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'''Woodrow Wilson Dumas''', known as '''W. W. Dumas''' or '''Woody Dumas''' (December 9, 1916 – November 5, 1993), was from 1965 to 1980 [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Mayor]]-President, a combined municipal-parish position, of [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003135432/http://www.ebr.lib.la.us/library/BatonRougeOfficials1855to2003.pdf|title=Who’s Who in City-Parish Government|publisher=Ebr.lib.la.us|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref>
'''Woodrow Wilson Dumas''', known as '''W. W. Dumas''' or '''Woody Dumas''' (December 9, 1916 – November 5, 1993), was from 1965 to 1980 [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Mayor]]-President, a combined municipal-parish position, of [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003135432/http://www.ebr.lib.la.us/library/BatonRougeOfficials1855to2003.pdf|title=Who’s Who in City-Parish Government|publisher=Ebr.lib.la.us|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref>
==Background==
==Background==
Dumas was born in Opelousas in St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana. He was named for [[Woodrow Wilson]], the [[U.S. President]] at the time of his birth. In 1924, the Dumas family moved to Baton Rouge, where he excelled in [[baseball]] and [[football]] in [[high school]]. He served in the [[United States Navy]] on a [[submarine]] during [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]] and was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also active in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the [[United Methodist]] Church.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/dukes-dunblazier.html#RXD187K6X|title=Woodrow Wilson Dumas|publisher=politicalgraveyard.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref>
Dumas was born in Opelousas in St. Landry Parish in south Louisiana. He was named for [[Woodrow Wilson]], the [[U.S. President]] at the time of his birth. In 1924, the Dumas family moved to Baton Rouge, where he excelled in [[baseball]] and [[football]] in [[high school]]. He served in the [[United States Navy]] on a [[submarine]] during [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]] and was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also active in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the [[United Methodist]] Church.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/dukes-dunblazier.html#RXD187K6X|title=Woodrow Wilson Dumas|publisher=politicalgraveyard.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref>
Dumas moved to Baker, a small city north of Baton Rouge, to play semi-professional baseball.<ref name=library>{{cite web|url=http://ebr.lib.la.libguides.com/content.php?pid=24346&sid=237145|title=About Woody Dumas|publisher=ebr.lib.la.libguides.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref> Several other Louisiana politicians, including state Representatives Lantz Womack of Winnsboro and L.D. "Buddy" Napper of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] and former Lieutenant Governor [[Bill Dodd]], also played semi-pro ball. In Baker, he married the former Carol Epperson (February 23, 1917 – June 21, 2014)<ref>Net Detective and People Search by Name</ref> and was employed by [[Standard Oil Company]].<ref name=papers>{{cite web|url=http://ebr.lib.la.libguides.com/data/files//26733/Woody%20Dumas%20Papers.pdf|title=Woodrow Dumas Papers|publisher=Ebr.lib.la.libguides.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009 (no longer on-line)}}</ref>
Dumas moved to Baker, a small city north of Baton Rouge, to play semi-professional baseball.<ref name=library>{{cite web|url=http://ebr.lib.la.libguides.com/content.php?pid=24346&sid=237145|title=About Woody Dumas|publisher=ebr.lib.la.libguides.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref> Several other Louisiana politicians, including state Representatives Lantz Womack of Winnsboro and L.D. "Buddy" Napper of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] and former Lieutenant Governor [[Bill Dodd]], also played semi-pro ball. In Baker, he married the former Carol Epperson (February 23, 1917 – June 21, 2014)<ref>Net Detective and People Search by Name</ref> and was employed by [[Standard Oil Company]].<ref name=papers>{{cite web|url=http://ebr.lib.la.libguides.com/data/files//26733/Woody%20Dumas%20Papers.pdf|title=Woodrow Dumas Papers|publisher=Ebr.lib.la.libguides.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009 (no longer on-line)}}</ref>
In 1952, Dumas was elected as the Ward II representative on the 12-member Metro Council and served from 1953-1964. He was succeeded on the council by Gaston Gerald of Greenwell Springs, who was later a state senator.
In 1952, Dumas was elected as the Ward II representative on the 12-member Metro Council and served from 1953-1964. He was succeeded on the council by Gaston Gerald of Greenwell Springs, who was later a state senator.
