Cat Doucet

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Daly Joseph "Cat" Doucet Sr.
Doucet in 1948
Sheriff of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
In office
1936[1]–1940[1]
In office
1952[1]–1968[1]
Personal details
Born(1899-11-08)November 8, 1899
Grand Prairie, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedFebruary 9, 1975(1975-02-09) (aged 75)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. [1]
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseAnna Dorcey Doucet (m. 1919-1965, her death)
Children6

Daly Joseph "Cat" Doucet Sr. (November 8, 1899[1] – February 9, 1975[1]) was an American politician who served as Sheriff of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana from 1936 to 1940 and 1952 to 1968.

Personal Life

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Doucet was born in Grand Prairie, Louisiana.[1]

He had six children with his wife Anna Dorcey.[1]

Doucet died at his daughter's house in New Orleans on February 9, 1975.[2]

Career

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Doucet was a political ally of Louisiana politician Huey P. Long – campaigning for him and hosting him at his home when Long was in the area.[3][4]

Doucet was elected sheriff in 1936, losing re-election in 1940. After leaving office, Doucet was indicted for embezzling $3000 in public funds with seven of his former deputies testifying against him.[5]

Doucet was later re-elected in 1952 for sixteen years,[1] his civil rights endorsement[1] and anti-segregation stance giving Doucet enough African-American support to combat his electoral rivalry.[6]

He was investigated by the FBI for his role in the presence of gambling and prostitution in his local parish, and was once indicted for embezzlement.[5]

At the end of April 1960, Doucet was part of a group of dignitaries to receive French President Charles deGaulle during is visit to Louisiana. Doucet commented that deGaulle's “French isn’t too bad.”[7]

Legacy

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He has been described as a colorful figure for his time.[8]

Doucet was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in 1999.[9]

Bibliography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Doucet, Daly Joseph "Cat"". lahistory.org. Archived from the original on 2016-09-25. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  2. ^ "Death Takes 'Cat' Doucet". The Crowley Post-Signal. 11 February 1975. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Wayback Machine". files.usgwarchives.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  4. ^ "The Concordia Sentinel: Connected by violence -- the mafia, Klan & Morville Lounge". www.concordiasentinel.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  5. ^ a b "Stanley Nelson, Matt Barnidge, and Ian Stanford, "Connected by violence: the mafia, the Klan & Morville Lounge,"". Concordia Sentinel, July 16, 2009. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  6. ^ Adam Fairclough, Race and Democracy: The Civil Rights Struggle in Louisiana, 1915-1972. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. 1995. ISBN 0-8203-1700-4. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  7. ^ Bradshaw, Jim. "The Cat and le Presidente". Eunice Today. Retrieved September 27, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Philip Timothy, "Ex-governor [Edwin Washington Edwards] tops list of colorful parish politicians"". Alexandria Daily Town Talk, March 18, 2007. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
  9. ^ "Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame". lapoliticalmuseum.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  10. ^ The Cat and St. Landry. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Claitor's Publishing Company, 1972, 153 pp. January 1972. Retrieved December 15, 2010.