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McKeithen was a prohibitive favorite for re-nomination in 1967 and ran unopposed in the general election held on February 6, 1968. The governor supported 31-year-old Springhill attorney, [[Jack Montgomery (Louisiana politician)|John Willard "Jack" Montgomery, Sr.]], in the senatorial primary against Harold Montgomery. Despite the same surname, the two were not related. The "battles of the Montgomerys" (There was a rematch in 1971.) were the most heated state senate races in the district in many years.​

McKeithen was a prohibitive favorite for re-nomination in 1967 and ran unopposed in the general election held on February 6, 1968. The governor supported 31-year-old Springhill attorney, [[Jack Montgomery (Louisiana politician)|John Willard "Jack" Montgomery, Sr.]], in the senatorial primary against Harold Montgomery. Despite the same surname, the two were not related. The "battles of the Montgomerys" (There was a rematch in 1971.) were the most heated state senate races in the district in many years.​

Jack Montgomery's campaign produced a [[newspaper]] advertisement listing those Springhill dignitaries behind the young candidate's campaign: John Lemmon Cathcart (1895-1969), former principal of both [[Minden (Louisiana) High School|Minden High School]] and [[E. S. Richardson|E.S. Richardson Elementary School]] in Minden, Springhill High School principal Ed Olive, and [[D. C. Wimberly]], a decorated [[World War II]]POW and an elementary school principal in Springhill. Others supporting Jack Montgomery were then Springhill Mayor James Allen and Springhill newspaper [[publisher]] [[Danny Scott]] (1930–2007).<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 14, 1967, p. 2.</ref> Jack Montgomery questioned why state highway funding for Bossier and, particularly, Webster Parish lagged behind other parishes in the region. In a newspaper advertisement, he cited a study which ranked Bossier in 14th place and Webster in 20th place among the twenty-three parishes of north Louisiana in the amount of highway appropriations.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 15, 1967, p. 16.</ref> Some educators rallied behind Harold in an advertisement claiming to "Keep Good Government," including former Webster Parish school supervisor Ruby M. Craton (1900–1984) of Minden.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'' (advertisement), December 8, 1967.</ref>​

Jack Montgomery's campaign produced a [[newspaper]] advertisement listing those Springhill dignitaries behind the young candidate's campaign: John Lemmon Cathcart (1895-1969), former principal of both [[Minden (Louisiana) High School|Minden High School]] and [[E. S. Richardson|E.S. Richardson Elementary School]] in Minden, Springhill High School principal Ed Olive, and [[D. C. Wimberly]], a decorated [[World War II]]POW and an elementary school principal in Springhill. Others supporting Jack Montgomery were then Springhill Mayor James Allen and Springhill newspaper [[publisher]] [[Danny R. Scott]].<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 14, 1967, p. 2.</ref> Jack Montgomery questioned why state highway funding for Bossier and, particularly, Webster Parish lagged behind other parishes in the region. In a newspaper advertisement, he cited a study which ranked Bossier in 14th place and Webster in 20th place among the twenty-three parishes of north Louisiana in the amount of highway appropriations.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 15, 1967, p. 16.</ref> Some educators rallied behind Harold in an advertisement claiming to "Keep Good Government," including former Webster Parish school supervisor Ruby M. Craton (1900–1984) of Minden.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'' (advertisement), December 8, 1967.</ref>​

In his own advertising, Harold Montgomery touted his 100 percent Senate attendance record, the best score since such records began to be kept in 1958 by the non-partisan Public Affairs Research Council. Montgomery was one of five state senators who claimed a 100 percent "good government" rating from the [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'' (advertisement), October 13, 1967, p. 6.</ref>​

In his own advertising, Harold Montgomery touted his 100 percent Senate attendance record, the best score since such records began to be kept in 1958 by the non-partisan Public Affairs Research Council. Montgomery was one of five state senators who claimed a 100 percent "good government" rating from the [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'' (advertisement), October 13, 1967, p. 6.</ref>​

 

Though Harold had led Jack in the primary contest by 448 votes, Jack easily prevailed in the lower-turnout runoff election, 10,037 votes (55.1 percent) to 7,177 (44.9 percent). The results were nearly as bad for Harold Montgomery as they had been for "Wimpy" Jones in 1960.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,"December 18, 1967, p. 1.</ref> Harold Montgomery thereafter concentrated on his business and sought a comeback in 1971.​

Though Harold had led Jack in the primary contest by 448 votes, Jack easily prevailed in the lower-turnout runoff election, 10,037 votes (55.1 percent) to 7,177 (44.9 percent). The results were nearly as bad for Harold Montgomery as they had been for "Wimpy" Jones in 1960.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,"December 18, 1967, p. 1.</ref> Harold Montgomery thereafter concentrated on his business and sought a comeback in 1971.​

 

In a 1975 interview in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], Harold Montgomery said that he thought that [[Tom Colten]], the [[Republican Party|Republican]] mayor of Minden, had done a good job in office, but he never understood Colten's reported favoritism toward Jack Montgomery, a loyal Democrat, in that Harold Montgomery had sometimes supported Republican candidates, including Barry Goldwater.​

In a 1975 interview in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], Harold Montgomery said that he thought that [[Tom Colten]], the [[Republican Party|Republican]] mayor of Minden, had done a good job in office, but he never understood Colten's reported favoritism toward Jack Montgomery, a loyal Democrat, in that Harold Montgomery had sometimes supported Republican candidates, including Barry Goldwater.​

 