To win the mayor-presidency, Dumas unseated the incumbent fellow Democrat Jack Christian, a former automobile dealer from Vicksburg, [[Mississippi]], and later Baton Rouge. Much of Dumas' four terms as mayor-president was devoted to the development of the downtown municipal complex.<ref name=library/> On Dumas' watch, the Baton Rouge city-parish budget grew from $15.3 million to $89 million annually.<ref name=papers/> However, he was also involved in several [[civil rights]] controversies.
To win the mayor-presidency, Dumas unseated the incumbent fellow Democrat Jack Christian, a former automobile dealer from Vicksburg, [[Mississippi]], and later Baton Rouge. Much of Dumas' four terms as mayor-president was devoted to the development of the downtown municipal complex.<ref name=library/> On Dumas' watch, the Baton Rouge city-parish budget grew from $15.3 million to $89 million annually.<ref name=papers/> However, he was also involved in several [[civil rights]] controversies.
In 1969, Dumas imposed a curfew during a disturbance that seemed likely to spread throughout his city. [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] deployed 250 Louisiana National Guard troops to maintain order. The unrest resulted when a white Baton Rouge patrolman, Ray Breaux, shot to death in the back a 17-year-old fleeing [[African-American]] suspect. Dumas called on Baton Rouge [[NAACP]] president Emmitt Douglas to speak via [[radio]] to urge calm. Douglas called for more black police officers and integrated patrol cars. Dumas promised Douglas that Breaux would be suspended pending an investigation. After a grand jury exonerated Breaux, Douglas accused Dumas of betrayal. Dumas cited civil service rules which protected the officer. Thereafter, Dumas adopted a hard line toward protesters, having told officers that "We will back you 100 percent. Police officers will no longer take abuse and vilification from anyone."<ref name=google>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QnQbw5EyPREC&pg=PA423&lpg=PA423&dq=W.W.+Dumas&source=bl&ots=feCuRbzRvr&sig=FYALNNVVV694_HVoWNGWLJm69tI&hl=en&ei=OAkQS-ezKoWWtgebyo3rCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=W.W.%20Dumas&f=false|author=Adam Fairclough|title=Race and Democracy: The Civil Rights Struggle in Louisiana, 1915-1972|publisher=Google Books|accessdate=November 27, 2009 | isbn=978-0-8203-3114-0}}</ref> Meanwhile, Douglas was [[indictment|indicted]] for incitement to riot under a new Louisiana law patterned after the national Civil Rights Act of 1968.<ref name=google/> In another racial incident in January 1972, three [[Muslim]] activists and a police officer were killed during a riot on North Boulevard in Baton Rouge.<ref name=papers/>
In 1969, Dumas imposed a curfew during a disturbance that seemed likely to spread throughout his city. [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] deployed 250 Louisiana National Guard troops to maintain order. The unrest resulted when a white Baton Rouge patrolman, Ray Breaux, shot to death in the back a 17-year-old fleeing [[African-American]] suspect. Dumas called on Baton Rouge [[NAACP]] president Emmitt Douglas to speak via [[radio]] to urge calm. Douglas called for more black police officers and integrated patrol cars. Dumas promised Douglas that Breaux would be suspended pending an investigation. After a grand jury exonerated Breaux, Douglas accused Dumas of betrayal. Dumas cited civil service rules which protected the officer. Thereafter, Dumas adopted a hard line toward protesters, having told officers that "We will back you 100 percent. Police officers will no longer take abuse and vilification from anyone."<ref name=google>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QnQbw5EyPREC&pg=PA423&lpg=PA423&dq=W.W.+Dumas&source=bl&ots=feCuRbzRvr&sig=FYALNNVVV694_HVoWNGWLJm69tI&hl=en&ei=OAkQS-ezKoWWtgebyo3rCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=W.W.%20Dumas&f=false|author=Adam Fairclough|title=Race and Democracy: The Civil Rights Struggle in Louisiana, 1915-1972|publisher=Google Books|accessdate=November 27, 2009 | isbn=978-0-8203-3114-0}}</ref> Meanwhile, Douglas was [[indictment|indicted]] for incitement to riot under a new Louisiana law patterned after the national Civil Rights Act of 1968.<ref name=google/> In another racial incident in January 1972, three [[Muslim]] activists and a police officer were killed during a riot on North Boulevard in Baton Rouge.<ref name=papers/>
