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Bagwell attended local [[Segregation|segregated]] schools through high school. He graduated from [[Louisiana State University]] and the LSU Law Center, both of which were also segregated.<ref name=hgbagwell/> In 1936, Bagwell married the former June Sue Ross (1915-1971). The couple had seven children together.<ref name=hgbagwell/><ref name=polgraveyard/>
Bagwell attended local [[Segregation|segregated]] schools through high school. He graduated from [[Louisiana State University]] and the LSU Law Center, both of which were also segregated.<ref name=hgbagwell/> In 1936, Bagwell married the former June Sue Ross (1915-1971). The couple had seven children together.<ref name=hgbagwell/><ref name=polgraveyard/>
==Political life==
==Political life==
Unusual for his time, Bagwell joined the Republican Party at a time when most whites were [[Democratic Party|Democrats]]. Louisiana had been a one-party state for most statewide and national elections since the late 19th century, when white Democrats regained control of the state government and approved a new state constitution in 1898 that effectively disenfranchised most blacks by raising barriers to voter registration and voting. [[African Americans]] had prior to 1964 constituted the great majority of members of the Louisiana Republican Party.
Unusual for his time, Bagwell joined the Republican Party at a time when most whites were [[Democratic Party|Democrats]]. Louisiana had been a one-party state for most statewide and national elections since the late 19th century, when white Democrats regained control of the state government and approved a new state constitution in 1898 that effectively disenfranchised most blacks by raising barriers to voter registration and voting. [[African Americans]] had prior to 1964 constituted the great majority of members of the Louisiana Republican Party.
During the first decades of the 20th century, some white Republicans began to try to build up the party. In 1928, Etienne J. Caire, a [[business]]man from Edgard in St. John the Baptist Parish, polled 4 percent in the gubernatorial election in his challenge of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long Jr.]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RB2Hxcg4zNoC&pg=PA511&lpg=PA511&dq=James+M.+McLemore+of+Louisiana&source=bl&ots=1Yi8hxLt9i&sig=gUMWwG9IvX6ust-vytitdL_u3aA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QUBwUpyHCqrX2QWdlIGwAg&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=James%20M.%20McLemore%20of%20Louisiana&f=false|title=''Louisiana Almanac, 2008-2009''|author=[[Milburn E. Calhoun]]|page=511|publisher=[[Pelican Publishing Company]]|date=2008|accessdate=November 29, 2013}}</ref> In 1952, Bagwell ran as only the second Republican candidate for governor in the 20th century.
During the first decades of the 20th century, some white Republicans began to try to build up the party. In 1928, Etienne J. Caire, a [[business]]man from Edgard in St. John the Baptist Parish, polled 4 percent in the gubernatorial election in his challenge of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long Jr.]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RB2Hxcg4zNoC&pg=PA511&lpg=PA511&dq=James+M.+McLemore+of+Louisiana&source=bl&ots=1Yi8hxLt9i&sig=gUMWwG9IvX6ust-vytitdL_u3aA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QUBwUpyHCqrX2QWdlIGwAg&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=James%20M.%20McLemore%20of%20Louisiana&f=false|title=''Louisiana Almanac, 2008-2009''|author=[[Milburn E. Calhoun]]|page=511|publisher=[[Pelican Publishing Company]]|date=2008|accessdate=November 29, 2013}}</ref> In 1952, Bagwell ran as only the second Republican candidate for governor in the 20th century.
In the gubernatorial [[general election]] held on April 22, 1952, Bagwell polled 4,958 votes (4 percent) of the vote statewide in a low-turnout contest against the Democrat [[Robert F. Kennon]], a judge from [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], who received 118,723 (96 percent). Bagwell reached double digits in only three parishes, St. James (13 percent), Iberia]] (12.5 percent), and his own East Baton Rouge Parish (11.8 percent). In three parishes, Concordia, DeSoto, and Tensas, Bagwell received not a single vote.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCUXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=Harrison+G.+Bagwell&source=bl&ots=7-PJRE9l32&sig=Du9yYdQmCViyHoo58tfKfpIHjgk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-QSsVK_rCMGGyATVjIGgAw&ved=0CE0Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Harrison%20G.%20Bagwell&f=false|title=United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1932-1952: The Official Results by State and County|pages=103–104|publisher=McFarland and Company|location=Jefferson, [[North Carolina]]|isbn=978-0-7864-7034-1|author=Michael J. Dubin|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref>
In the gubernatorial [[general election]] held on April 22, 1952, Bagwell polled 4,958 votes (4 percent) of the vote statewide in a low-turnout contest against the Democrat [[Robert F. Kennon]], a judge from [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], who received 118,723 (96 percent). Bagwell reached double digits in only three parishes, St. James (13 percent), Iberia]] (12.5 percent), and his own East Baton Rouge Parish (11.8 percent). In three parishes, Concordia, DeSoto, and Tensas, Bagwell received not a single vote.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCUXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=Harrison+G.+Bagwell&source=bl&ots=7-PJRE9l32&sig=Du9yYdQmCViyHoo58tfKfpIHjgk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-QSsVK_rCMGGyATVjIGgAw&ved=0CE0Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Harrison%20G.%20Bagwell&f=false|title=United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1932-1952: The Official Results by State and County|pages=103–104|publisher=McFarland and Company|location=Jefferson, [[North Carolina]]|isbn=978-0-7864-7034-1|author=Michael J. Dubin|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref>
Bagwell's gubernatorial showing was far below the votes secured by his fellow Republican, [[Clem S. Clarke]], in the [[United States Senate]] in 1948. The [[Shreveport]] [[oil]]man polled just over 100,000 votes in his failed challenge of Democrat [[Russell Long]], older son of Huey Long.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, U. S. Senate election returns, November 2, 1948.</ref> By 2015, Republicans for the first time held both Senate seats from Louisiana.