Harold Montgomery's loss was attributed to the pro-McKeithen sentiment in the district, but also to the impact of the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]], which applied in Louisiana state senate elections for the first time in 1967. Large numbers of previously unregistered [[African-American]] voters came to the polls, and most of them chose the McKeithen-endorsed Jack Montgomery. Opposing McKeithen in the primary was segregationist [[U.S. Representative]] John Richard Rarick of St. Francisville in West Feliciana Parish. Rarick ran so poorly both statewide and in the Bossier-Webster district that his candidacy offered no help for Harold Montgomery's reelection prospects even though  Montgomery concentrated on his own race and was not involved in the gubernatorial primary.​

Harold Montgomery's loss was attributed to the pro-McKeithen sentiment in the district, but also to the impact of the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]], which applied in Louisiana state senate elections for the first time in 1967. Large numbers of previously unregistered [[African-American]] voters came to the polls, and most of them chose the McKeithen-endorsed Jack Montgomery. Opposing McKeithen in the primary was segregationist [[U.S. Representative]] John Richard Rarick of St. Francisville in West Feliciana Parish. Rarick ran so poorly both statewide and in the Bossier-Webster district that his candidacy offered no help for Harold Montgomery's reelection prospects even though  Montgomery concentrated on his own race and was not involved in the gubernatorial primary.​

 

==The battle of the Montgomerys, 1971==​," Montgomery decried "the loss of confidence in government, ... the thievery in office ... a governor [McKeithen] who appoints political hacks to office" and "the failure of authorities to reign in dope pushers and drunk drivers." Montgomery also singled out "employees who don't work" and "politicians who continually ask for more money without showing any accomplishment in return." He predicted a large turnover in legislative ranks.<ref>Harold Montgomery advertisement, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 27, 1971, p. 7.</ref> Harold also won the endorsement of the then conservative ''[[Shreveport Journal]]'', a newspaper that later moved far to the left politically under [[Moderate Republican]] publisher [[Charles T. Beaird]] before ceasing publication.<ref>''Shreveport Journal,'' November 1, 1971, editorial, p. 4A.</ref>​

===The battle of the Montgomerys, 1971===

Montgomery decried "the loss of confidence in government, ... the thievery in office ... a governor [McKeithen] who appoints political hacks to office" and "the failure of authorities to reign in dope pushers and drunk drivers." Montgomery also singled out "employees who don't work" and "politicians who continually ask for more money without showing any accomplishment in return." He predicted a large turnover in legislative ranks.<ref>Harold Montgomery advertisement, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 27, 1971, p. 7.</ref> Harold also won the endorsement of the then conservative ''[[Shreveport Journal]]'', a newspaper that later moved far to the left politically under [[Moderate Republican]] publisher [[Charles T. Beaird]] before ceasing publication.<ref>''Shreveport Journal,'' November 1, 1971, editorial, p. 4A.</ref>​

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Montgomery urged voter to support him -- "the Right Montgomery! -- as he referred to himself. Harold Montgomery narrowly won the primary rematch with Jack Montgomery, 14,595 votes (51.2 percent) to 13,889 (48.8 percent),<ref>''Minden Press-Herald," November 8, 1971, p. 1.</ref> and headed back to the state Senate in 1972 to begin his third and final term. Though the vote was close, Harold prevailed district-wide except in Claiborne Parish. After the 1971 primary, neither Harold nor Jack Montgomery again sought public office.​

Montgomery urged voter to support him -- "the Right Montgomery! -- as he referred to himself. Harold Montgomery narrowly won the primary rematch with Jack Montgomery, 14,595 votes (51.2 percent) to 13,889 (48.8 percent),<ref>''Minden Press-Herald," November 8, 1971, p. 1.</ref> and headed back to the state Senate in 1972 to begin his third and final term. Though the vote was close, Harold prevailed district-wide except in Claiborne Parish. After the 1971 primary, neither Harold nor Jack Montgomery again sought public office.​

Hal Montgomery said that politics was frequently discussed in the Montgomery household when he was growing up in the 1960s, but he never shared his father's interests in politics and government service.  Hal Montgomery still operated the hardware store in Ruston after his father was no longer able to do so.​

Hal Montgomery said that politics was frequently discussed in the Montgomery household when he was growing up in the 1960s, but he never shared his father's interests in politics and government service.  Hal Montgomery still operated the hardware store in Ruston after his father was no longer able to do so.​

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==The Religious Right==​

===The Religious Right===​

Harold Montgomery for a time supported the Reverend  Billy James Hargis' Christian Crusade radio and college ministry, which operated during the 1960s and 1970s from [[Tulsa]], [[Oklahoma]]. Hargis often cited Montgomery by name on his [[radio]] broadcasts. A forerunner of what became known as the "Religious Right," Hargis and Montgomery also shared a hostility to communism. Hargis ran into morals allegations, which dampened his ministry in 1976. Hargis's son, Billy James Hargis, Jr., (1954-2013), conducted a reduced version of his father's ministry in Houston,  Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=​https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?pid=167026139|title=Billy Hargis obituary|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|date=September 19, 2013|accessdate=July 14, 2020}}</ref>

Harold Montgomery for a time supported the Reverend  Billy James Hargis' Christian Crusade radio and college ministry, which operated during the 1960s and 1970s from [[Tulsa]], [[Oklahoma]]. Hargis often cited Montgomery by name on his [[radio]] broadcasts. A forerunner of what became known as the "Religious Right," Hargis and Montgomery also shared a hostility to communism. Hargis ran into morals allegations, which dampened his ministry in 1976. Hargis's son, Billy James Hargis, Jr., (1954-2013), conducted a reduced version of his father's ministry in Houston,  Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=​https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?pid=167026139|title=Billy Hargis obituary|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|date=September 19, 2013|accessdate=July 14, 2020}}</ref>

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