Edwin E. Willis
Edwin Edward Willis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1969 | |
| Preceded by | James R. Domengeaux |
| Succeeded by | Patrick T. Caffery |
| Member of the Louisiana State Senate from Lafayette Parish | |
| In office 1948–1948 | |
| Preceded by | Two-member district: Edward P. Burguieres |
| Succeeded by | Bernard Trappey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 2, 1904 Arnaudville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | October 24, 1972 (aged 68) St. Martinville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Resting place | St. Michael's Cemetery in St. Martinville, Louisiana |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Estelle Bulliard Willis |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | St. Martinville High School Loyola University New Orleans College of Law |
| Occupation | Attorney; Planter |
Edwin Edward Willis (October 2, 1904 – October 24, 1972) was an American politician and attorney from the U.S. state of Louisiana who was affiliated with the Long political faction. A Democrat, he served in the Louisiana State Senate during 1948 and in the United States House of Representatives from 1949 to 1969.
Biography
[edit]Willis was born in 1904 in St. Martinville, Louisiana, Louisiana of Joseph Olinder Willis and Julia Marie Hardy.[1][2]
Willis received his law degree from Loyola University in 1926 and was admitted to the bar that same year.[3]
House of Representatives
[edit]Willis served on the U.S. House of Representatives' Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) from 1957 to 1968, becoming chair of the committee in 1963 following the death of Francis E. Walter.[4]
In 1965 and 1966, Willis lead an inquiries into the Ku Klux Klan as chair of HUAC.[2][5]
These investigations lead to Robert Shelton (Ku Klux Klan), Imperial Wizard of the United Klans of America, serving a jail sentence for refusing to testify.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Edwin Edward Willis". FamilySearch.
- ^ a b "EDWIN WILLIS, 68, EX CONGRESSMAN". The New York Times. The New York Times. 25 October 1972. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Congressman Edwin Willis, 1957-1968: HUAC, Civil Rights, and the Ku Klux Klan - ProQuest". www.proquest.com. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
- ^ Stephens, David Chase. "Congressman Edwin Willis, 1957-1968: HUAC, Civil Rights, and the Ku Klux Klan - ProQuest". www.proquest.com. University of Louisiana at Lafayette ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- "Edwin E. Willis", A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, Vol. 2 (1988), p. 853.
- United States Congress. "Edwin E. Willis (id: W000559)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.. Retrieved March 10, 2006.
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- 1904 births
- 1972 deaths
- Democratic Party Louisiana state senators
- Louisiana lawyers
- American anti-communists
- American planters
- People from Arnaudville, Louisiana
- People from St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
- Loyola University New Orleans College of Law alumni
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana
- 20th-century American lawyers
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- Farmers from Louisiana
- Signatories of the Southern Manifesto
- 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives
- 20th-century members of the Louisiana State Legislature