| John Al Amiss | |
| In office 1972 – 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Clemmons |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Elmer Litchfield |
| Born | April 27, 1929 Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Died | February 6, 1983 (aged 53) Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Resting place | Roselawn Memorial Park in Baton Rouge |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Joy Dromgoole Amiss (married 1955-1983, his death) |
| Relations | Ron Faucheux (former son-in-law) |
| Children | John Thiel Amiss Sally A. Roussel |
| Alma mater | Baton Rouge High School Louisiana State University |
| Occupation | Law-enforcement officer |
John Al Amiss , known as J. Al Amiss (April 27, 1929 – February 6, 1983,) was a sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish in his native Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The son of John A. Amiss (pronounced A MISS) (1898-1959) and the former Norma Thiel (1906-1983),[1] he was educated at Baton Rouge High School, Louisiana State University, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and the Institute of Police Administration and Technology in Orlando, Florida. In 1955, he married the former Joy Dromgoole, and the couple had four children, John Thiel Amiss, am insurance broker in Prairieville in Ascension Parish, Sally, Clair, and Bonnie Joe (current names unavailable).[2]
In 1956, he was elected to the EBR Democratic Executive Committee. In 1959, he was appointed deputy city constable of Baton Rouge and was elected as constable in 1964. He won the EBR sheriff's position in 1972 and was reelected in 1975 and 1979.[2]
In the 1975 race, he defeated a spirited Republican challenge waged by Jack Breaux of Zachary, the first Republican to elected as mayor of a Louisiana city since Reconstruction.[3] Amiss was succeeded by a Republican, Elmer Litchfield.
Amiss died in Baton Rouge at the age of fifty-three a short time after leaving the sheriff's position.[4] His mother died on December 16, 1983, ten months after his passing.[1]
More than thirty years after Sheriff Amiss' death, his son sent a reminder of tribute to The Baton Rouge Advocate, which reads:
When my father was elected, there were only a few African-American deputies in the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, and when he died in office, there were a proportionate number of African-American deputies compared to the population of East Baton Rouge Parish. Under Al Amiss’ administration, he built substations in high-crime areas like Scotlandville … Over the years, other East Baton Rouge Parish law enforcement officials continued to build on what my father achieved — fairness and equal opportunity to all ... I feel like other communities across America can look at the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office as a model of what fair practices should be. …[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 John Al Amiss. Findagrave.com. Retrieved on April 24, 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Amiss, J. Al. publisher=Louisiana Historical Association. Retrieved on April 24, 2020.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 1, 1975.
- ↑ The Baton Rouge Advocate, February 7, 9, 1983.
- ↑ Letter: Late Al Amiss made the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office a model. The Baton Rouge Advocate (May 7, 2015). Retrieved on April 25, 2020.