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Bussie recalled having been born in poverty in the community of Montrose in Natchitoches Parish to Christopher "Chris" Bussie and the former Fannie LaCaze.<ref name=obit/> The senior Bussie was a unionized employee of the Texas Pacific Railroad.<ref name=stimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20110905/NEWS01/110905005/Victor-Bussie-labor-leader-dead-92|title=Victor Bussie, Labor leader dead at 92|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=September 9, 2011}}</ref> Bussie had a brother and five sisters, one of whom, Authree B. Gorrell of [[Austin]], [[Texas]], was still living as of 2023. At some point, the Bussies headed south to Rapides Parish because another sister, Fannie Mae Bussie Heard (1924–2009) of [[Shreveport]], was born in the Boyce community. Fannie Heard was one of the first female [[Certified Public Accountant]]s in northwestern Louisiana, having also been licensed to practice in [[California]] and [[Nevada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/shreveporttimes/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=127847620|title=Obituary of Fannie Mae Bussie Heard|publisher='The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=June 3, 2009}}</ref> Bussie was half [[Native Americans|Choctaw Indian]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070808154804/http://www.blueskywaters.com/page_96.htm|title=Reclaiming the Past: Louisiana Native Americans Seek Federal Recognition|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate Magazine'' in Blueskywaters.com|author=Sarah Sue Goldsmith|date=June 16, 1996|accessdate=August 22, 2019}}</ref> Bussie recalled his childhood and desire to obtain a public education:​

Bussie recalled having been born in poverty in the community of Montrose in Natchitoches Parish to Christopher "Chris" Bussie and the former Fannie LaCaze.<ref name=obit/> The senior Bussie was a unionized employee of the Texas Pacific Railroad.<ref name=stimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20110905/NEWS01/110905005/Victor-Bussie-labor-leader-dead-92|title=Victor Bussie, Labor leader dead at 92|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=September 9, 2011}}</ref> Bussie had a brother and five sisters, one of whom, Authree B. Gorrell of [[Austin]], [[Texas]], was still living as of 2023. At some point, the Bussies headed south to Rapides Parish because another sister, Fannie Mae Bussie Heard (1924–2009) of [[Shreveport]], was born in the Boyce community. Fannie Heard was one of the first female [[Certified Public Accountant]]s in northwestern Louisiana, having also been licensed to practice in [[California]] and [[Nevada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/shreveporttimes/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=127847620|title=Obituary of Fannie Mae Bussie Heard|publisher='The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=June 3, 2009}}</ref> Bussie was half [[Native Americans|Choctaw Indian]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blueskywaters.com/page_96.htm|title=Reclaiming the Past: Louisiana Native Americans Seek Federal Recognition|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate Magazine'' in Blueskywaters.com|author=Sarah Sue Goldsmith|date=June 16, 1996|accessdate=August 22, 2019|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070808154804/http://www.blueskywaters.com/page_96.htm|archive-date=2007-08-08}}</ref> Bussie recalled his childhood and desire to obtain a public education:​

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My mother and father struggled to send us to school because of the high cost of school books. There finally came a time when they could no longer afford to buy books for seven children. We children were told that we could no longer attend school.<ref name=autogenerated3>[http://www.hueylong.com/perspectives/share-your-stories.php Share Your Huey Long Stories<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

My mother and father struggled to send us to school because of the high cost of school books. There finally came a time when they could no longer afford to buy books for seven children. We children were told that we could no longer attend school.<ref name=autogenerated3>[http://www.hueylong.com/perspectives/share-your-stories.php Share Your Huey Long Stories<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

After service in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]], Bussie joined the Shreveport Fire Department and became a leader in the firefighters' union. He became chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau and the president of the Central Trades and Labor Council. [[James C. Gardner]], who served as [[mayor]] of Shreveport from 1954 to 1958, described Bussie as "well-spoken" and his "polite and reasonable manner made him widely sought as the 'labor member' of various civic boards." As a second assistant chief, a position Bussie obtained without waiting for civil service seniority, his signature was required on all certificates of occupancy for commercial buildings, a position of considerable power.<ref>[[James C. Gardner]], ''Jim Gardner and Shreveport,'' Vol. I,  [[Sarah Hudson-Pierce]]"s Ritz Publications, p. 303.</ref> Some in the business community accused Bussie of requiring work beyond the municipal building or fire code regulations in order to create more employment within the building trades. To check Bussie, officials activated, as permitted by the city charter, a building code board of appeals to prevent abuses.<ref>''Jim Gardner and Shreveport'', Vol. I, pp. 304–305.</ref>​