When Republican gubernatorial nominee [[David C. Treen]] criticized Dumas' handling of the 1972 riot, which was prompted by a splinter group of [[Black Panthers]], Dumas, a supporter of fellow Democrat [[Edwin Edwards]], said that Treen was too uninformed to offer any comment. "My advice to Mr. Treen is before he opens his mouth, he ought to put his mind in gear," retorted Dumas.<ref>''The Minden Press-Herald'', January 14, 1972, p. 1.</ref>
When Republican gubernatorial nominee [[David C. Treen]] criticized Dumas' handling of the 1972 riot, which was prompted by a splinter group of [[Black Panthers]], Dumas, a supporter of fellow Democrat [[Edwin Edwards]], said that Treen was too uninformed to offer any comment. "My advice to Mr. Treen is before he opens his mouth, he ought to put his mind in gear," retorted Dumas.<ref>''The Minden Press-Herald'', January 14, 1972, p. 1.</ref>
On July 4, 1976, national Bicentennial Day, Dumas dedicated the former Baton Rouge Downtown Airport, a general aviation facility never upgraded for continued use, as the new Independence Park. Some former airport land was later transferred for the use of the Louisiana State Police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airfields-freeman.com/LA/Airfields_LA_BatonRouge.html|title=Paul Freeman, Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Louisiana: Baton Rouge|publisher=members.tripod.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107040245/http://www.airfields-freeman.com/LA/Airfields_LA_BatonRouge.html|archive-date=November 7, 2009|dead-url=yes|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
On July 4, 1976, national Bicentennial Day, Dumas dedicated the former Baton Rouge Downtown Airport, a general aviation facility never upgraded for continued use, as the new Independence Park. Some former airport land was later transferred for the use of the Louisiana State Police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airfields-freeman.com/LA/Airfields_LA_BatonRouge.html|title=Paul Freeman, Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Louisiana: Baton Rouge|publisher=members.tripod.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107040245/http://www.airfields-freeman.com/LA/Airfields_LA_BatonRouge.html|archive-date=November 7, 2009|dead-url=yes|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
In 1976, Dumas organized a Baton Rouge celebration commemorating the American [[General]] [[Claire Chennault]] of the "Fighting Tigers" of [[World War II]]. Chennault’s second wife and widow, Anna Chennault, was present, as were Governor Edwin Edwards and his then wife, [[Elaine Edwards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=any&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=/LHP&CISOBOX1=Special&CISOSORT=title%7Cf|title=Louisiana Historical Photographs Collection of the State Library|publisher=louisdl.louislibraries.org|accessdate=November 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616152003/http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=any&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=%2FLHP&CISOBOX1=Special&CISOSORT=title%7Cf#|archive-date=2011-06-16|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref>
In 1976, Dumas organized a Baton Rouge celebration commemorating the American [[General]] [[Claire Chennault]] of the "Fighting Tigers" of [[World War II]]. Chennault's second wife and widow, Anna Chennault, was present, as were Governor Edwin Edwards and his then wife, [[Elaine Edwards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=any&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=/LHP&CISOBOX1=Special&CISOSORT=title%7Cf|title=Louisiana Historical Photographs Collection of the State Library|publisher=louisdl.louislibraries.org|accessdate=November 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616152003/http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=any&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=%2FLHP&CISOBOX1=Special&CISOSORT=title%7Cf#|archive-date=2011-06-16|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref>
In his last election as mayor-president in 1976, Dumas defeated the Democrat [[Pete Heine]], the mayor of Baker from 1964 to 1976 and again from 1981 to 1992, and the Republican choice, Jack Breaux, the mayor of Zachary (no relation to [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Breaux]]).
In his last election as mayor-president in 1976, Dumas defeated the Democrat [[Pete Heine]], the mayor of Baker from 1964 to 1976 and again from 1981 to 1992, and the Republican choice, Jack Breaux, the mayor of Zachary (no relation to [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Breaux]]).
