Jack P. F. Gremillion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack P.F. Gremillion
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Gremillion in 1956
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| Attorney General of Louisiana | |
| In office May 1956 – May 1972 |
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| Governor | Earl K. Long Jimmie Davis John McKeithen |
| Preceded by | Fred S. Leblanc |
| Succeeded by | William J. Guste |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jack Paul Faustin Gremillion
June 5, 1914 Ascension Parish, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | March 2, 2001 (aged 86) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
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| Children | 5 |
| Education | Ascension Catholic High School (High school) Louisiana State University (BA) LSU Law Center (JD) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Jack Paul Faustin Gremillion, Sr. (born June 15, 1914 – died March 2, 2001) was an important political leader in Louisiana. He served as the state's Attorney General from 1956 to 1972. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jack Gremillion was born on June 5, 1914. His hometown was Donaldsonville, Louisiana. His parents were William Kossuth Gremillion and Genoa Henderson Gremillion. His father worked as a telegraph operator. His mother was a teacher.
Jack went to high school in Donaldsonville. He attended Ascension Catholic High School. His family spoke French very well. Jack had four brothers and sisters. He worked hard to pay for his college education. He often worked at Solvay Chemical in Baton Rouge.
Becoming a Lawyer
After high school, Jack went to Louisiana State University. He earned a Bachelor's degree there. Then, he studied law at LSU Law Center. He learned a lot about law from Fred S. LeBlanc. Mr. LeBlanc was a lawyer in Baton Rouge. Jack later became the Attorney General, taking over from Mr. LeBlanc.
Jack became a member of the American Bar Association. This is a group for lawyers. His law career paused when he joined the military. After his military service, he continued working as a prosecutor.
Military Service in World War II
Jack Gremillion was a brave soldier in World War II. He was an Infantry Company Commander. His unit was part of the 5th Infantry Division. He landed in Normandy, France, just a few days after D-Day.
During a battle in France, he was badly wounded. He was shot while trying to help another soldier. Field medics thought he had died because his injuries were so severe. Luckily, Jack spoke French. A French farmer found him and helped rescue him. For his bravery, Jack Gremillion received a Purple Heart medal.
Political Career in Louisiana
Jack Gremillion became the Attorney General of Louisiana in a unique way. Governor Earl Long asked him to run for the position. Jack won the election in 1952. He served as Attorney General for four terms. This means he was in office for 16 years.
As Attorney General, he worked on a big legal case. This case was about Louisiana's "tidelands." These are areas along the coast where oil and gas are found. The case was about who owned these areas. It also decided who would get the money from taxing the oil and gas.
Gremillion said, "Our first responsibility is to protect the three million stockholders in the corporation known as the State of Louisiana." He meant that he wanted to protect the people of Louisiana. He fought hard for the state's rights.
After many years, Louisiana won the case. In 1986, the state received a lot of money. This money helped create the Louisiana Educational Trust Fund. This fund helps pay for education in Louisiana. It makes sure that young people can go to college.
Personal Life
Jack Gremillion married Doris McDonald. They were married in 1942. Doris passed away in 1989. They had five children together. Their children were Jack P.F. Gremillion, Jr., William McDonald Gremillion, Wayne Francis Gremillion, Doris H. Gremillion, and Charles Mark Gremillion.
