Changes

| succeeded =Phillip Terrell​

| succeeded =Phillip Terrell​

| birth_date=October 7, 1940​

| birth_date=October 7, 1940​

| birth_place=Cheneyville, Rapides Parish​

| birth_place=[[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], Louisiana​

| residence=Lecompte, Rapides Parish​

| residence=Lecompte, south Rapides Parish​

| death_date=September 5, 2026 (aged 85)

| death_date=September 5, 2026 (aged 85)

| death_place=Lecompte, Louisiana

| death_place=Lecompte, Louisiana

However, the winner of the race to succeed Downs was Phillip Terrell, Jr., a former city judge in Pineville with decades of legal experience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140404/NEWS01/140404003/Phillip-Terrell-former-Pineville-judge-enters-race-Rapides-Parish-district-attorney|title=Phillip Terrell, former Pineville judge, enters race for Rapides Parish district attorney, April 4, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=April 29, 2014; no longer on-line.}}</ref>Terrell defeated Hazel in a close runoff election on December 6 and succeeded Downs in January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/12062014/12062014_40.html|title=Runoff election returns, December 6, 2014|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=December 8, 2014}}</ref> In 2018, Hazel won a special election for a judgeship on the 9th Judicial District Court.​

However, the winner of the race to succeed Downs was Phillip Terrell, Jr., a former city judge in Pineville with decades of legal experience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140404/NEWS01/140404003/Phillip-Terrell-former-Pineville-judge-enters-race-Rapides-Parish-district-attorney|title=Phillip Terrell, former Pineville judge, enters race for Rapides Parish district attorney, April 4, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=April 29, 2014; no longer on-line.}}</ref>Terrell defeated Hazel in a close runoff election on December 6 and succeeded Downs in January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/12062014/12062014_40.html|title=Runoff election returns, December 6, 2014|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=December 8, 2014}}</ref> In 2018, Hazel won a special election for a judgeship on the 9th Judicial District Court.​

In his private time, Downs hunted and scouted in the forest, listened to music, and spent time with his five children and eleven grandchildren at his home, Pegram House in Lecompte, which he and his wife Maureen subsequently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For this effort, the Downses received the 2008 "Preservationists of the Year" award from the Historical Association of Central Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/obituaries/plou1558202|title=James Crawford "Jam" Downs obituary|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=September 8, 2026|accessdate=September 9, 2026}}</ref>

In his private time, Downs hunted and scouted in the forest, listened to music, and spent time with his five children and eleven grandchildren at his home, Pegram House in Lecompte, which he and his wife Maureen subsequently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For this effort, the Downses received the 2008 "Preservationists of the Year" award from the Historical Association of Central Louisiana. At his retirement, he was, according to his obituary, "described by many as tough, honest, intelligent, fair and compassionate. It was said that there would be big boots to fill by any that followed in his footsteps."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/obituaries/plou1558202|title=James Crawford "Jam" Downs obituary|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=September 8, 2026|accessdate=September 9, 2026}}</ref>

==References==

==References==