After service in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]], Bussie joined the Shreveport Fire Department and became a leader in the firefighters' union. He became chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau and the president of the Central Trades and Labor Council. [[James C. Gardner]], who served as [[mayor]] of Shreveport from 1954 to 1958, described Bussie as "well-spoken" and his "polite and reasonable manner made him widely sought as the 'labor member' of various civic boards." As a second assistant chief, a position Bussie obtained without waiting for civil service seniority, his signature was required on all certificates of occupancy for commercial buildings, a position of considerable power.<ref>[[James C. Gardner]], ''Jim Gardner and Shreveport,'' Vol. I,  [[Sarah Hudson-Pierce]]"s Ritz Publications, p. 303.</ref> Some in the business community accused Bussie of requiring work beyond the municipal building or fire code regulations in order to create more employment within the building trades. To check Bussie, officials activated, as permitted by the city charter, a building code board of appeals to prevent abuses.<ref>''Jim Gardner and Shreveport'', Vol. I, pp. 304–305.</ref>​

Early in 1955, Bussie, acting through the Central Trades and Labor Council during his lunch hour, called a strike of waitresses at Brocato's Restaurant in Shreveport when the company declined to rehire a fired waitress. In retaliation, Shreveport Public Safety Commissioner [[J. Earl Downs]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ritzpublications.com/1954-58-shreveport-city-council.html|author=Mary Jimenez|title=The $19 million solution: Bond election sets up 1950's Shreveport for growth|date=March 6, 2005|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=June 27, 2013}}</ref> the older brother of an influential state Senator, Crawford Hugh "Sammy" Downs (1911-1985) of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], demoted Bussie to the rank of captain and assigned him to a fire station. Bussie took unpaid leave and appealed Downs' decision to the Fire and Police Civil Service Board. After fourteen sessions and fifty hours of testimony, the civil service board voted 4–1 to uphold the demotion, with the lone dissenter being the firefighters' representative. Bussie announced that he would appeal to the courts. Meanwhile, he became the state AFL-CIO president for the remainder of his working career and lived in Baton Rouge. No action was ever taken by the courts in Bussie's appeal.<ref>''Jim Gardner and Shreveport'', Vol. I, pp. 321–322.</ref>​

Early in 1955, Bussie, acting through the Central Trades and Labor Council during his lunch hour, called a strike of waitresses at Brocato's Restaurant in Shreveport when the company declined to rehire a fired waitress. In retaliation, Shreveport Public Safety Commissioner [[J. Earl Downs]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ritzpublications.com/1954-58-shreveport-city-council.html|author=Mary Jimenez|title=The $19 million solution: Bond election sets up 1950's Shreveport for growth|date=March 6, 2005|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=June 27, 2013}}</ref> the older brother of an influential state Senator, Crawford Hugh "Sammy" Downs (1911–1985) of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], demoted Bussie to the rank of captain and assigned him to a fire station. Bussie took unpaid leave and appealed Downs' decision to the Fire and Police Civil Service Board. After fourteen sessions and fifty hours of testimony, the civil service board voted 4–1 to uphold the demotion, with the lone dissenter being the firefighters' representative. Bussie announced that he would appeal to the courts. Meanwhile, he became the state AFL-CIO president for the remainder of his working career and lived in Baton Rouge. No action was ever taken by the courts in Bussie's appeal.<ref>''Jim Gardner and Shreveport'', Vol. I, pp. 321–322.</ref>​

Gardner said that the demotion "turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to Bussie and the labor movement in Louisiana ... He was extremely effective as the Louisiana leader of organized labor and brought a level of influence for labor in Baton Rouge that it had not previously enjoyed.<ref>''Jim Gardner and Shreveport'', Vol. I, p. 322.</ref>​

Gardner said that the demotion "turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to Bussie and the labor movement in Louisiana ... He was extremely effective as the Louisiana leader of organized labor and brought a level of influence for labor in Baton Rouge that it had not previously enjoyed.<ref>''Jim Gardner and Shreveport'', Vol. I, p. 322.</ref>​

Sally Clausen, the state commissioner of higher education after she left Southeastern State University, saw Bussie as her political guide. Clausen remembers Bussie's small, "dungeon-like" office. Yet people would flock to him as soon as he entered a room. "I’ve never known someone as altruistic and humble, and still so powerful," she said.

