Changes

| birth_date=August 31, 1938

| birth_date=August 31, 1938

| birth_place=[[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], [[Louisiana]]

| birth_place=[[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], [[Louisiana]]

| occupation=[[Business]]man, [[real estate]] developer

| occupation=[[Business]]man, [[real estate]] developer

| residence=[[Shreveport]], Louisiana

| residence=[[Shreveport]], Louisiana

| spouse = (1) Mary Virginia Nehring Kennon (divorced)<br>

| spouse = (1) Mary Virginia Nehring Kennon (divorced)<br>

(2) Jeanette Claire Woodard Moreland, known as [[Jenny Moreland Kennon|Jenny Kennon]] (divorced)<br>

(2) Jeanette Claire Woodard Moreland, known as [[Jenny Moreland Kennon|Jenny Kennon]] (divorced)<br>

(3) Brenda Evans Kennon

(3) Brenda Evans Kennon

| children=John Edward Kennon (1967-2003)<br>

| children=John Edward Kennon (1967-2003)<br>

Kari Melissa Kennon (born 1986)<br>

Kari Melissa Kennon (born 1986)<br>

 

'''Stepchildren''':<br>

Stepchildren:<br>

Rodney Kennon<br>

Rodney Kennon<br>

Kelly Kennon Gillis

Kelly Kennon Gillis

|alma_mater=[[Minden (Louisiana) High School|Minden High School]]<br>

|alma_mater=[[Minden (Louisiana) High School|Minden High School]]<br>

Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College of Louisiana

}}

}}

'''Francis Edward Kennon, Jr.''', known as '''Ed Kennon''' (born August 31, 1938), is a multi-millionaire [[Shreveport]] real-estate developer and a former member of the [[Louisiana]] Public Service Commission, the regulatory body for [[oil]], [[natural gas]], and utilities.  

'''Francis Edward Kennon, Jr.''', known as '''Ed Kennon''' (August 31, 1938 &ndash; February 14, 2023) was a multi-millionaire [[Shreveport]] real-estate developer and a former member of the [[Louisiana]] Public Service Commission, the regulatory body for [[oil]], [[natural gas]], and utilities.  

A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Kennon represented north Louisiana on the PSC for two six-year terms from January 1, 1973, until December 31, 1984. During his tenure, the panel was enlarged from three to five members under a provision of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. Kennon first represented thirty-three parishes in District 3 and then eighteen parishes in the smaller District 5. Kennon's uncle was [[Robert F. Kennon]], a [[conservative]] Democrat who served as governor of Louisiana from 1952 to 1956, sandwiched in between the two elected terms of [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]]

A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Kennon represented north Louisiana on the PSC for two six-year terms from January 1, 1973, until December 31, 1984. During his tenure, the panel was enlarged from three to five members under a provision of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. Kennon first represented thirty-three parishes in District 3 and then eighteen parishes in the smaller District 5. Kennon's uncle was [[Robert F. Kennon]], a [[conservative]] Democrat who served as governor of Louisiana from 1952 to 1956, sandwiched in between the two elected terms of [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]]

==Background==

==Background==

Kennon was born in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden,]] in Webster Parish in the northwestern part of his state. His father, Francis Edward Kennon, Sr. (1899–1945), was known as F. E. Kennon; his mother, Clara Wallace Kennon (1913–1997), was a native of Arkansas. F. E. and his brother, Webb Kennon, operated the former Kennon's Grocery in downtown Minden, the first in Minden to have price tags on the merchandise. After Floyd's death, Clara continued to operate the store, for which she had long handled the financial obligations. She also did tax consulting for individual clients. The business was begun by Kennon's paternal grandfather, Floyd Kennon (1871–1966). Kennon has a younger brother, Michael Wayne "Mike" Kennon (born 1942).  

Kennon was born in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden,]] in Webster Parish in the northwestern part of his state. His father, Francis Edward Kennon, Sr. (1899–1945), was known as F. E. Kennon; his mother, Clara Wallace Kennon (1913–1997), was a native of Arkansas. F. E. and his brother, Webb Kennon, operated the former Kennon's Grocery in downtown Minden, the first in Minden to have price tags on the merchandise. After Floyd's death, Clara continued to operate the store, for which she had long handled the financial obligations. She also did tax consulting for individual clients. The business was begun by Kennon's paternal grandfather, Floyd Kennon (1871–1966). Kennon has a younger brother, Michael Wayne "Mike" Kennon (born 1942).  

After he graduated from [[Minden (Louisiana) High School|Minden High School]] in 1956, Ed Kennon attended the [[Methodist]]-affiliated Centenary College in Shreveport but did not graduate. Instead, he entered the concrete business in Minden with Frank Burnett Treat, Jr. (1923–1994) and built the Kennon Apartments there. Later he became a high-powered developer in Shreveport and adjoining [[Bossier City]]. He and his third wife are directors of the Tri-State Bank and Trust in Haughton in Bossier Parish. Kennon purchased the bank from the [[Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation]]. He owns the Tri-State Sand and Gravel Company, the developer of Lakewood, a 600-home subdivision in Bossier Parish. He also is the developer of Forest Hills in Bossier Parish.

