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Line 105: − + − + − + − + − + − + − + + + − − ==Montgomery's obituary and legacy== − A garrulous, extroverted person, Montgomery was involved in civic activities: the Webster Parish Cattleman's Association, the Masonic lodge, the Shriners, and the Minden Lions International. He was on the board of the Lincoln Bank and Trust Company of Ruston and the former Peoples Bank and Trust Company (later Hibernia) in Minden.<ref>Bank advertisement, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 26, 1959.</ref>+ − + − − − + − + − + − + − + − + − +
→The Religious Right
===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>
Hargis and Montgomery were critical of [[Martin Luther King]]'s leftist ties within the [[civil rights movement]].
Hargis and Montgomery were critical of [[Martin Luther King]]'s leftist ties within the [[civil rights movement]].
By Montgomery's last Senate term, segregation had legally ended, the issue ceased to be a viable political matter, and Montgomery avoided discussion of racial matters. Instead, he concentrated on getting state projects into northwest Louisiana. And it helped to have a friend in the governor's office during Montgomery's last term in office.
By Montgomery's last Senate term, segregation had legally ended, the issue ceased to be a viable political matter, and Montgomery avoided discussion of racial matters. Instead, he concentrated on getting state projects into northwest Louisiana. And it helped to have a friend in the governor's office during Montgomery's last term in office.
==Retiring from the state senate, 1976==
===Retiring from state Senate, 1976===
In 1974, Montgomery was an elected delegate to the first of three mid-term conventions of the [[Democratic National Committee]], held in [[Kansas City]], [[Missouri]].<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' August 19, 1974, p. 1.</ref> Such meetings were also held in 1978 and 1982 but thereafter discontinued.
In 1974, Montgomery was an elected delegate to the first of three mid-term conventions of the [[Democratic National Committee]], held in [[Kansas City]], [[Missouri]].<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' August 19, 1974, p. 1.</ref> Such meetings were also held in 1978 and 1982 but thereafter discontinued.
Montgomery did not seek a fifth term in the first primary held under the new Louisiana Constitution on November 1, 1975. His senate seat in 1976 was taken by a fellow Democrat considered more liberal and populist than Montgomery, Foster L. Campbell, Jr., of Bossier Parish. Like Montgomery, Campbell is a former educator. He held the seat with little difficulty for seven terms (1976-2002), when he resigned to become one of the five members of the elected Public Service Commission. Campbell unsuccessfully sought the governorship in the primary held on October 20, 2007, and the [[United States Senate]] in 2016, when he was defeated in a runoff by Democrat-turned-Republican]] [[John Neely Kennedy]].
Montgomery did not seek a fifth term in the first primary held under the new Louisiana Constitution on November 1, 1975. His senate seat in 1976 was taken by a fellow Democrat considered more liberal and populist than Montgomery, Foster L. Campbell, Jr., of Bossier Parish. Like Montgomery, Campbell is a former educator. He held the seat with little difficulty for seven terms (1976-2002), when he resigned to become one of the five members of the elected Public Service Commission. Campbell unsuccessfully sought the governorship in the primary held on October 20, 2007, and the [[United States Senate]] in 2016, when he was defeated in a runoff by Democrat-turned-Republican]] [[John Neely Kennedy]].
==The Southern Methodist Church==
==Legacy==
A garrulous, extroverted person, Montgomery was involved in civic activities: the Webster Parish Cattleman's Association, the Masonic lodge, the Shriners, and the Minden Lions International. He was on the board of the Lincoln Bank and Trust Company of Ruston and the former Peoples Bank and Trust Company (later Hibernia) in Minden.<ref>Bank advertisement, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 26, 1959.</ref>
For many years, Montgomery loyally supported the First [[United Methodist]] Church in Haughton. As United Methodists moved to the theological left, Montgomery in April 1968 helped to organize a conservative Southern Methodist Church in Haughton on U.S. Highway 80 east of Bossier City. The organizing pastor was K.E. Griffith.<ref>Cornerstone, Southern Methodist Church, Haughton, Louisiana</ref> William Rainach had similarly helped to establish a Southern Methodist congregation in Claiborne Parish. According to Montgomery's obituary, "his deep conservative philosophy was reflected, not only in his political life, but also in his religious life. Those who knew and love him know that 'he told it like it was.'"<ref name=obit/>
For many years, Montgomery loyally supported the First [[United Methodist]] Church in Haughton. As United Methodists moved to the theological left, Montgomery in April 1968 helped to organize a conservative Southern Methodist Church in Haughton on U.S. Highway 80 east of Bossier City. The organizing pastor was K.E. Griffith.<ref>Cornerstone, Southern Methodist Church, Haughton, Louisiana</ref> William Rainach had similarly helped to establish a Southern Methodist congregation in Claiborne Parish. According to Montgomery's obituary, "his deep conservative philosophy was reflected, not only in his political life, but also in his religious life. Those who knew and love him know that 'he told it like it was.'"<ref name=obit/>
Montgomery died of heart failure while in an advanced stage of [[Alzheimer's disease]]. Azalee, who was nine years his senior, had died ten years earlier. At the time of his death, Montgomery had been retired from the state senate for nearly twenty years; yet Edwin Edwards was still the governor.
Montgomery died of heart failure while in an advanced stage of [[Alzheimer's disease]]. Azalee, who was nine years his senior, had died ten years earlier. At the time of his death, Montgomery had been retired from the state senate for nearly twenty years; yet Edwin Edwards was still governor.
