Jimmie Davis

Jimmie Davis
Davis in 1962
47th Governor of Louisiana
In office
May 10, 1960 – May 12, 1964
LieutenantTaddy Aycock
Preceded byEarl Long
Succeeded byJohn McKeithen
In office
May 9, 1944 – May 11, 1948
LieutenantJ. Emile Verret
Preceded bySam H. Jones
Succeeded byEarl Long
Personal details
Born
James Houston Davis

(1899-09-11)September 11, 1899
Jackson Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedNovember 5, 2000(2000-11-05) (aged 101)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Resting placeJimmie Davis Tabernacle Cemetery, Quitman, Louisiana
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Alvern Adams (died 1967)
Anna Gordon
(m. 1969)
Children1
EducationLouisiana Christian University (BA)
Louisiana State University (MA)
ProfessionSinger, songwriter, former educator, politician
Davis homestead in Jackson Parish

James Houston Davis (September 11, 1899 – November 5, 2000) was an American singer, songwriter, and politician. After achieving fame for releasing both sacred and popular songs, Davis served as governor of Louisiana from 1944 to 1948 and again from 1960 to 1964. As Governor, he was an opponent of efforts to desegregate Louisiana.[1]

Davis was a nationally popular country music and gospel singer from the 1930s into the 1960s, occasionally recording and performing as late as the early 1990s. He appeared as himself in a number of Hollywood movies. He was inducted into six halls of fame, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. At the time of his death in 2000, he was the oldest living former governor as well as the last living governor to have been born in the 19th century.

  1. ^ Severo, Richard (November 6, 2000). "Jimmie Davis, Louisiana's Singing Governor, Is Dead". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 29, 2022.