==Legislative elections==

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Lynn first filed to run in 1971 as a Republican for the District 1 seat (parts of Caddo and Bossier parishes) in the state legislature, but he withdrew after [[Jimmy Wilson]] won the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nomination for that seat. Wilson was a former mayor of Vivian in Caddo Parish, where he and Lynn had served together on the North Caddo Hospital Board. In 1975, Wilson relinquished the state House seat to run unsuccessfully for the Louisiana State Senate] He lost to his then fellow Democrat [[Don Williamson]].​ Both Wilson and Williamson later became Republicans.

Lynn first filed to run in 1971 as a Republican for the District 1 seat (parts of Caddo and Bossier parishes) in the state legislature, but he withdrew after [[Jimmy Wilson]] won the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nomination for that seat. Wilson was a former mayor of Vivian in Caddo Parish, where he and Lynn had served together on the North Caddo Hospital Board. In 1975, Wilson relinquished the state House seat to run unsuccessfully for the Louisiana State Senate] He lost to his then fellow Democrat [[Don Williamson]].​ Both Wilson and Williamson later became Republicans.

 

Lynn narrowly won the general election to succeed Wilson. He defeated Democrat Powell A. Layton, the principal of Northwood High School in Shreveport, by only 40 votes: 2,894 (50.3 percent) to Layton's 2,854 (49.7 percent). Lynn's House terms coincided with six other Republicans, including Benjamin Franklin "B. F."  O'Neal, Jr. (1922-2004), Arthur William Sour (1924-2000),  and [[E. Clark Gaudin]]. Three other members, Abel John "Buddy" McNamara (1936-204), Lane Anderson Carson, and [[Michael F.  Thompson]], had been elected as Democrats but switched their affiliations.​

Lynn narrowly won the general election to succeed Wilson. He defeated Democrat Powell A. Layton, the principal of Northwood High School in Shreveport, by only 40 votes: 2,894 (50.3 percent) to Layton's 2,854 (49.7 percent). Lynn's House terms coincided with six other Republicans, including Benjamin Franklin "B. F."  O'Neal, Jr. (1922-2004), Arthur William Sour (1924-2000),  and [[E. Clark Gaudin]]. Three other members, Abel John "Buddy" McNamara (1936-204), Lane Anderson Carson, and [[Michael F.  Thompson]], had been elected as Democrats but switched their affiliations.

 

Thereafter, Jimmy Wilson joined the Republican Party and waged two unsuccessful campaigns for Louisiana's 4th congressional district after the seat was vacated in January 1979 by popular long-term Democrat [[Joe Waggonner]].​ Wilson lost the first time to Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach, and  

Thereafter, Jimmy Wilson joined the Republican Party and waged two unsuccessful campaigns for Louisiana's 4th congressional district after the seat was vacated in January 1979 by popular long-term Democrat [[Joe Waggonner]].​ Wilson lost the first time to Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach, and then to [[Buddy Roemer]]

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Lynn was narrowly reelected in the 1979 general election, 51.7 percent to 48.3 percent for the late Democrat Jack Miller, a businessman from [[Blanchard, Louisiana|Blanchard]], also in Caddo Parish. He defeated Miller again in 1983. When Lynn declined to run in 1987, the seat went Democratic with the election of Caddo Parish Commission president [[Roy M. Hopkins|Roy M. "Hoppy" Hopkins]] of Oil City in Caddo Parish, who subsequently died in office during the last year of his fifth term. Hopkins' commission seat was filled for a term by [[James Whitfield Williamson]], a businessman who served as the mayor of Vivian from 1972 to 1986 and was an older brother of Don Williamson.​

Lynn was narrowly reelected in the 1979 general election, 51.7 percent to 48.3 percent for the late Democrat Jack Miller, a businessman from [[Blanchard, Louisiana|Blanchard]], also in Caddo Parish. He defeated Miller again in 1983. When Lynn declined to run in 1987, the seat went Democratic with the election of Caddo Parish Commission president [[Roy M. Hopkins|Roy M. "Hoppy" Hopkins]] of Oil City in Caddo Parish, who subsequently died in office during the last year of his fifth term. Hopkins' commission seat was filled for a term by [[James Whitfield Williamson]], a businessman who served as the mayor of Vivian from 1972 to 1986 and was an older brother of Don Williamson.​

==Inmate sues Secretary Lynn==​

After his legislative service, Lynn was the director of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections from 1988 to 1992, under appointment from then Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], a Democrat-later-Republican.​

 

