Changes

|death_date=February 22, 1965 (aged 66)

|death_date=February 22, 1965 (aged 66)

|death_place=New Orleans, Louisiana.

|death_place=New Orleans, Louisiana.

|resting_place=Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans

|resting_place=Metairie Cemetery<br> in New Orleans

|spouse=Elton Reynolds Leche

|spouse=Elton Reynolds Leche

|children=Richard Leche, Jr.<br>

|children=Richard Leche, Jr.<br>

Leche was the son of a salesman, Eustace Leche, and a teacher, the former Stella Eloise Richard, possibly pronounced REE CHARD.<ref name=findagrave/>  He graduated from [[Warren Easton]] High School and in 1916 enrolled in [[Tulane University]]. Soon he enlisted with the [[United States Army]] during [[World War I]]. After he briefly moved to [[Chicago]] to sell automobile parts.  Then he returned to Louisiana and graduated from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Loyola University New Orleans Law School. After his bar exam, he launched his legal practice in 1923.

Leche was the son of a salesman, Eustace Leche, and a teacher, the former Stella Eloise Richard, possibly pronounced REE CHARD.<ref name=findagrave/>  He graduated from [[Warren Easton]] High School and in 1916 enrolled in [[Tulane University]]. Soon he enlisted with the [[United States Army]] during [[World War I]]. After he briefly moved to [[Chicago]] to sell automobile parts.  Then he returned to Louisiana and graduated from the [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Loyola University New Orleans Law School. After his bar exam, he launched his legal practice in 1923.

In 1928, when [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]], was elected governor, Leche was an unsuccessful [[primary]] candidate for the state Senate. In 1930, he was named to direct Long's campaign for the [[United States Senate]] against the incumbent Democrat Joseph Eugene Ransdell (1858-1954) of East Carroll Parish. Upon is election to the Senate in 1932, Huey Long selected Leche as the secretary to Oscar Kelly Allen (1882-1936), who had succeeded Long as governor but soon died in the office. In 1934, Senator Long appointed Leche to a state appellate court judge in New Orleans.

In 1928, when [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]], was elected governor, Leche was an unsuccessful [[primary]] candidate for the state Senate. In 1930, he was named to direct Long's campaign for the [[United States Senate]] against the incumbent Democrat [[Joseph Ransdell|Joseph Eugene Ransdell]] of East Carroll Parish. Upon is election to the Senate in 1932, Huey Long selected Leche as the secretary to Oscar Kelly Allen (1882-1936), who had succeeded Long as governor but soon died in the office. In 1934, Senator Long appointed Leche to a state appellate court judge in New Orleans.

== Leche as governor ==

== Leche as governor ==

After Huey Long was assassinated in September 1935, the Long organization was left without a leader and without a candidate for the 1936 gubernatorial election. From that deadlock, Leche was supported as a compromise candidate.  Despite his political obscurity, Leche defeated with Long faction backing the anti-Long candidate Cleveland Dear (1888-1950), a [[U.S. Representative]] from [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], with the aid of the still-powerful Long machine. Leche polled 67 percent of the primary vote, and the anti-Long forces seemed beyond recovery.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State,  Primary election returns, January 21, 1936.</ref>  

After Huey Long was assassinated in September 1935, the Long organization was left without a leader and without a candidate for the 1936 gubernatorial election. From that deadlock, Leche was supported as a compromise candidate.  Despite his political obscurity, Leche defeated with [[pro-Long]] faction backing the [[anti-Long]] candidate Cleveland Dear (1888-1950), a [[U.S. Representative]] from [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], with the aid of the still-powerful Long machine. Leche polled 67 percent of the primary vote, and the anti-Long forces seemed beyond recovery.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State,  Primary election returns, January 21, 1936.</ref>  

Governor Leche presented vowed to continue Long's program of road-building, the expansion of educational and hospital facilities, and free school textbooks. He proposed a tax on soft drinks, a $2,000 homestead exemption (now $75,000) extended to the surviving spouses and widows, keeping public payrolls at the maximum to reduce unemployment, and establishment of a state department of industry and commerce.<ref>"Leche Takes Office Today and Gives 26-Point Plan, ''Minden Signal-Tribune'' and ''Springhill Journal,'' May 12, 1936, p. 1.</ref>

Governor Leche presented vowed to continue Long's program of road-building, the expansion of educational and hospital facilities, and free school textbooks. He proposed a tax on soft drinks, a $2,000 homestead exemption (now $75,000) extended to the surviving spouses and widows, keeping public payrolls at the maximum to reduce unemployment, and establishment of a state department of industry and commerce.<ref>"Leche Takes Office Today and Gives 26-Point Plan, ''Minden Signal-Tribune'' and ''Springhill Journal,'' May 12, 1936, p. 1.</ref>

After his resignation, Leche was convicted in 1940 of using the mails to defraud through a scheme to sell trucks to the Louisiana Highway Department.  Other charges included the use of stolen [[Works Progress Administration]] resources to build expensive houses for Leche and his cronies.

After his resignation, Leche was convicted in 1940 of using the mails to defraud through a scheme to sell trucks to the Louisiana Highway Department.  Other charges included the use of stolen [[Works Progress Administration]] resources to build expensive houses for Leche and his cronies.

Leche and his wife, the former Elton Reynold (1903-1999), had two sons, Richard, Jr. (1929-2020) and Charles Eustace Leche, who survives his parents and brother. Richard, Jr., graduated in 1946 from the first ever class at Covington High School in [[suburb]]an St. Tammany Parish. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://obits.theadvocate.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=richard-webster-leche-jr&pid=197212363|title=Obituary of Richard Leche, Jr.|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=December 3, 2020|accessdate=December 11, 2020}}</ref>

Leche and his wife, the former Elton Reynolds (1903-1999), had two sons, Richard, Jr. (1929-2020) and Charles Eustace Leche, who survives his parents and brother. Richard, Jr., graduated in 1946 from the first ever class at Covington High School in [[suburb]]an St. Tammany Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obits.theadvocate.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=richard-webster-leche-jr&pid=197212363|title=Obituary of Richard Leche, Jr.|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=December 3, 2020|accessdate=December 11, 2020}}</ref>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Louisiana Governors]]

[[Category:Louisiana Governors]]

[[Category:Democrats]]

[[Category:Democrats]]

[[Category:Criminals]]

[[Category:Criminals]]

[[Category:United States Army]]

[[Category:United States Army]]