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Earl Williamson was elected in 1933 to the Caddo Parish Police Jury, later the Caddo Parish Commission, the governing board of the parish. He served for thirty-nine years. At the time, there was no salary for police jury service but per diem pay when on official business. He did not seek a ninth four-year term in the 1971 Democratic primary election. He was president of the police jury for eight one-year terms and was a staunch champion of rural development. He was also a vice president of the Louisiana Police Jury Association. After retiring in 1972, Williamson served an additional year on the jury from 1979 to 1980 to fill a vacancy. In total, he served forty years. When he finally left the police jury early in 1980, son James Williamson succeeded him for a single term from 1980 to 1984.[6]

Earl Williamson was elected in 1933 to the Caddo Parish Police Jury, later the Caddo Parish Commission, the governing board of the parish. He served for thirty-nine years. At the time, there was no salary for police jury service but per diem pay when on official business. He did not seek a ninth four-year term in the 1971 Democratic primary election. He was president of the police jury for eight one-year terms and was a staunch champion of rural development. He was also a vice president of the Louisiana Police Jury Association. After retiring in 1972, Williamson served an additional year on the jury from 1979 to 1980 to fill a vacancy. In total, he served forty years. When he finally left the police jury early in 1980, son James Williamson succeeded him for a single term from 1980 to 1984.[6]

In 1962, Earl Williamson, still a police juror, regained the mayor's office for another term, but in 1966, he was defeated by fellow Democrat (later [[Republican Party|Republican]]) James H. "Jimmy" Wilson, a Vivian grocer and banker. Then when Wilson became state representative in 1972 as the successor to Don Williamson, James Williamson succeeded Wilson as mayor. In the 1975 primary, Don Williamson turned back Wilson's challenge to Williamson's own state Senate seat.[7]

In 1962, Earl Williamson, still a police juror, regained the mayor's office for another term, but in 1966, he was defeated by fellow Democrat (later [[Republican Party|Republican]]) [[Jimmy Wilson|James H. "Jimmy" Wilson]], a Vivian grocer and banker. Then when Wilson became state representative in 1972 as the successor to Don Williamson, James Williamson succeeded Wilson as mayor. In the 1975 primary, Don Williamson turned back Wilson's challenge to Williamson's own state Senate seat.[7]

Williamson served simultaneously in the part-time positions of Vivian mayor and the Caddo Parish Police Jury. The mayor's office paid a small salary, and the jury paid for per diem service when on official business. A court challenge clarified his right to hold both positions.[7]

Williamson served simultaneously in the part-time positions of Vivian mayor and the Caddo Parish Police Jury. The mayor's office paid a small salary, and the jury paid for per diem service when on official business. A court challenge clarified his right to hold both positions.[7]