Sally Clausen, the state commissioner of higher education after she left Southeastern State University, saw Bussie as her political guide. Clausen remembers Bussie's small, "dungeon-like" office. Yet people would flock to him as soon as he entered a room. "I’ve never known someone as altruistic and humble, and still so powerful," she said.

Bussie said he had a good relationship with every governor from Earl Long to [[Mike Foster|Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.]], with the exception of Democrat-turned-Republican [[Buddy Roemer]]. Bussie remained close to former Governor Edwin Edwards. A few years before his incarceration, Edwards flew in from a vacation to attend Bussie's 1997 retirement dinner. "I said, ‘Well Edwin, that’s the first time you ever paid for anything out of your own money,’" Bussie joked.

Bussie said he had a good relationship with every governor from Earl Long to [[Mike Foster|Murphy J. "Mike" Foster Jr.]], with the exception of Democrat-turned-Republican [[Buddy Roemer]]. Bussie remained close to former Governor Edwin Edwards. A few years before his incarceration, Edwards flew in from a vacation to attend Bussie's 1997 retirement dinner. "I said, ‘Well Edwin, that’s the first time you ever paid for anything out of your own money,’" Bussie joked.

Bussie died of complications from stomach cancer at the age of ninety-two at Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Bluebonnet on the Sunday before [[Labor Day]] 2011. In 1989, Bussie had heart by-pass surgery, and in 1993, he lost a kidney to cancer.<ref name=stimes/>  

Bussie died of complications from stomach cancer at the age of ninety-two at Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Bluebonnet on the Sunday before [[Labor Day]] 2011. In 1989, Bussie had heart by-pass surgery, and in 1993, he lost a kidney to cancer.<ref name=stimes/>  

Bussie was survived by his second wife, "Fran" Bussie of Baton Rouge, who was formerly married to Michael Quinn Nolan, Sr. He had two surviving daughters from his first marriage to the former Gertrude Foley: Deanna Love, of Wimberley, Texas, and Carolyn B. Huff and husband David, of Round Rock, Texas; stepchildren Tara Nolan Messenger and husband Terry and Michael Quinn Nolan, Jr. (1960–2013), until his death the owner and president of Healthcare Management Companies, all of Baton Rouge; six grandchildren, and three step-grandchildren. Services were held on September 9. 2011, at the First [[United Methodist]] Church in Baton Rouge. Interment was at Resthaven Gardens of Memory Cemetery on the Jefferson Highway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=michael-quinn-nolan-jr&pid=162300809#fbLoggedOut|title=Michael Quinn Nolan, Jr., obituary|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|accessdate=January 14, 2013}}</ref><br><ref name=obit/>​

Bussie was survived by his second wife, "Fran" Bussie of Baton Rouge, who was formerly married to Michael Quinn Nolan Sr. He had two surviving daughters from his first marriage to the former Gertrude Foley: Deanna Love, of Wimberley, Texas, and Carolyn B. Huff and husband David, of Round Rock, Texas; stepchildren Tara Nolan Messenger and husband Terry and Michael Quinn Nolan Jr. (1960–2013), until his death the owner and president of Healthcare Management Companies, all of Baton Rouge; six grandchildren, and three step-grandchildren. Services were held on September 9. 2011, at the First [[United Methodist]] Church in Baton Rouge. Interment was at Resthaven Gardens of Memory Cemetery on the Jefferson Highway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=michael-quinn-nolan-jr&pid=162300809#fbLoggedOut|title=Michael Quinn Nolan, Jr., obituary|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|accessdate=January 14, 2013}}</ref><br><ref name=obit/>​

==References==

==References==