Changes

Montgomery invested in the mass production of broiler [[chickens]]. He understood, when others did not, that the production of [[poultry]] could be a money-maker for the farmers of north Louisiana and also provide a more ready market for his feed products. At the time, broiler chickens were produced only in small groups of five hundred or fewer because it was thought that the poultry should not be kept continuously in a chicken house. It was believed that the chickens should be let out in a yard for several hours a day to remain healthy. Montgomery realized that placing the chickens in a yard was not economically feasible. So, he raised five thousand birds in an enclosed environment. His foresight earned him the title of "father of the poultry industry" in Louisiana.<ref name=obit/>​

Montgomery invested in the mass production of broiler [[chickens]]. He understood, when others did not, that the production of [[poultry]] could be a money-maker for the farmers of north Louisiana and also provide a more ready market for his feed products. At the time, broiler chickens were produced only in small groups of five hundred or fewer because it was thought that the poultry should not be kept continuously in a chicken house. It was believed that the chickens should be let out in a yard for several hours a day to remain healthy. Montgomery realized that placing the chickens in a yard was not economically feasible. So, he raised five thousand birds in an enclosed environment. His foresight earned him the title of "father of the poultry industry" in Louisiana.<ref name=obit/>​

 

==Patent on the rotary blade mower==​

==Patent on the rotary blade mower==​

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Montgomery renamed his feed and seed store the "Montgomery Distributing Company" when he began to specialize in [[gasoline]] lawnmowers.​

Montgomery renamed his feed and seed store the "Montgomery Distributing Company" when he began to specialize in [[gasoline]] lawnmowers.​ Montgomery held the first [[patent]] on a rotary blade mower. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, mowers were equipped with a rotating reel assembly that was either pushed by hand or was propelled by a small [[gasoline]] engine. This kind of mower worked well in short grass, but it clogged up in tall grass. Montgomery did not invent this mower, but he obtained the patent from a frustrated inventor in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]. The first commercially produced rotary mower, the Yazoo Master Mower, was then produced by a small manufacturing plant in the capital city of [[Jackson]], [[Mississippi]]. Montgomery was the Louisiana distributor of Yazoo until 1981, when he closed his lawnmower business in Ruston.<ref name=obit/>​

==Ranch Azalee==

==Ranch Azalee==​

Through good management and, in Montgomery's belief, divine guidance, his business flourished, and he was financially able to marry Azalee on [[Valentine's Day]], 1945, after an 11-year courtship. The couple had one child, A Harold Montgomery, Jr., known as "Hal" (September 17, 1946 &ndash; September 8, 2015).<ref name=halmobit/> Montgomery thereafter purchased their dream place, a [[farm]] south of the village of Doyline in Webster Parish. He named the habitation and land "Ranch Azalee" after his wife. The Montgomerys occupied the estate in May 1953.<ref name=obit/>​

Through good management and, in Montgomery's belief, divine guidance, his business flourished, and he was financially able to marry Azalee on [[Valentine's Day]], 1945, after an 11-year courtship. The couple had one child, A Harold Montgomery, Jr., known as "Hal" (September 17, 1946 &ndash; September 8, 2015).<ref name=halmobit/> Montgomery thereafter purchased their dream place, a [[farm]] south of the village of Doyline in Webster Parish. He named the habitation and land "Ranch Azalee" after his wife. The Montgomerys occupied the estate in May 1953.<ref name=obit/>​

Ranch Azalee was formerly known as the Bryan House, having originally begun c. 1804 by James Jackson Bryan. It was built in the late Federal/Greek revival style of architecture with an open [[dogtrot]] core. After Montgomery's death, Ranch Azalee was added in 1999 to the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>Louisiana historical marker, Ranch Azalee, Harold Montgomery Road, Webster Parish, Louisiana.</ref>​

Ranch Azalee was formerly known as the Bryan House, having originally begun c. 1804 by James Jackson Bryan. It was built in the late Federal/Greek revival style of architecture with an open [[dogtrot]] core. After Montgomery's death, Ranch Azalee was added in 1999 to the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>Louisiana historical marker, Ranch Azalee, Harold Montgomery Road, Webster Parish, Louisiana.</ref>​ B

 

ecause his business interests and his legislative duties were a considerable distance from Ranch Azalee, Montgomery drove tens of thousands of miles per year. Such a demanding schedule made him a workhorse. It also made him aware of the need for highway improvements in Louisiana.​

Because his business interests and his legislative duties were a considerable distance from Ranch Azalee, Montgomery drove tens of thousands of miles per year. Such a demanding schedule made him a workhorse. It also made him aware of the need for highway improvements in Louisiana.​

==Election to the state Senate==​

==Election to the state Senate==​