Bagwell's gubernatorial showing was far below the votes secured by his fellow Republican, [[Clem S. Clarke]], in the [[United States Senate]] special general election of 1948. The [[Shreveport]] [[oil]]man polled just over 100,000 votes in his failed challenge of Democrat [[Russell Long]], older son of Huey Long.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, U. S. Senate election returns, November 2, 1948.</ref> By 2015, Republicans for the first time held both Senate seats from Louisiana.
Bagwell said that his primary goal in running for governor was to try to establish a competitive two-party system in Louisiana. He said that the state Republican party was being held back by its traditional leaders so that they could maintain their control over the party organization.<ref>cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AQssAAAAIBAJ&sjid=scYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1070%2C4007750|title="Republican Boom Likely to Fizzle Out in South"|publisher=''Times-Daily''|date=February 25, 1952}}</ref> Represented Louisiana's 6th congressional district,, Bagwell was a delegate to the 1952 [[Republican National Convention]], which met in [[Chicago]] to nominate the ticket of [[Dwight Eisenhower]] and [[Richard M. Nixon]]<ref name=polgraveyard>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/LA/protestant.html|title=Harrison Garey Bagwell|publisher=The Political Graveyard|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Bagwell assisted John Minor Wisdom in making the case for seating the pro-Eisenhower delegation, rather than the supporters of Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]]. Because Bagwell and Wisdom were successful, they were instrumental in securing the nomination for Eisenhower.<ref{{cite web|url=http://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1642&context=wlulr |author=Joel William Friedman|title="Judge Wisdom and the 1952 Republican National Convention: Ensuring Victory for Eisenhower and a Two-Party System for Louisiana"|publisher=''Washington and Lee Law Review'', Vol. 53, No. 1|date=1996|page= 52, 92}}</ref>
Bagwell said that his primary goal in running for governor was to try to establish a competitive two-party system in Louisiana. He said that the state Republican party was being held back by its traditional leaders so that they could maintain their control over the party organization.<ref>cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AQssAAAAIBAJ&sjid=scYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1070%2C4007750|title="Republican Boom Likely to Fizzle Out in South"|publisher=''Times-Daily''|date=February 25, 1952}}</ref> Represented Louisiana's 6th congressional district,, Bagwell was a delegate to the 1952 [[Republican National Convention]], which met in [[Chicago]] to nominate the ticket of [[Dwight Eisenhower]] and [[Richard M. Nixon]]<ref name=polgraveyard>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/LA/protestant.html|title=Harrison Garey Bagwell|publisher=The Political Graveyard|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Bagwell assisted John Minor Wisdom in making the case for seating the pro-Eisenhower delegation, rather than the supporters of Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]]. Because Bagwell and Wisdom were successful, they were instrumental in securing the nomination for Eisenhower.<ref{{cite web|url=http://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1642&context=wlulr |author=Joel William Friedman|title="Judge Wisdom and the 1952 Republican National Convention: Ensuring Victory for Eisenhower and a Two-Party System for Louisiana"|publisher=''Washington and Lee Law Review'', Vol. 53, No. 1|date=1996|page= 52, 92}}</ref>
Governor Kennon endorsed the Eisenhower-Nixonticket. Although successful nationally,Eisenhower lost the Louisiana [[electoral vote]] that year. White conservatives in the state then remained overwhelmingly Democratic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E05E5D8113CE53ABC4F53DFBF668389649EDE|title=LOUISIANA'S CHIEF BACKS EISENHOWER; Gov. Kennon Says General Will End 'Truman Era of Minks, Pay-Offs and Rackets'|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|page=1|date=September 7, 1952|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> but would by the 21st century become predominantly Republican.