After he graduated from [[Minden (Louisiana) High School|Minden High School]] in 1956, Ed Kennon attended the [[Methodist]]-affiliated Centenary College in Shreveport but did not graduate. Instead, he entered the concrete business in Minden with Frank Burnett Treat, Jr. (1923–1994) and built the Kennon Apartments there. Later he became a high-powered developer in Shreveport and adjoining [[Bossier City]]. He and his third wife are directors of the Tri-State Bank and Trust in Haughton in Bossier Parish. Kennon purchased the bank from the [[Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation]]. He owned the Tri-State Sand and Gravel Company, the developer of Lakewood, a 600-home subdivision in Bossier Parish. He also is the developer of Forest Hills in Bossier Parish and the former owner of the Ramada Inn in Minden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/obituaries/spt084307|title=Francis Edward Kennon, Jr. obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=February 22, 2023|accessdate=February 23, 2023}}</ref>

==In the political arena==

==In the political arena==

In the August 19, 1972, Democratic primary for the PSC, Kennon challenged incumbent [[John S. Hunt|John Smoker Hunt, II]], a Monroe attorney and a nephew of former Governors [[Huey Long|Huey]] and Earl Long who had supported [[Barry Goldwater]] for President in 1964. Hunt's mother, Lucille Long Hunt (1898–1985), was a sister of the two governors. Also in the race was a Long kinsman named "Huey P. Long" (1929–2004), then of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] in Rapides Parish. Hunt alleged that Kennon had recruited Long as a candidate to siphon away some of Hunt's pro-Long support.

In the August 19, 1972, Democratic primary for the PSC, Kennon challenged incumbent [[John S. Hunt|John Smoker Hunt, II]], a Monroe attorney and a nephew of former Governors [[Huey Long|Huey]] and Earl Long who had supported [[Barry Goldwater]] for President in 1964. Hunt's mother, Lucille Long Hunt (1898–1985), was a sister of the two governors. Also in the race was a Long kinsman named "Huey P. Long" (1929–2004), then of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] in Rapides Parish. Hunt alleged that Kennon had recruited Long as a candidate to siphon away some of Hunt's pro-Long support.

In the primary, Kennon led with 122,573 votes (47.1 percent) to Hunt's 106,212 (40.8 percent). Long procured a critical 31,692 votes (12.2 percent). Kennon led in twenty-three parishes in the sprawling district, which then reached as far south as West Baton Rouge Parish. He won 58 percent in his own Webster Parish and also procured pluralities in Natchitoches, La Salle, DeSoto, Avoyelles, St. Landry, and the Long traditional stronghold of Winn. Hunt led in ten parishes, including Caddo, Bossier, Lincoln, Ouachita, and Jackson.

In the primary, Kennon led with 122,573 votes (47.1 percent) to Hunt's 106,212 (40.8 percent). Long procured a critical 31,692 votes (12.2 percent). Kennon led in twenty-three parishes in the sprawling district, which then reached as far south as West Baton Rouge Parish. He won 58 percent in his own Webster Parish and also procured pluralities in Natchitoches, La Salle, DeSoto, Avoyelles, St. Landry, and the Long traditional stronghold of Winn. Hunt led in ten parishes, including Caddo, Bossier, Lincoln, Ouachita, and Jackson.

Kennon unseated Hunt in the September 30 party runoff election, 125,877 votes (58 percent) to 90,833 (42 percent). Kennon won twenty-nine parishes to Hunt's four. Hunt lost his native Lincoln Parish in the runoff by 176 votes and held his home base, Ouachita Parish, by a single vote, 15,502 to 15,501. Kennon was unopposed in the November 7 general election, as no [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate qualified for the ballot. On September 16, 1978, Kennon won his second term in the revised  PSC seat for the 5th district. In the nonpartisan blanket primary, he polled 124,147 votes (71 percent) to 50,652 (29 percent) for intra-party rival Wayne Martin Pender (born March 14, 1940) of Monroe. Kennon won all eighteen parishes. Again, there was no Republican candidate for the seat, once held by Huey P. Long, Jr., himself.

Kennon unseated Hunt in the September 30 party runoff election, 125,877 votes (58 percent) to 90,833 (42 percent). Kennon won twenty-nine parishes to Hunt's four. Hunt lost his native Lincoln Parish in the runoff by 176 votes and held his home base, Ouachita Parish, by a single vote, 15,502 to 15,501. Kennon was unopposed in the November 7 general election, as no [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate qualified for the ballot. On September 16, 1978, Kennon won his second term in the revised  PSC seat for the 5th district. In the nonpartisan blanket primary, he polled 124,147 votes (71 percent) to 50,652 (29 percent) for intra-party rival Wayne Martin Pender (born March 14, 1940) of Monroe. Kennon won all eighteen parishes. Again, there was no Republican candidate for the seat, once held by Huey P. Long, Jr., himself.

He then wed the former Brenda Evans (born 1958). They have a daughter, Kari Melissa Kennon (born 1986). The Kennons reside in the fashionable Ellerbe Road area of southeast Shreveport.

He then wed the former Brenda Evans (born 1958). They have a daughter, Kari Melissa Kennon (born 1986). The Kennons reside in the fashionable Ellerbe Road area of southeast Shreveport.

In 2013, the office of then Louisiana Secretary of State [[Tom Schedler]] listed Kennon as not a Democrat but an [[Independent]] voter.

In 2013, the office of then Louisiana Secretary of State [[Tom Schedler]] listed Kennon as not a Democrat but an [[Independent vpter|Independent]] voter.

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Former Democrats]]

[[Category:Former Democrats]]