==Lynn as corrections secretary==​

After his legislative service, Lynn was the director of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections from 1988 to 1992, under appointment from then Governor Buddy Roemer, a Democrat-later-Republican.​

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In his capacity as corrections secretary, Lynn was sued by an inmate who claimed invasion of privacy during a body search carried out on all convicts at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola in West Feliciana Parish. Under orders from Lynn, David Keith Elliott submitted to a visual body cavity search. The searches were conducted in the general presence of other inmates, guards, and three bystanders. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana granted Lynn's motion for summary judgment and dismissed Elliott's suit.​

In his capacity as corrections secretary, Lynn was sued by an inmate who claimed invasion of privacy during a body search carried out on all convicts at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola in West Feliciana Parish. Under orders from Lynn, David Keith Elliott submitted to a visual body cavity search. The searches were conducted in the general presence of other inmates, guards, and three bystanders. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana granted Lynn's motion for summary judgment and dismissed Elliott's suit.​

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The court found that during the period "preceding June 9, 1989, an extraordinary number of [[murders]], [[suicide]]s, stabbings, and cuttings occurred within the Louisiana State Penitentiary. These circumstances created an emergency situation, and the defendant Lynn ordered an institution-wide shakedown … All 3,164 prisoners, including Elliott, were subjected to a visual body cavity search over a period of two and one-half days. To facilitate this massive search effort, Lynn brought in additional correctional officers." The court hence found in Lynn's favor.​

The court found that during the period "preceding June 9, 1989, an extraordinary number of [[murders]], [[suicide]]s, stabbings, and cuttings occurred within the Louisiana State Penitentiary. These circumstances created an emergency situation, and the defendant Lynn ordered an institution-wide shakedown … All 3,164 prisoners, including Elliott, were subjected to a visual body cavity search over a period of two and one-half days. To facilitate this massive search effort, Lynn brought in additional correctional officers." The court hence found in Lynn's favor.​

 

==Death and legacy==​

==Death and legacy==​

Upon Lynn's death in 2016 at the age of ninety-one, memorial services were held at the First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport.<ref name=lynnobit/> Jack Dillard, the long-term farm correspondent for KWKH radio and ''The Shreveport Times'' recalled the former legislator, accordingly:​

Upon Lynn's death in 2016 at the age of ninety-one, memorial services were held at the First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport.<ref name=lynnobit/> Jack Dillard, the long-term farm correspondent for KWKH radio and ''The Shreveport Times'' recalled the former legislator, accordingly:​<blockquote>​

<blockquote>​

With the passing of Bruce Lynn of Belcher on September 28, farmer, family man, politician and a tremendous voice for agriculture, we will always have a void to fill as Bruce represented our part of Louisiana and agriculture in his positive and honest way. When I came to KWKH Radio and ''The Shreveport Times'' in the fall of 1959, KWKH’s Jack Timmons took me to meet Mr. Lynn and advised [that I] get to know him and follow his leadership. That I have done. He led in many ways with many phases of life and was always a person available to counsel with. In recent years as both of us backed away from present tasks, I had not shared time with him. When it was appropriate he always had a positive word that benefited. As president of the National Cotton Council of America, when cotton was king, he was at his best. We extend our sympathies to the family and as he has now moved to a "much higher" area of service. Bruce Lynn will be a leader.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/life/2016/10/09/jack-dillard-passing-lynn-leaves-void-louisiana-agriculture/91727534/|title=Passing of Lynn leaves void in Louisiana agriculture|author=Jack Dillard|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=October 9, 2016|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref></blockquote>

With the passing of Bruce Lynn of Belcher on September 28, farmer, family man, politician and a tremendous voice for agriculture, we will always have a void to fill as Bruce represented our part of Louisiana and agriculture in his positive and honest way. When I came to KWKH Radio and ''The Shreveport Times'' in the fall of 1959, KWKH’s Jack Timmons took me to meet Mr. Lynn and advised [that I] get to know him and follow his leadership. That I have done. He led in many ways with many phases of life and was always a person available to counsel with. In recent years as both of us backed away from present tasks, I had not shared time with him. When it was appropriate he always had a positive word that benefited. As president of the National Cotton Council of America, when cotton was king, he was at his best. We extend our sympathies to the family and as he has now moved to a "much higher" area of service. Bruce Lynn will be a leader.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/life/2016/10/09/jack-dillard-passing-lynn-leaves-void-louisiana-agriculture/91727534/|title=Passing of Lynn leaves void in Louisiana agriculture|author=Jack Dillard|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=October 9, 2016|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref></blockquote>