The William L. "Bill" McLeod, Jr. Papers

1940-2002

8 linear feet

Collection Number 159

Prepared by Patricia A. Threatt
June 2004

CITATION: The William L. "Bill" McLeod, Jr. Papers, Collection No. 159, Box number, Folder number,
Archives and Special Collections Department, Frazar Memorial Library, McNeese State University.

Archives and Special Collections Department
Frazar Memorial Library
McNeese State University

Biographical Sketch

William Lasater “Bill” McLeod, Jr. was born in 1931 in Marks, Mississippi. In 1942, McLeod’s family moved to Lake Charles where his father was the minister of the First Presbyterian Church. McLeod attended Lake Charles High School, McNeese State University, Princeton University, and Louisiana State University Law School. From 1953 to 1955, McLeod served as a field artilleryman in the U.S. Army. McLeod married Lady Marilyn “Cissie” Qualls in 1962. The McLeods have three daughters, Ruth, Sara, and Martha. In 1968, McLeod organized his first successful campaign and was elected State Representative from Lake Charles. During the 1968 session of the legislature, several reform-minded legislators banded together to form the “Young Turks.” The “Young Turks” crafted a series of bills to change the way state government operated and make it more accountable to the public. McLeod remained a State Representative until 1975 when he became a State Senator. In 1990 McLeod became a judge of the Fourteenth Judicial District Court. After McLeod’s retirement from the bench in 1997, he practiced law privately until his death in 2003.

See also The Lady Marilyn “Cissie” McLeod Papers, Collection number 182 and the McLeod Lecture Series Collection, number 188.

Scope and Content Note

The William L. “Bill” McLeod, Jr. Papers consist of notes, documents, correspondence, clippings, photographs, a yearbook, and ephemera from 1940 to 2002. Three series comprise the papers: Political Campaigns, Political Issues, and Personal Papers.

The Political Campaigns series contains materials from McLeod’s campaigns for State Representative, State Senator, and Judge from 1963 through 1990. These materials consist of notes, correspondence, position statements, advertising, financial information, constituent information, election returns, and ephemera from the campaigns. The series is arranged chronologically.

The Political Issues series contains clippings from area newspapers, correspondence, notes, legal documents, and publications pertaining to issues important to McLeod. These materials are arranged loosely in chronological order according to when the issue first arose. Of particular note are the materials concerning labor unions, Right to Work, and the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District Board.

The Personal Papers series contains notes, correspondence, clippings, photographs, and ephemera concerning McLeod’s personal life. One section of the Personal Papers concerns McLeod’s research project to document past judges of Lake Charles. McLeod’s goal was to compile biographical information and a photograph for each judge for use in area libraries. While researching past judges, McLeod became involved in an effort to display large portraits of the judges in Courtroom A of the Calcasieu Judicial Center. The remainder of the Personal Papers series consists of personal documents, correspondence, photographs, and mementos. These materials document McLeod’s involvement in the Boy Scouts of America, the Kiwanis Club, and other civic organizations; certificates and awards; State inauguration ceremonies; and his Scottish heritage and bagpipe-playing.

Container List

Series I. Political Campaigns

1963 Campaign for State Representative

Box	Folder	Description
1	1	Notes, Correspondence, Position statements, Speaking engagements
	2	Advertising and other expenses
	3	Contributions and supporters
		See also Box 5 for 1963 printing proof of a campaign poster

1967 Campaign for State Representative

Box	Folder	Description
1	4	Correspondence, Position statements, Speaking engagements
	5	Notes and drafts
	6	Contributions and supporters
	7	Advertising and financial information
	8	Election results and congratulatory letters

1971 Campaign for State Representative

Box	Folder	Description
1	9	Issues
	10	Notes, Correspondence, Research. See also Box 5 for a Sample ballot for the 1971 Election
	11	Advertising
	12	Financial
	13	Photograph
	14	Jack Rogers (opponent)
	15	Fund-raising, supporters, congratulatory letters
	16	Election results

