Changes

| 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=Lisa Marie Clement<br>

Two granddaughters​

Two granddaughters​

|occupation=Railroad officer; public official

|occupation=Railroad officer; public official

|rank=Major}}

|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''' (November 15, 1921 &ndash; June 30 2021),<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://obits.nola.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/james-fitzmorris-obituary?pid=199339849|title=James Edward Fitzmorris, Jr., obituary|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=July 5, 2021|accessdate=July 6, 2021}}</ref>

  was 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]] and recreation.

In 1979, he ran third in the nonpartisan blanket primary for governor. In 1983, he was unsuccessful is his effort to regain the lieutenant governor's office from his successor, [[Robert Freeman]], a fellow Democrat.

In 1979, he ran third in the nonpartisan blanket primary for governor. In 1983, he was unsuccessful is his effort to regain the lieutenant governor's office from his successor, [[Robert Freeman]], a fellow Democrat.

==Opposing Moon Landrieu for mayor==

==Opposing Moon Landrieu for mayor==

Fitzmorris ran again for mayor in 1969 and led in the Democratic [[primary]] with 59,301 votes. [[Maurice Edwin Landrieu|Maurice Edwin "Moon" Landrieu]] finished second with 33,093, and future state attorney general and newly-elected State Senator [[William J. Guste]], was third with 29,487 votes. Nine other candidates shared some 50,000 votes as well. In the primary runoff, Landrieu prevailed, 89,554 (53.9 percent) to Fitzmorris's 76,725 (46.1 percent). Landrieu then won the general election in the spring of 1970 over the [[Republican Party|Republican]] nominee, [[Ben C. Toledano]], a member of a prominent family whose origins date to the earliest years of New Orleans. A number of Fitzmorris's organizers defected to Toledano, but the switch was insufficient to stop Landrieu's election.

Fitzmorris ran again for mayor in 1969 and led in the Democratic [[primary]] with 59,301 votes. [[Moon Landrieu]] finished second with 33,093, and future state attorney general and newly-elected State Senator [[William J. Guste]], was third with 29,487 votes. Nine other candidates shared some 50,000 votes as well. In the primary runoff, Landrieu prevailed, 89,554 (53.9 percent) to Fitzmorris's 76,725 (46.1 percent). Landrieu then won the general election in the spring of 1970 over the [[Republican Party|Republican]] nominee, [[Ben C. Toledano]], a member of a prominent family whose origins date to the earliest years of New Orleans. A number of Fitzmorris's organizers defected to Toledano, but the switch was insufficient to stop Landrieu's election.

==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 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.

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.)  

On November 1, 1975, Fitzmorris cruised to reelection in the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary in Louisiana. One of his minor opponents, Lance Allan Britton (born November 19, 1943), then of [[Baton Rouge]] and currently of Mansfield in DeSoto Parish, was the only Republican seeking statewide office that year because Louisiana was then an overwhelmingly Democratic state. Britton polled only 67,821 votes (6 percent), compared to Fitzmorris' 924,325 (81.7 percent). At the time, there were 54,862 registered Republicans in Louisiana. Britton hence polled only about 13,000 more votes for lieutenant governor than the number of GOP registrants.

On November 1, 1975, Fitzmorris cruised to reelection in the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary in Louisiana. One of his minor opponents, Lance Allan Britton (born November 19, 1943), then of [[Baton Rouge]] and currently of Mansfield in DeSoto Parish, was the only Republican seeking statewide office that year because Louisiana was then an overwhelmingly Democratic state. Britton polled only 67,821 votes (6 percent), compared to Fitzmorris' 924,325 (81.7 percent). At the time, there were 54,862 registered Republicans in Louisiana. Britton hence polled only about 13,000 more votes for lieutenant governor than the number of GOP registrants.

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 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 was a [[Roman Catholic]].

==References==

==References==