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|'''Parents''':<br>

|'''Parents''':<br>

James Wiley and Irene Bruce Lynn​}}​

James Wiley and Irene Bruce Lynn​}}​

 

'''Bruce Newton Lynn, Sr.''' (March 25, 1925 &ndash; September 28, 2016), was an [[United States|American]] [[cotton]] [[farmer]], [[business]]man, and [[banker]] from his native Gilliam (pronounced GILL AM) in northern Caddo Parish, [[Louisiana]],  who was a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative from 1976 to 1988. Three generations of his family operated the  J. W. Lynn plantation.

'''Bruce Newton Lynn, Sr.''' (March 25, 1925 &ndash; September 28, 2016), was an [[United States|American]] [[cotton]] [[farmer]], [[business]]man, and [[banker]] from his native Gilliam (pronounced GILL AM) in northern Caddo Parish, [[Louisiana]],  who was a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative from 1976 to 1988. Three generations of his family operated the  J. W. Lynn plantation.

==Background==

==Background==

 

Lynn was born to James Wiley Lynn, an [[Arkansas]] native, and the former Irene Bruce (1895-1982), originally from Kansas City, [[Kansas]]. He graduated in 1942 from the former Belcher High School. He attended [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station, Texas|College Station]], [[Texas]], and later [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], but he did not graduate from either institution. Instead he completed banking school.<ref name=lynnobit/>​

Lynn was born to James Wiley Lynn, an [[Arkansas]] native, and the former Irene Bruce (1895-1982), originally from Kansas City, [[Kansas]]. He graduated in 1942 from the former Belcher High School. He attended [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station, Texas|College Station]], [[Texas]], and later [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], but he did not graduate from either institution. Instead he completed banking school.<ref name=lynnobit/>​

With his background in cotton production, Lynn was in 1970 the president of the National Cotton Council of America, a trade association based in [[Memphis]], [[Tennessee]], and [[Washington, D.C.]] He remained thereafter an advisor to the council board. Because he was in Washington with the cotton council late in 1980, he became a member of the transition team for President-elect [[Ronald W. Reagan]]. Lynn once told an interviewer that the election of Reagan remains the highlight of his personal political interest.​

With his background in cotton production, Lynn was in 1970 the president of the National Cotton Council of America, a trade association based in [[Memphis]], [[Tennessee]], and [[Washington, D.C.]] He remained thereafter an advisor to the council board. Because he was in Washington with the cotton council late in 1980, he became a member of the transition team for President-elect [[Ronald W. Reagan]]. Lynn once told an interviewer that the election of Reagan remains the highlight of his personal political interest.​

From 1970 to 1987, Lynn was affiliated with the former Louisiana Bank and Trust Company in Shreveport]].<ref name=lynnobit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=181679727|title=Bruce Lynn-obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=October 1, 2016|accessdate=October 22, 2019}}</ref>​

From 1970 to 1987, Lynn was affiliated with the former Louisiana Bank and Trust Company in Shreveport.<ref name=lynnobit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=181679727|title=Bruce Lynn-obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=October 1, 2016|accessdate=October 22, 2019}}</ref>​

==Legislative elections==

==Legislative elections==

 

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 then to [[Buddy Roemer]]

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]]

 

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, 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, 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.​

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​