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In 1952, Kirkpatrick unseated State Representative Marion Vallee (1910–1997) of Jeff Davis Parish in the Democratic primary. He served his first term during the administration of Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]], who in 1963 would be a gubernatorial opponent of Kirkpatrick. In 1956, he again defeated Vallee, who attempted a comeback bid. Kirkpatrick did not run for a third legislative term in 1960 and was succeeded by Norman L. Ordoneaux.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Jefferson Davis Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=September 26, 2019}}</ref>  

In 1952, Kirkpatrick unseated State Representative Marion Vallee (1910–1997) of Jeff Davis Parish in the Democratic primary. He served his first term during the administration of Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]], who in 1963 would be a gubernatorial opponent of Kirkpatrick. In 1956, he again defeated Vallee, who attempted a comeback bid. Kirkpatrick did not run for a third legislative term in 1960 and was succeeded by Norman L. Ordoneaux.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Jefferson Davis Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=September 26, 2019}}</ref>  

In the [[Governor|gubernatorial]] primaries held between December 1959 and January 1960, the Kirkpatricks worked actively in southwest Louisiana for former Governor [[Jimmie Davis]], who defeated the [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]], deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, Sr. (1912-1964), in a hotly contested runoff election. Davis asked Kirkpatrick to serve as his Director of Public Works to succeed [[Lorris Wimberly]] of Arcadia in Bienville Parish in north Louisiana, who had once been [[Speaker]] of the Louisiana House.  

In the [[Governor|gubernatorial]] primaries held between December 1959 and January 1960, the Kirkpatricks worked actively in southwest Louisiana for former Governor [[Jimmie Davis]], who defeated the [[mayor]] of [[New Orleans]], [[Chep Morrison|deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, Sr.]], in a hotly contested runoff election. Davis asked Kirkpatrick to serve as his Director of Public Works to succeed [[Lorris Wimberly]] of Arcadia in Bienville Parish in north Louisiana, who had once been [[Speaker]] of the Louisiana House.  

As the  head of DPW, Kirkpatrick was also chairman of the Red River Authority and the Sabine River Authority. He worked with [[Texas]] and without federal funds to establish the popular Toledo Bend Reservoir, a popular destination for [[fishing]] and boating on the Louisiana-Texas boundary. The project, which emphasizes [[conservation]] and stewardship of natural resources, was completed in 1966, two years after Kirkpatrick had left DPW.<ref name=bm/> State Representative [[Cliff Ammons]] of Many in Sabine Parish, pushed to passage the bill to create Toledo Bend and the constitutional amendment to provide for its funding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-a/|title=Ammons, Cliff|publisher=Louisiana Historical Association, ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'' (lahistory.org)|accessdate=September 26, 2019}}</ref>​

As the  head of DPW, Kirkpatrick was also chairman of the Red River Authority and the Sabine River Authority. He worked with [[Texas]] and without federal funds to establish the popular Toledo Bend Reservoir, a popular destination for [[fishing]] and boating on the Louisiana-Texas boundary. The project, which emphasizes [[conservation]] and stewardship of natural resources, was completed in 1966, two years after Kirkpatrick had left DPW.<ref name=bm/> State Representative [[Cliff Ammons]] of Many in Sabine Parish, pushed to passage the bill to create Toledo Bend and the constitutional amendment to provide for its funding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-a/|title=Ammons, Cliff|publisher=Louisiana Historical Association, ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'' (lahistory.org)|accessdate=September 26, 2019}}</ref>​