Harold and Azalee Montgomery and their son are interred at the Haughton Cemetery (established 1945) in Bossier Parish.<ref name=halmobit/>
Harold and Azalee Montgomery and their son are interred at the Haughton Cemetery (established 1945) in Bossier Parish.<ref name=halmobit/>
Harold Montgomery was survived by his son, Hal, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Linda Burge Montgomery, two granddaughters, Leigh Ann Montgomery Bates of Doyline and Tara Montgomery Madison of Baton Rouge, and three sisters, Audrey Rodes of Benton, Jean Morgan of [[Lake Charles]], and Bobbie Steele of [[Memphi]], [[Tennessee]], and numerous nephews and nieces.
Harold Montgomery was survived by his son, Hal, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Linda Burge Montgomery, two granddaughters, Leigh Ann Montgomery Bates of Doyline and Tara Montgomery Madison of Baton Rouge, and three sisters, Audrey Rodes of Benton, Jean Morgan of [[Lake Charles]], and Bobbie Steele of [[Memphi]], [[Tennessee]], and numerous nephews and nieces.
In addition to Governor Edwards, pallbearers included then Republican U.S. Representative James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III, who then represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district]],, former state legislative colleague Parey Pershing Branton, Sr. (1918-2011), a Democrat from Shongaloo in Webster Parish, [[dairy]]man Roy Donald "Don" Hinton (1912–2011) of Minden,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=r-d-hinton-don&pid=150300909|title=R. Don Hinton|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', April 18, 2011|accessdate=April 19, 2011}}</ref> and attorney and then Webster Parish Library Board president Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012) of Minden,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> who lost the 1960 and 1967 state House elections to Branton, and a Minden [[banker]], Ralph Williams.<ref name=obit/>
In addition to Governor Edwards, pallbearers included then Republican U.S. Representative James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III, who then represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district]],, former state legislative colleague Parey Pershing Branton, Sr. (1918-2011), a Democrat from Shongaloo in Webster Parish, [[dairy]]man Roy Donald "Don" Hinton (1912–2011) of Minden,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=r-d-hinton-don&pid=150300909|title=R. Don Hinton|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', April 18, 2011|accessdate=April 19, 2011}}</ref> and attorney and then Webster Parish Library Board president Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012) of Minden,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> who lost the 1960 and 1967 state House elections to Branton, and a Minden [[banker]], Ralph Williams.<ref name=obit/>
The Montgomery obituary defines his legacy as one of "love, honor, integrity, and love to God and country. The state and nation share in this legacy. Harold Montgomery was a true southern gentleman and statesman. ... He loved his God and his family with a deep and profound love. In addition to his love for his family, he loved his state. This love inspired him to ask the people of his district to elect him to be their state senator. They did so, and he served in this capacity for twelve years ... with honor and distinction."
The Montgomery obituary defines his legacy as one of "love, honor, integrity, and love to God and country. The state and nation share in this legacy. Harold Montgomery was a true southern gentleman and statesman. ... He loved his God and his family with a deep and profound love. In addition to his love for his family, he loved his state. This love inspired him to ask the people of his district to elect him to be their state senator. They did so, and he served in this capacity for twelve years ... with honor and distinction."
While the senior Montgomery was still living, the Webster Parish Police Jury (equivalent of county commission in other states) named the "Harold Montgomery Road" in Doyline in his honor.
While the senior Montgomery was still living, the Webster Parish Police Jury (equivalent of county commission in other states) named the "Harold Montgomery Road" in Doyline in his honor.
Hal Montgomery, Jr., was a cattleman, businessman, and outdoorsman who owned and managed nearly two thousand acres of cattle lands in Doyline and Homer in Claiborne Parish. In 1982, Montgomery, Jr., and Harold Holley, opened Hol-Mont Distributing and Sales in Minden, which was sold in 1996. In 1980, Montgomery, Jr., and Harold Roberts established Central Herrin Storage and Transfer, Inc. Until his death, Montgomery had been the company president since 1997.<ref name=halmobit/> On November 19, 1983, Hal Montgomery ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the District 12 seat on the Webster Parish Police Jury.<ref>Marilyn Miller, "Veteran Police Jurors Upset," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 21, 1983, p. 1.</ref> At the time of his death from liver [[cancer]] in 2015, nine days before his 69th birthday,<ref name=halmobit/> Hal Montgomery was listed by the Louisiana Secretary of State's office as a registered Republican voter.
Hal Montgomery, Jr., was a cattleman, businessman, and outdoorsman who owned and managed nearly two thousand acres of cattle lands in Doyline and Homer in Claiborne Parish. In 1982, Montgomery, Jr., and Harold Holley, opened Hol-Mont Distributing and Sales in Minden, which was sold in 1996. In 1980, Montgomery, Jr., and Harold Roberts established Central Herrin Storage and Transfer, Inc. Until his death, Montgomery had been the company president since 1997.<ref name=halmobit/> On November 19, 1983, Hal Montgomery ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the District 12 seat on the Webster Parish Police Jury.<ref>Marilyn Miller, "Veteran Police Jurors Upset," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 21, 1983, p. 1.</ref> At the time of his death from liver [[cancer]] in 2015, nine days before his 69th birthday,<ref name=halmobit/> Hal Montgomery was listed by the Louisiana Secretary of State's office as a registered Republican voter.
(Harold Montgomery was not related to former state Representative Billy Montgomery, a Democrat-turned-Republican from Bossier City and Haughton.
(Harold Montgomery was not related to former state Representative Billy Montgomery, a Democrat-turned-Republican from Bossier City and Haughton.