1975 Campaign for State Senator

Box	Folder	Description
1	17	Position statements and Issues
	18	Mailing lists and letters from McLeod
	19	Advertising, campaign letters, and press releases
	20	Clippings
	21	Notes
	22	Yard sign recipients
	23	Thank-you letters for campaign contributions
	24	Election Finance Disclosure Act
	25	Campaign contributions and supporters. See also Box 5 for a card file of contributors.
	26	Opponents
	27	Photographs
	28	Ephemera
	29	Election results (all races). See also Box 5 for 1975 Election return tally sheets (4)
	30	Constituent lists and maps.
	31	Contact list
	32	Block walkers
	33	List of voters: Ward 1, Precinct 1
	34	List of voters: Ward 1, Precinct 2A
	35	List of voters: Ward 1, Precinct 2B
	36	List of voters: Ward 3, Precinct 18
	37	List of voters: Ward 3, Precinct 19
	38	List of voters: Ward 3, Precinct 20, 21, and 30
	39	List of voters: Ward 3, Precinct 34
	40	List of voters: Ward 3, Precinct 39
	41	List of voters: Fenton and Lacassine

1979 Campaign for State Senator

Box	Folder	Description
2	1	Cissie McLeod's campaign notebook
	2	Notes and general information
	3	Interest Group endorsements and questionnaires
	4	General correspondence
	5	Financial disclosure information. See also Box 5 for card file of contributors.
	6	Bill Bertrand (opponent)
	7	Volunteers and coordinators
	8	Polls and pollsters
	9	Public opinion survey
	10	Clippings
	11	Campaign letters, advertising, and press releases
	12	Ephemera. See also Box 5 for 1979 Campaign bumper sticker
	13	Election results
	14	1980 report on the 1979 Campaign by UNO's Dept. of Political Science
	15	Thank you letters for campaign contributions

1983 Campaign for State Senator

Box	Folder	Description
2	16	Notes, correspondence, and general information.
	17	Volunteers and supporters
	18	Block walkers
	19	Public opinion survey
	20	Telephone lists and yard sign recipients
	21	Advertising
	22	Personal appearances
	23	Campaign letters
	24	Campaign budget
	25	Contributions
	26	“A Tribute to Bill McLeod” fundraiser [October 27, 1982]
	27	Campaign Finance Reports
	28	Polling information
	29	Interest Group questionnaires
	30	Clippings
	31	Roger Miller (opponent)
	32	Ephemera and photographs
	33	Victory party guest book
	34	Election results

Other Campaigns

Box	Folder	Description
2	35	1986 Campaign for the Court of Appeals. See also Box 5 for 1986 Campaign bumper sticker.
	36	1987 Campaign for State Senator
	37	1990 Campaign for Judge - Division B

Series II: Political Issues

Newspaper clippings

Box	Folder	Description
3	1	1963-1970
	2	1971-1975
	3	1976-1977
	4	1978-1979
	5	1980-1981
	6	1982-1983
	7	1984-1985
	8	1986-1989
	9	1990-2000
	10	Undated

Issue files

Box	Folder	Description
3	11	"Louisiana Politics: 1964 Vintage" speech by Sam H. Jones [1964]
	12	Right to work: Correspondence [1976-1979]
	13	Right to work: Clippings [1976-1985]
	14	Right to work: AFL-CIO publications [1970-1977]
	15	Right to work: Newsletters [1977-1979]
	16	Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District Board Controversy: Correspondence, resumes, press releases, etc. [1984-1985]
	17	Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District Board Controversy: Notes and legal documents [1976, 1983-1985]
	18	Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District Board Controversy: Clippings [1975-1986]
	19	Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District Board Controversy: Copies of statutes [Ca. 1970-1985]
	20	Redistricting [1971-1972, 1999]
	21	Labor union issues [1972]
	22	Parking Lot Sessions [1973-1982]
	23	Police Juror Residency requirements [1975-1983]
	24	Senate resolution congratulating McLeod and Knowles as Senate floor leaders [1976]
	25	Oak Park Drainage [1978]
	26	Abolishment of CODOFIL by the Jeff Davis Parish School Board [1978]
	27	District Attorney race between Lenn Knapp and Frank Salter [1978]
	28	Michael H. O’Keefe for President of the Senate [1979]
	29	Governor's race [1979]
	30	Coal Gasification bill photographs and letters [1980]
	31	Judiciary Committee Minutes [1980]
	32	McLeod Filibuster (State Retirement System) [1981]
	33	School finance bill [1982]
	34	Legislative Session notebook [1982]
	35	Hazardous waste disposal controversy (Empak/Ged Lake/Vinton) [1983-1985]
	36	Senate bill regarding resuscitation issues [1984]
	37	General election results [1984]
	38	Public Opinion Survey [1985]
	39	"Sailors Make Good Neighbors" campaign [1987]
	40	Sammy Nunez' speech declining the nomination for Senate President [1988]
	41	Indian Affairs in Louisiana [1991-1992]

