Natchitoches, Louisiana - Notable People

Notable People

• H. Welborn Ayres, judge of the Third Judicial District and Second Circuit Court of Appeals from 1942 to 1975, was born in Ashland in 1900.
• Victor Bussie, president of the Louisiana AFL-CIO from 1956 to 1997, was born near Natchitoches in 1919.
• Ada Jack Carver Snell, short story writer, was born in Natchitoches in 1890.
• Leopold Caspari, businessman, banker, and member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature between 1884 and 1914
• Joanna Cassidy, Golden Globe winner
• Kate Chopin, a short story writer and novelist, managed a plantation in Cloutierville south of Natchitoches in the late 19th century for a time after the death of her husband.
• Robert DeBlieux (1933–2010), the mayor from 1976 to 1980, is known for his work as an historical preservationist in downtown Natchitoches and the Cane River areas.
• Jean Doerge, a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Webster Parish, was born south of Natchitoches in 1937.
• Caroline Dormon, a naturalist and preservationist, lived in Natchitoches Parish. She was the driving force behind the establishment of the Kisatchie National Forest.
• George Doherty was a former professional football player who was the head coach of the Northwestern State University Demons from 1972 to 1974. The athletic offices are named in his honor.
• Steve Dowden, former American football player
• Joe Dumars, NBA Detroit
• Dan Flores, born in Natchitoches in 1948, is an historian of the American West at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana.
• Paul Lee Foshee, Sr., a Natchitoches crop duster, served in the Louisiana House from 1960 to 1964 and the state Senate from 1972 to 1976.
• Sylvan Friedman, a farmer and rancher was a member of the Natchitoches Parish Police Jury from 1932 to 1944, the state House of Representatives from 1944 to 1952, and the Louisiana State Senate from 1952 to 1972. NSU named its student union building in his honor.
• Grits Gresham was a nationally known sportsman, outdoorsman, author, and host of ABC's The American Sportsman television series from 1966 to 1979. A noted environmentalist, he resided on Cane River Lake.
• Robert Harling, a playwright and Hollywood screenwriter (born 1951), is a Natchitoches native. His Steel Magnolias is based on the life and death of his sister. Harling has also written First Wives Club, Evening Star, and Laws of Attraction.
• Bobby Hebert, American football quarterback; New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
• Bishop Presley Hutchens, the Anglican Catholic Church serves at St. Hilda's Anglican Catholic Church.
• Andrew R. Johnson (1856–1933), State senator from Bienville and Claiborne parishes from 1916 to 1924 and mayor of Homer, Louisiana, in the 1910s. He named the village of Ashland for Ashland, Wisconsin.
• Marques Johnson, NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Golden State Warriors.
• Donald G. Kelly, Natchitoches attorney who specializes in criminal law and retirement issues. He served in the Louisiana State Senate from 1976 to 1996.
• John S. Kyser, president of Northwestern State University from 1954 to 1966, resided in Natchitoches from 1923 until his death in 1975.
• Marietta LeBreton was an historian who wrote the centennial history of Northwestern State University (1884–1984).
• Pat Listach, MLB player for the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros, third base coach of the Washington Nationals.
• Jimmy D. Long is a former Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives who served from the Natchitoches-based district from 1968 to 2000. His younger brother, Gerald Long, is a Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate from a six-parish district also based about Natchitoches.
• James L. McCorkle, Jr., is a retired agricultural historian who taught at NSU from 1966 to 2003 and is retired in Salem, Oregon.
• Rickey L. Nowlin and Gerald Long are the first Republicans to represent Natchitoches Parish in the Louisiana House and Louisiana Senate since Reconstruction. They assumed their legislative seats on January 14, 2008. In 2007, Nowlin defeated Joe Sampite, a Democrat, for the right to succeed Representative Taylor Townsend, who failed in a Senate race against Gerald Long.
• John William Payne (1877–1933), sheriff of Natchitoches Parish from 1914 to 1933, known for tough apprehension of criminals
• Bob Reese (1929-2004), co-chairman of the Natchitoches Parish Republican Executive Committee, 1968 to 2004
• Brittney Rogers (born 1982), Miss Louisiana USA 2003
• R. L. Ropp (1897 - date of death missing), NSU professor in Natchitoches prior to 1949 and president of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston from 1949 to 1962
• Joe Sampite (1931-2012), mayor of Natchitoches from 1980 to 2000, who promoted tourism and recognition of the city as a home for retirees
• W. Ray Scott (1923–2008) served as mayor of Natchitoches from 1960 to 1976, during which time he worked to expand and procure university status for Northwestern State University. He also expanded the city water supply from Sibley Lake.
• Henry Hopkins Sibley (1816–1886) was a Confederate general in the American Civil War who commanded in Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico.
• Thomas Taylor Townsend (born 1963). an attorney, served as the Natchitoches Parish state representative from 2000 to 2008.
• Trini Triggs (born August 8, 1965) is an American Country music singer who was born and reared in Natchitoches. He holds occasional small concerts on the Cane River.
• George T. Walker (1913–2011) was an academic officer at NSU during the 1950s; president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe from 1958 to 1976
• Arthur C. Watson (1909–1984) was a Natchitoches attorney who served in the state House of Representatives from 1940 to 1944 and later as chairman of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee.
• Eugene P. Watson (1911–1964), brother of Arthur Watson, was the NSU librarian for whom the university library is named.
• Charlie Tolar
• Milton L. Cofield (1951 - Present), Regent for NYS Board of Regents (2001 to 2012), Vice Chancellor (2009 - 2012), Governor, New York Academy of Sciences (2011 - Present), Fulbright Senior Scholar (2001)