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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

| name= James Edward "Jimmy" Fitzmorris​

| name= James Edward "Jimmy" Fitzmorris​

| office= 46th Lieutenant Governor of[[ Louisiana]]​

| office= 46th Lieutenant Governor of [[Louisiana]]​

| term_start= May 9, 1972​

| term_start=May 9, 1972​

| term_end= March 10, 1980​

| term_end=March 10, 1980​

| governor= [[Edwin Edwards]]​

| governor=[[Edwin Edwards]]​

| preceded= Clarence C. "Taddy" Aycock​

| preceded= Clarence C. "Taddy" Aycock​

| succeeded=Robert L. "Bobby" Freeman ​

| succeeded=[[Robert L. Freeman]]​

| birth_date=November 15, 1921​

| birth_date=November 15, 1921​

| birth_place = [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]​

| birth_place=[[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]​

| spouse=Gloria Lopez Fitzmorris​

| spouse=Gloria Lopez Fitzmorris​

| children= One daughter, Lisa Marie Clement<br>

| children= One daughter, Lisa Marie Clement<br>

Two granddaughters​

Two granddaughters​

|occupation=Railroad officer; public official,

|occupation=Railroad officer; public official

| party= [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] ​

| party= [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] ​

|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]

|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]

(3) In 1946, he returned to KCS and thereafter became one of the youngest railroad executives in the nation. He retired from KCS in 1972 as the company vice president but continued thereafter as a consultant for the railroad.

(3) In 1946, he returned to KCS and thereafter became one of the youngest railroad executives in the nation. He retired from KCS in 1972 as the company vice president but continued thereafter as a consultant for the railroad.

}}​

 

|rank=Major}}

​

​

'''James Edward Fitzmorris, Jr.''', known as '''Jimmy Fitzmorris''' or just '''Fitz''' (born November 15, 1921),  is a [[business]]man and civic leader who was the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] lieutenant governor of [[Louisiana]] from 1972 to 1980, during the first two of the four terms of [[Governor]] [[Edwin Edwards]]. He was the first full-time lieutenant governor in state history; in his first term, prior to implementation of the Constitution of 1974, he was the last lieutenant governor whose duties included presiding over the state Senate. Now the office is charged with promoting [[tourism]].

'''James Edward Fitzmorris, Jr.''', known as '''Jimmy Fitzmorris''' or just '''Fitz''' (born November 15, 1921),  is a [[business]]man and civic leader who was the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] lieutenant governor of [[Louisiana]] from 1972 to 1980, during the first two of the four terms of [[Governor]] [[Edwin Edwards]]. He was the first full-time lieutenant governor in state history; in his first term, prior to implementation of the Constitution of 1974, he was the last lieutenant governor whose duties included presiding over the state Senate. Now the office is charged with promoting [[tourism]].

==Twice elected lieutenant governor==

==Twice elected lieutenant governor==

In 1971, Fitzmorris entered a crowded Democratic primary for lieutenant governor to fill the position being vacated by gubernatorial hopeful Clarence C. "Taddy" Aycock (1915–1987) of Franklin in St. Mary Parish in south Louisiana. Fitzmorris was placed into a runoff with three-term state Senator Jamar William Adcock (1917-1991), a banker from [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] in Ouachita Parish in northeastern Louisiana and a close friend of Governor [[John J. McKeithen]]. Two candidates from Webster Parish, [[Edward Kennon]] and state Representative [[Parey Branton]] of Shongaloo were among those eliminated from the race.

In 1971, Fitzmorris entered a crowded Democratic primary for lieutenant governor to fill the position being vacated by gubernatorial hopeful Clarence C. "Taddy" Aycock (1915–1987) of Franklin in St. Mary Parish in south Louisiana. Fitzmorris was placed into a runoff with three-term state Senator [[Jamar Adcock]], a banker from [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] in Ouachita Parish in northeastern Louisiana and a close friend of Governor [[John J. McKeithen]]. Two candidates from Webster Parish, [[Edward Kennon]] and state Representative [[Parey Branton]] of Shongaloo were among those eliminated from the race.

   

   

Fitzmorris won the runoff by a wide margin and then faced the Republican former state representative [[Morley Hudson]] of [[Shreveport]], running on the ticket headed by later Governor [[David C. Treen]].  Fitzmorris scored a knockout over Hudson and went on to serve two terms in the state's second highest office. He polled 815,794 votes (76.8 percent) to Hudson's 218,169 ballots (20.5 percent). Hudson failed to win a single parish but fared best in his home base of Caddo Parish. (A third candidate in the race, Gertrude L. Taylor, also of Shreveport, nominee of  [[George Wallace]]'s former American Independent Party, received 2.7 percent of the vote.)  

