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In 1959, LaCombe campaigned for [[governor]] of Louisiana by hitchhiking across the state. In a crowded field including former Governor [[James A. Noe]] and former Lieutenant Governor [[Bill Dodd]], and state Senator [[William Rainach]]. In his campaign, LaCombe predicted that he would win in the community of Echo, in which most of the inhabitants were his relatives and estimated that he would poll about three thousand votes by mistake because his name appeared on the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[primary]] ballot between [[Jimmie Davis]], who ultimately won his second nonconsecutive term as governor, and New Orleans [[Mayor]] deLesseps Story Morrison, Sr. (1912-1964),<ref name=lahist/> who had also run in 1956, losing to [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]] and would do so again in 1963-64 losing to [[John J. McKeithen]]. Lacombe finished with 4,917 votes.<ref>Glen Jeansonne, ''Race Religion and Politics: the Gubernatorial Elections of 1959-1960'' (1977).</ref>

In 1959, LaCombe campaigned for [[governor]] of Louisiana by hitchhiking across the state. In a crowded field including former Governor [[James A. Noe]] and former Lieutenant Governor [[Bill Dodd]], and state Senator [[William Rainach]]. In his campaign, LaCombe predicted that he would win in the community of Echo, in which most of the inhabitants were his relatives and estimated that he would poll about three thousand votes by mistake because his name appeared on the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[primary]] ballot between [[Jimmie Davis]], who ultimately won his second nonconsecutive term as governor, and New Orleans [[Mayor]] deLesseps Story Morrison, Sr. (1912-1964),<ref name=lahist/> who had also run in 1956, losing to [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]] and would do so again in 1963-64 losing to [[John J. McKeithen]]. Lacombe finished with 4,917 votes.<ref>Glen Jeansonne, ''Race Religion and Politics: the Gubernatorial Elections of 1959-1960'' (1977).</ref>

In 1962, while drawing unemployment compensation, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor when Morrison stepped down and was succeeded by Victor Schiro, the last [[conservative]] mayor of New Orleans. In 1969, LaCombe managed the mayoral campaign of Rodney Fertel (1921-2003), a [[Jewish]] [[real estate]] owner who had inherited his fortune from a maternal grandmother. The eccentric Fertel, a devotee of animals and zoos, ran as “the gorilla man," announced his candidacy in a gorilla suit,<ref<{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143815231/rodney-fertel|title=Rodney Fertel|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 1, 2020}}</ref>and used the comical slogan, “Don’t settle for a monkey. Elect Fertel and get a gorilla.” Fertel  polled only 310 votes but later obtained two gorillas from Singapore for the Audubon Zoo.<ref name=lahist/> Victory went to [[Maurice Edwin Landrieu|Maurice Edwin "Moon" Landrieu]], who went on to defeat later Lieutenant Governor [[Jimmy Fitzmorris]] and then in the 1970 [[general election]] the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Ben C. Toledano]], the last member of his party to wage a serious bid for mayor since [[Reconstruction]]. Fertel was the former husband of Ruth Ann Udstad Fertel (1927-2002), who established the high-end restaurant chain, Ruth's Chris Steak House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6361471/ruth-fertel|title=Ruth Udstad Fertel|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 1, 2020}}</ref>

In 1962, while drawing unemployment compensation, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor when Morrison stepped down and was succeeded by Victor Schiro, the last [[conservative]] mayor of New Orleans. In 1969, LaCombe managed the mayoral campaign of Rodney Fertel (1921-2003), a [[Jewish]] [[real estate]] owner who had inherited his fortune from a maternal grandmother. The eccentric Fertel, a devotee of animals and zoos, ran as “the gorilla man," announced his candidacy in a gorilla suit,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143815231/rodney-fertel|title=Rodney Fertel|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 1, 2020}}</ref>and used the comical slogan, “Don’t settle for a monkey. Elect Fertel and get a gorilla.” Fertel  polled only 310 votes but later obtained two gorillas from Singapore for the Audubon Zoo.<ref name=lahist/> Victory went to [[Maurice Edwin Landrieu|Maurice Edwin "Moon" Landrieu]], who went on to defeat later Lieutenant Governor [[Jimmy Fitzmorris]] and then in the 1970 [[general election]] the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Ben C. Toledano]], the last member of his party to wage a serious bid for mayor since [[Reconstruction]]. Fertel was the former husband of Ruth Ann Udstad Fertel (1927-2002), who established the high-end restaurant chain, Ruth's Chris Steak House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6361471/ruth-fertel|title=Ruth Udstad Fertel|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 1, 2020}}</ref>

LaCombe promoted several special events during the 1960s, including a benefit concert at the Municipal Auditorium in 1965 to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Betsy. The concert starred Eddie Fisher, Mel Torme, Bobby Vinton, and Loretta Young. In the 1960s, LaCombe was named public information spokesman for the New Orleans Fair Grounds race track , a position that he held into the late 1980s, He claimed that he was “so busy and so happy” that he never thought about retirement. LaCombe taught a course on handicapping at [[Tulane University]] and was known for his many lost bets and incorrect predictions. He hence acquired the nickname, "Black Cat." <ref name=lahist/>

LaCombe promoted several special events during the 1960s, including a benefit concert at the Municipal Auditorium in 1965 to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Betsy. The concert starred Eddie Fisher, Mel Torme, Bobby Vinton, and Loretta Young. In the 1960s, LaCombe was named public information spokesman for the New Orleans Fair Grounds race track , a position that he held into the late 1980s, He claimed that he was “so busy and so happy” that he never thought about retirement. LaCombe taught a course on handicapping at [[Tulane University]] and was known for his many lost bets and incorrect predictions. He hence acquired the nickname, "Black Cat." <ref name=lahist/>

On his death in New Orleans at the age of seventy, a hearse drove Lacombe's body around the Fair Grounds’ track one last time before interment at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, No. 1.<ref>''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' July 20, 22, 1989.</ref>

Upon his death in New Orleans at the age of seventy, a hearse drove Lacombe's body around the track of the Fair Grounds one last time before interment at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, No. 1.<ref>''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' July 20, 22, 1989.</ref>

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