In 1990, Dumas was an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of Edward Grady Partin, the controversial business agent of the Teamsters Union in Baton Rouge, who immunized testimony in 1964 had sent [[Jimmy Hoffa]] to prison for jury tampering.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barlowgenealogy.com/Louisiana/laobituaries.html|title=Obituaries: Barlow and Related Families|publisher=''Baton Rouge State-Times'', March 12, 1990, p. 6|accessdate=May 7, 2010}}</ref>
In 1990, Dumas was an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of Edward Grady Partin, the controversial business agent of the Teamsters Union in Baton Rouge, who immunized testimony in 1964 had sent [[Jimmy Hoffa]] to prison for jury tampering.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barlowgenealogy.com/Louisiana/laobituaries.html|title=Obituaries: Barlow and Related Families|publisher=''Baton Rouge State-Times'', March 12, 1990, p. 6|accessdate=May 7, 2010}}</ref>
==Failed comeback bid==
==Failed comeback bid==
Dumas was succeeded as mayor in January 1981 by the Democrat James Patrick "Pat" Screen, Jr. (1943–1994), a former [[Louisiana State University]] [[quarterback]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6386506|title=Pat Screen|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref><ref>The author has been unable to determine if Dumas ran in 1980 and was defeated by Screen or if Dumas stepped down, only to try for a comeback eight years thereafter.</ref> In 1988, at the age of seventy-two, Dumas came out of political retirement to challenge fellow Democrat Tom Ed McHugh for the mayor-presidency. He polled 29,109 (29.9 percent to McHugh’s 38,629 (39.7 percent). In third place was state Senator Mike Cross, who received 12,741 (13.1 percent). Freshman state Representative Carl Crane, one of two Republicans in the race, polled only 4,554 votes (4.7 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Return: East Baton Rouge Parish, October 1, 1988.</ref>
Dumas was succeeded as mayor in January 1981 by the Democrat James Patrick "Pat" Screen, Jr. (1943–1994), a former [[Louisiana State University]] [[quarterback]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6386506|title=Pat Screen|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref><ref>The author has been unable to determine if Dumas ran in 1980 and was defeated by Screen or if Dumas stepped down, only to try for a comeback eight years thereafter.</ref> In 1988, at the age of seventy-two, Dumas came out of political retirement to challenge fellow Democrat Tom Ed McHugh for the mayor-presidency. He polled 29,109 (29.9 percent) to McHugh's 38,629 (39.7 percent). In third place was state Senator Mike Cross, who received 12,741 (13.1 percent). Freshman state Representative Carl Crane, one of two Republicans in the race, polled only 4,554 votes (4.7 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Return: East Baton Rouge Parish, October 1, 1988.</ref>
In the general election which corresponded with the [[George H.W. Bush]] and [[Michael Dukakis]] presidential contest, McHugh defeated Dumas, 79,134 (55.5 percent) to 63,519 (44.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 8, 1988</ref> McHugh was elected again as a Democrat in 1992 and as a Republican convert in 1996.
In the general election which corresponded with the [[George H.W. Bush]] and [[Michael Dukakis]] presidential contest, McHugh defeated Dumas, 79,134 (55.5 percent) to 63,519 (44.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 8, 1988</ref> McHugh was elected again as a Democrat in 1992 and as a Republican convert in 1996.
Dumas died at the age of seventy-six after a long struggle with [[cancer]].<ref name=library/> Dumas is remembered through the 18-hole Dumas [[Golf]] Course and the Dumas Memorial Golf Tournament held each April at Greenwood Community Park in Baker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brec.org/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&cpid=561|title=Greenwood Community Park|publisher=brec.org|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref>
Dumas died at the age of seventy-six after a long struggle with [[cancer]].<ref name=library/> Dumas is remembered through the 18-hole Dumas [[Golf]] Course and the Dumas Memorial Golf Tournament held each April at Greenwood Community Park in Baker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brec.org/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&cpid=561|title=Greenwood Community Park|publisher=brec.org|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref>
Dumas' papers are in the Dumas Room in the River Center Library (formerly the Centroplex Library).<ref name=papers/>
Dumas' papers are in the Dumas Room in the River Center Library (formerly the Centroplex Library).<ref name=papers/>
==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Louisiana People]]