Series III. Personal Papers

Judges of Lake Charles Project [1994-1996]

Box	Folder	Description
4	1	Project to put Judges portraits in Courtroom A of the Calcasieu Judicial Center
	2	Notes and research
	3	Photocopies of research from the Secretary of State
	4	Photocopies of research from Levingston Land Title Co.
	5	St. Landry Parish Judges
	6	Lake Charles Cemeteries
	7	Photocopies of research from MSU
	8	Copy print photos of Judges and negatives
	9	Alfred M. Barbe
	10	W. E. Bond
	11	Cecil C. Cutrer
	12	Gabriel Antoine Fournet
	13	Fred R. Godwin
	14	L. E. Hawsey, Jr.
	15	John T. Hood, Jr. and Sr.
	16	Warren E. Hood
	17	George Washington Hudspeth
	18	Charles S. King
	19	Gregory Lyons
	20	James C. McInnis
	21	E. D. Miller
	22	Clement M. Moss
	23	John A. Patin
	24	Reese Perkins
	25	Mark C. Pickrel
	26	Thomas F. Porter
	27	Charley Quienalty
	28	Stephen Decatur Read
	29	David John Reid
	30	Preston L. Savoy
	31	G. W. Swift, Jr.
	32	Earl E. Veron
	33	Jack C. Watson
	34	Henry L. Yelverton

Personal Papers

Box	Folder	Description
4	35	Boy Scouts [1945, 1947, 1974, 1976]
		1957 Gumbo yearbook [LSU]
	36	Speeches [1961-1996]
	37	Certificates and Awards [1958-2003, n.d.]. See also Boxes 5 and 6 for other certificates and awards.
	38	First Presbyterian Church [1969, 1988]
	39	Jokes [1970-1983]
	40	Biographical data [1975-1985]
	41	Kiwanis Club [1975-2000]. See also Box 6 for plaques.
	42	Resolution stating that La. Senators will be called “Senator” their entire lives [1976]
	43	Governor’s inauguration [1976]
	44	NBC Today Show appearance by Bill and Cissie [1983]
	45	Washington Mardi Gras [1983]
	46	Scottish Heritage [1957, 1983-1997]
	47	La. Inauguration [1984]
	48	President Bill Clinton’s visit to SWLA [1996]
	49	La. Inauguration [2000]
	50	Unidentified guest books [n.d.]
	51	Correspondence and event programs [1970-1979]
	52	Correspondence and event programs [1980-1990, 1997, 2002, n.d.]
	53	Family photographs [1940, ca. 1972-1993]
	54	Professional portraits [1968-1991]
	55	Photographs of political events [1973-1990]
	56	Personal mementos [1962, n.d.]. Includes 3 pieces of Confederate Scrip, a drawing of a French horn, the McLeod’s wedding invitation [1962], and a coupon for a fur coat from Bill to Cissie McLeod.

Oversize Items

Box	Description
5	Campaign ephemera from other candidates in various races around the state. Includes lapel pins, bumper stickers, paper fans, and information cards [Ca. 1960-1990]
	1963 Printing proof of a campaign poster
	1975 Election return tally sheets (4)
	1979 Campaign bumper sticker
	Card file of contributors to the 1975 and 1979 campaigns with the amount contributed.
	Jennings mayoral proclamation of “Bill McLeod Day” [1982]
	1986 Campaign bumper sticker
	1996 SWLA Bar Association plaque for 5 years of service as Judge of the 14th Judicial District Court
	Honorary citizen of Welsh proclamation [n.d.]
	Blank certificates for “Honorary State Senator” [n.d.]
	Sample ballot for the 1971 Election
	La. House of Representatives seating arrangement chart with photos [1978]
6	May 1972 issue of Bell Notes titled “Meet your legislators” [plaque]
	1974-1975 Kiwanian of the Year plaque
	1980 SWLA Bar Association President [plaque]
	1982 Kiwanis Club Layman of the Year plaque
	1984 Kiwanis Club Outstanding Service Award plaque
	1984 Lacassine Optimist Club Appreciation Award plaque
	1985 Adoption Triad Network Appreciation Award plaque
	1986 Chamber/SWLA Civic Service Award plaque
	Knights of Columbus Service Award plaque [ca. 1990]

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