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University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
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'''Dudley Joseph LeBlanc, Sr.''' (August 16, 1894 – October 22, 1971), also known as '''Coozan (or Cousin Dud LeBlanc''', was an [[United States|American]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]], [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]], and Cajun member of both houses of the [[Louisianatate Legislature. His entrepreneurial talents netted him a fortune through the [[alcohol]]-laden patent medicine he invented known as Hadacol. He is also considered the "father of the old age pension" in Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64708690/dudley-joseph-leblanc|title=Dudley Joseph "Coozan Dud" LeBlanc|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
'''Dudley Joseph LeBlanc, Sr.''' (August 16, 1894 – October 22, 1971), also known as '''Coozan (or Cousin Dud LeBlanc''', was an [[United States|American]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]], [[Roman Catholic]], and Cajun member of both houses of the [[Louisiana]] state Legislature from the 1920s to the 1970s. His entrepreneurial talents netted him a fortune through the [[alcohol]]-laden patent medicine he invented known as Hadacol. He is also considered the "father of the old age pension" in Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64708690/dudley-joseph-leblanc|title=Dudley Joseph "Coozan Dud" LeBlanc|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
His birth home was relocated from the LeBlanc community to [[Lafayette]], Louisiana, to become part of Acadian Village, an authentic vision of 19th-century life in southwestern Louisiana.
His birth home was relocated from the LeBlanc community to [[Lafayette]], Louisiana, to become part of Acadian Village, an authentic vision of 19th-century life in southwestern Louisiana.
==Background==
==Background==
LeBlanc was born to Numa and Noemie LeBlanc in the farming community of LeBlanc near Youngsville in Lafayette Parish. The LeBlancs moved to Erath in Vermilion Parish, when he was a toddler. He considered Vermilion Parish as his home throughout his life, though technically he was not a native of that parish. He grew up speaking nothing but [[France|French]] and never lost his Cajun accent.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hank Williams: the biography|author=Colin Escott|author2=George Merritt|author3=William MacEwen|title=Chapter 12 the Haddy-Cole Bounce}}</ref> He graduated from Erath High School. When he turned eighteen, LeBlanc graduated from the institution now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then known as "Southwestern Louisiana Institute." LeBlanc self-financed his college expenses by running a clothes pressing business at night. The operation was so successful that he reportedly helped to put two cousins through school as well.
LeBlanc was born to Numa and Noemie LeBlanc in the farming community of LeBlanc near Youngsville in Lafayette Parish. The LeBlancs moved to Erath in Vermilion Parish, when he was a toddler. He considered Vermilion Parish as his home throughout his life, though technically he was not a native of that parish. He grew up speaking nothing but [[France|French]] and never lost his Cajun accent.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hank Williams: the biography|author=Colin Escott|author2=George Merritt|author3=William MacEwen|title=Chapter 12 the Haddy-Cole Bounce}}</ref> He graduated from Erath High School. When he turned eighteen, LeBlanc graduated from the institution now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then known as "Southwestern Louisiana Institute." LeBlanc self-financed his college expenses by running a clothes pressing business at night. The operation was so successful that he reportedly helped to put two cousins through school as well.
After he graduated from college, LeBlanc became a high-powered salesman of [[tobacco]], [[shoe]]s, crude [[oil]], and, later, patent medicines. He was so successful that he sent each of his four brothers through college. "Then I went into the [[United States Army]] (as a sergeant). Educating my brothers took it all," LeBlanc quipped. However, one of his brothers, Raoul J. LeBlanc, was already serving in combat in [[France]] as a member of Louisiana's Washington Artillery during [[World War I]].
After he graduated from college, LeBlanc became a high-powered salesman of [[tobacco]], [[shoe]]s, crude [[oil]], and, later, patent medicines. He was so successful that he sent each of his four brothers through college. "Then I went into the [[United States Army]] (as a sergeant). Educating my brothers took it all," LeBlanc quipped. However, one of his brothers, Raoul J. LeBlanc, was already serving in combat in [[France]] as a member of Louisiana's Washington Artillery during [[World War I]].
LeBlanc spent most of his adult years in Abbeville, the seat of government for Vermilion Parish, at which LeBlanc had a large, comfortable home.
LeBlanc spent most of his adult years in Abbeville, the seat of government for Vermilion Parish, at which LeBlanc had a large, comfortable home.
==Removing Huey P. Long, Jr. from power==
==The failed attempt to remove Huey Pierce Long, Jr., from power==
In 1924, LeBlanc was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. He ran because he did not think that the incumbent representative had done a good job of bringing roads into Vermilion Parish. A story persists that the representative dared LeBlanc to run against him, and LeBlanc accepted the challenge and narrowly unseated the lawmaker.
In 1924, LeBlanc was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. He ran because he did not think that the incumbent representative had done a good job of bringing roads into Vermilion Parish. A story persists that the representative dared LeBlanc to run against him, and LeBlanc accepted the challenge and narrowly unseated the lawmaker.
LeBlanc served only a half term in the state House because he was elected for a six-year term in 1926 to one of the then three seats on the then new Louisiana Public Service Commission, the utility rate-making body. He defeated the candidate supported by [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]] LeBlanc's district covered all of the southwestern third of the state. The commission was expanded to five members under the Louisiana Constitution of 1974.
LeBlanc served only a half term in the state House because he was elected for a six-year term in 1926 to one of the then three seats on the then new Louisiana Public Service Commission, the utility rate-making body. He defeated the candidate supported by [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]] LeBlanc's district covered all of the southwestern third of the state. The commission was expanded to five members under the Louisiana Constitution of 1974.
LeBlanc provided the third swing vote to remove Huey Long as the PSC chairman, as Long was attempting to use the position to promote his pending gubernatorial candidacy in 1928. LeBlanc accused Long of being a "slacker" in World War I.
LeBlanc provided the third swing vote to remove Huey Long as the PSC chairman, as Long was attempting to use the position to promote his pending gubernatorial candidacy in 1928. LeBlanc accused Long of being a "slacker" in World War I.