Fitzmorris won the runoff by a wide margin and then faced the Republican former state representative [[Morley Hudson]] of [[Shreveport]], running on the ticket headed by later Governor [[David C. Treen]].  Fitzmorris scored a knockout over Hudson and went on to serve two terms in the state's second highest office. He polled 815,794 votes (76.8 percent) to Hudson's 218,169 ballots (20.5 percent). Hudson failed to win a single parish but fared best in his home base of Caddo Parish. (A third candidate in the race, Gertrude L. Taylor, also of Shreveport, nominee of  [[George Wallace]]'s former American Independent Party, received 2.7 percent of the vote.)  

==Endorsing Treen in 1979==

==Endorsing Treen in 1979==

Treen and Louis Lambert hence went into the gubernatorial general election. Fitzmorris, Hardy, Henry, and Mouton, all losing Democrats in the primary, then surprised the Louisiana political world by endorsing Treen. Still, Treen won by just 10,000 votes. Lambert said that he believed that Fitzmorris' suit had cost Lambert the governorship.

Treen and [[Louis Lambert]] hence went into the gubernatorial general election. Fitzmorris, Hardy, Henry, and Mouton, all losing Democrats in the primary, then surprised the Louisiana political world by endorsing Treen. Still, Treen won by just ten thousand votes. Lambert said that he believed that Fitzmorris' suit had cost Lambert the governorship. After the election, Treen appointed Fitzmorris as a special assistant for industrial development, a speciality that Fitzmorris had developed during his eight years in the "light governor" position.

After the election, Treen appointed Fitzmorris as a special assistant for industrial development, a speciality that Fitzmorris had developed during his eight years in the "light governor" position.

==Freeman succeeds Fitzmorris==

==Freeman succeeds Fitzmorris==

Democratic State Representative [[Robert Freeman]] of Plaquemine in Iberville Parish was elected to succeed Fitzmorris as lieutenant governor in 1979. He defeated fellow Democrat (later Republican) [[Jim Donelon]] of Metairie in Jefferson Parish, a suburb of New Orleans. In 1998, Donelon, then a state representative, would be the  Republican candidate against popular Democratic U.S. Senator [[John Breaux]]. In 2006, Donelon became the state insurance commissioner.

Democratic State Representative [[Robert L. Freeman]] of Plaquemine in Iberville Parish was elected to succeed Fitzmorris as lieutenant governor in 1979. He defeated fellow Democrat (later Republican) [[Jim Donelon]] of Metairie in Jefferson Parish, a suburb of New Orleans. In 1998, Donelon, then a state representative, would be the  Republican candidate against popular Democratic U.S. Senator [[John Breaux]]. In 2006, Donelon became the state insurance commissioner.

==Failed 1983 comeback attempt==

==Failed 1983 comeback attempt==

==Fitzmorris as civic leader==

==Fitzmorris as civic leader==

Fitzmorris had been close to the late [[Chep Morrison]], who from 1946 to 1961 was the mayor of New Orleans. Morrison and a young son died in an airplane crash in [[Mexico]]. Fitzmorris was a board member of the Chep Morrison Memorial Scholarship Fund. In 1965, he was presented with the Morrison Memorial Award.

Fitzmorris had been close to [[Chep Morrison]], who from 1946 to 1961 was the mayor of New Orleans. Morrison and a young son died in an airplane crash in [[Mexico]]. Fitzmorris was a board member of the Chep Morrison Memorial Scholarship Fund. In 1965, he was presented with the Morrison Memorial Award.

Fitzmorris has also been a leader in civic affairs for many years. In the early 1950s, he was a member of the New Orleans Board of Public Welfare. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater New Orleans. He has won the "Leadership award" of the Leukemia Society. In his early years as lieutenant governor, he was chairman of the state employees division of the United Fund. He is a [[Roman Catholic]].

Fitzmorris has also been a leader in civic affairs for many years. In the early 1950s, he was a member of the New Orleans Board of Public Welfare. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater New Orleans. He has won the "Leadership award" of the Leukemia Society. In his early years as lieutenant governor, he was chairman of the state employees division of the United Fund. He is a [[Roman Catholic]].