Governor Kennon endorsed the Eisenhower-Nixon ticket. Although successful nationally,Eisenhower lost the Louisiana [[electoral vote]] that year. White conservatives in the state then remained overwhelmingly Democratic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E05E5D8113CE53ABC4F53DFBF668389649EDE|title=LOUISIANA'S CHIEF BACKS EISENHOWER; Gov. Kennon Says General Will End 'Truman Era of Minks, Pay-Offs and Rackets'|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|page=1|date=September 7, 1952|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> but would by the 21st century become predominantly Republican.
Bagwell sought a federal judgeship but was not selected by the Eisenhower administration.<ref name=hgbagwell/> Along with incoming state party chairman [[LeRoy Smallenberger]] of Shreveport, Bagwell served as an alternate delegate to the 1960 Republican National Convention, which also met in Chicago and nominated the ticket of Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., of [[Massachusetts]]. [[George Reese]], a New Orleans lawyer who challenged Democratic U.S. Senator [[Allen Ellender]] that year for his seat, was also a delegate to the Chicago convention. So was the [[Shreveport]] Republicanand later U.S. District Judge]] Thomas Eaton "Tom" Stagg, Jr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/parties/R/1960/LA.html|title=Louisiana delegation to the 1960 Republican National Convention|publisher=The Political Graveyard|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref>
Bagwell sought a federal judgeship but was not selected by the Eisenhower administration.<ref name=hgbagwell/> Along with incoming state party chairman [[LeRoy Smallenberger]] of Shreveport, Bagwell served as an alternate delegate to the 1960 Republican National Convention, which also met in Chicago and nominated the ticket of Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., of [[Massachusetts]]. [[George Reese]], a New Orleans lawyer who challenged Democratic U.S. Senator [[Allen Ellender]] that year for his seat, was also a delegate to the Chicago convention. So was the [[Shreveport]] Republicanand later U.S. District Judge]] Thomas Eaton "Tom" Stagg, Jr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/parties/R/1960/LA.html|title=Louisiana delegation to the 1960 Republican National Convention|publisher=The Political Graveyard|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref>
Bagwell's namesake son, Harrison Garey "Gary" Bagwell, Jr. (1937-1985), entered the [[United States Navy]] during the [[Vietnam War]]. He served aboard the transport ship, ''U.S.S. Caddo Parish.'' His letters home described the [[Viet Cong]], military operations, and the people and landscape of [[South Vietnam]] and [[Taiwan]]. His papers are held in the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections of the LSU Archives. There is also a special feature in the archive from the ''New Orleans Item'' on the Louisiana Republican Party in 1952.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/collection/data/876590453|title=Gary Bagwell Letters|publisher=beta.worldcat.org|accessdate=January 23, 2015}}</ref>
Bagwell's namesake son, Harrison Garey "Gary" Bagwell, Jr. (1937-1985), entered the [[United States Navy]] during the [[Vietnam War]]. He served aboard the transport ship, ''U.S.S. Caddo Parish.'' His letters home described the [[Viet Cong]], military operations, and the people and landscape of [[South Vietnam]] and [[Taiwan]]. His papers are held in the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections of the LSU Archives. There is also a special feature in the archive from the ''New Orleans Item'' on the Louisiana Republican Party in 1952.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/collection/data/876590453|title=Gary Bagwell Letters|publisher=beta.worldcat.org|accessdate=January 23, 2015}}</ref>
One of the Bagwells' younger daughters, Bonnie Bagwell Messer (born September 1954), recalled in 2013 that her father had treated the neighborhood children at their home in University Acres each [[Halloween]] to hot dogs, chili, and Kool-Aid. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Bagwell's death, Messer said that when she was a child, "Our house was THE place to go, and he fed everyone. It has been forty years since his last Halloween at our house ... I hope all our neighbors who [[trick-or-treat]]ed at our house will remember him this Halloween and the love he had for Halloween and them."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/columnists/7441879-55/smiley-frightful-evening|title=Mr. Halloween|author=Smiley Anders|publisher=''[[The Advocate (Louisiana)|Baton Rouge Advocate]]''|date=December 2, 2013|accessdate=January 6, 2015|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106215746/http://theadvocate.com/columnists/7441879-55/smiley-frightful-evening|archivedate=January 6, 2015|df=}}</ref>
One of the Bagwells' younger daughters, Bonnie Bagwell Messer (born September 1954), recalled in 2013 that her father had treated the neighborhood children at their home in University Acres each [[Halloween]] to hot dogs, chili, and Kool-Aid. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Bagwell's death, Messer said that when she was a child, "Our house was THE place to go, and he fed everyone. It has been forty years since his last Halloween at our house ... I hope all our neighbors who trick-or-treated at our house will remember him this Halloween and the love he had for Halloween and them."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106215746/http://theadvocate.com/columnists/7441879-55/smiley-frightful-evening|title="Mr. Halloween"|author=Smiley Anders|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=December 2, 2013|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref>
==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Louisiana People]]