Changes

In 1932, Fort staged a comeback for a third term when he unseated Kennon's successor as mayor, [[Henry L. Bridges]], a clothing merchant originally from Athens in neighboring Claiborne Parish.<ref>"Bridges Rites Held Monday: Former Mayor Succumbs to Heart Attack", ''Minden Herald'', April 14, 1939, p. 1.</ref> Fort polled 709 votes to Bridges's 437 in the primary election held on April 12, 1932.<ref>''Minden Herald'', April 15, 1932, p. 1.</ref> In his third term, Fort pushed successfully for further road construction and the establishment of municipal parks and tennis courts.

In 1932, Fort staged a comeback for a third term when he unseated Kennon's successor as mayor, [[Henry L. Bridges]], a clothing merchant originally from Athens in neighboring Claiborne Parish.<ref>"Bridges Rites Held Monday: Former Mayor Succumbs to Heart Attack", ''Minden Herald'', April 14, 1939, p. 1.</ref> Fort polled 709 votes to Bridges's 437 in the primary election held on April 12, 1932.<ref>''Minden Herald'', April 15, 1932, p. 1.</ref> In his third term, Fort pushed successfully for further road construction and the establishment of municipal parks and tennis courts.

On May 1, 1933, a tornado swept through Minden and resulted in fifty deaths and more than four hundred injured. Mayor Fort called for the Louisiana National Guard to help to rescue of victims and to keep order. His problems were also compounded by some fifty thousand sightseers who came to Minden to view the damage and created traffic bottlenecks.<ref>"1933 Cyclone Rips Through Minden, Killing 50, Injuring 400 more," 50th anniversary story, ''Minden Press-Herald'', January 1, 1973, p. 1.</ref> The year 1933 was further devastating to Minden, with the death of the sheriff, two bank failures, and a large fire, which impaired the health and caused the death the next year of Fire Chief Ben F. Turner Sr. (1883–1934).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mindenmemories.org/harryturner.htm|title=Harold Martin Turner|publisher=Minden Memories|accessdate=May 28, 2011}}</ref> Fort was the first mayor to serve six years in the office since the banker [[Abner Drake Turner]] (1877-1953) held the position consecutively for three terms from 1910 to 1916.<ref>Rites for A. D. Turner Held Saturday 3 p.m.", ''The Minden Press'', January 1, 1954, p. 1.</ref>

On May 1, 1933, a tornado swept through Minden and resulted in fifty deaths and more than four hundred injured. Mayor Fort called for the Louisiana National Guard to help to rescue of victims and to keep order. His problems were also compounded by some fifty thousand sightseers who came to Minden to view the damage and created traffic bottlenecks.<ref>"1933 Cyclone Rips Through Minden, Killing 50, Injuring 400 more," 50th anniversary story, ''Minden Press-Herald'', January 1, 1973, p. 1.</ref> The year 1933 was further devastating to Minden, with the death of the sheriff, two bank failures, and a large fire, which impaired the health and caused the death the next year of Fire Chief Ben F. Turner Sr. (1883–1934).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mindenmemories.org/harryturner.htm|title=Harold Martin Turner|publisher=Minden Memories|accessdate=May 28, 2011}}</ref> Fort was the first mayor to serve six years in the office since the banker Abner Drake Turner (1877-1953) held the position consecutively for three terms from 1910 to 1916.<ref>Rites for A. D. Turner Held Saturday 3 p.m.", ''The Minden Press'', January 1, 1954, p. 1.</ref>

==Shooting of Brisco Nation==

==Shooting of Brisco Nation==