O. H. Haynes, Jr.

Oscar Henry Haynes, Jr.
Sheriff of Webster Parish, Louisiana
In office May 1, 1964 – July 1980
Preceded by	John D. "J.D." Batton
Succeeded by	Royce L. McMahen, D.V.M.
Personal details
Born	October 28, 1920(1920-10-28) Minden in Webster Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	December 9, 1996(1996-12-09) (aged 76)
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Freddie Louise Walker Haynes (born 1924)
Children	O.H. Haynes, III Fred Haynes (1946-2006) Jerry Haynes Gary Haynes
Occupation	Businessman; Law-enforcement officer
Religion	Baptist

Oscar Henry Haynes, Jr., known as O.H. Haynes (October 28, 1920 - December 9, 1996), was the Democratic sheriff of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana from 1964-1980. He was also the parish Exxon distributor for some four decades. He was the father of Louisiana State University American football star Freddie Lynn "Fred" Haynes, who played for the Tigers in Baton Rouge during the latter 1960s.

Early years

Haynes was born in Minden, the seat of government of Webster Parish, to O.H. Haynes, Sr. (September 20, 1888—April 18, 1969 and the former Lynn Burns (February 5, 1889—February 7, 1971).^[1] The senior Haynes, originally from tiny Shongaloo north of Minden, was sheriff from 1933-1952. Haynes graduated from Minden High School in 1939, having played football on the MHS state championship team in 1938, twenty-five years before his son Fred played on the next MHS state championship team. Thereafter, he married the former Freddie Louise Walker (MHS Class of 1940, born January 20, 1924), originally from the village of Ashland in northern Natchitoches Parish. She was the daughter of Fred Walker (January 10, 1896—November 19, 1954) and the former Lesca McCain (April 6, 1900—January 26, 1974). Besides Fred, the couple had three other sons, O.H., III, Jerry, and Gary Haynes, all of Minden.^[2] The family lived in a brick home at the intersection of Pine and Clerk streets near Northwest Technical College (formerly the Northwest Vocational Technical School) in Minden. Mrs. Haynes still resides there.

Prior to his sheriff's tenure, Haynes directed the Louisiana state driver's license office in Minden,^[2] a position which gave him contact with voters who would later elect him four times as sheriff. In Louisiana, the sheriff is the collector of property taxes and also enforces criminal laws outside the municipalities.

Political races

Haynes entered the December 7, 1963, Democratic primary against incumbent Sheriff John D. "J.D." Batton (1911–1981) and several other contenders, including Royce L. McMahen (1923–1999), a veterinarian and a member of the Springhill City Council, and Harold Gilbert, the Minden municipal police chief. Haynes trailed Batton by 722 votes in the primary, 1,993 to 2,719 votes.^[3] McMahen, who ran a strong third with 1,484 votes in the primary, endorsed Haynes in the runoff election. Haynes then announced that McMahen would be his chief deputy. In the runoff campaign, Haynes ran a newspaper advertisement in which he vowed to bring "capable, conscientious, and sober leadership" to the sheriff's department. He claimed that the issue was not one of physical equipment or the training of deputies but leadership skills of the individual chosen as sheriff.^[4] In the January 11 runoff, Haynes prevailed, 5,190 votes (53.4 percent) to Batton's 4,523 (46.6 percent).^[5]

Haynes appointed the African American deputy Louis Dunbar, Sr. (1914–1986), whose son "Sweet" Lou Dunbar became, like Haynes' son, a distinguished athlete. Dunbar played for twenty-seven years for the Harlem Globetrotters.

In 1967, Haynes scored a second term by again defeating Batton and another primary rival named "Red" Vaughan. Haynes prevailed with 6,952 ballots (53.3 percent) to Batton's 5,456 (41.8 percent) and Vaughan's 634 (4.9 percent).^[6]

In the 1971 primary, Haynes defeated two opponents, including the Minden ward marshal, John T. Kennon, Jr. (1928–2005), a nephew of former Governor Robert F. Kennon. In the general election on February 1, 1972, Haynes obtained his third term by defeating George A. Pipes (1913–1976), a businessman from Dubberly in south Webster Parish and the only Republican candidate who ever opposed Haynes in the historically Democratic parish. Haynes polled 9,801 votes (81.9 percent) to Pipes' 2,167 (18.1 percent).^[7] Pipes had also been one of several minor Democratic candidate for sheriff in 1963.^[8]

In his last election in the first-ever jungle primary in Louisiana in 1975, Haynes defeated Ward Marshal Johnny Lombardino (who had succeeded John T. Kennon in that position) and a third contender, Waymon Nealy, 8,344 votes (57.7 percent) to 5,905 ballots (40.5 percent), and 192 votes (1.8 percent), respectively.^[9]

Grave of former Sheriff O. H. Haynes, Jr., in Minden Cemetery

Haynes did not seek a fifth term in 1980 but instead supported McMahen as his successor.

Death

Haynes returned to private business in 1980. He was Baptist. Haynes died at his residence on Pine Street in Minden after a lengthy illness. He is interred in the Haynes-Walker family plot in Minden Cemetery.^[2]

O.H. Haynes, III (born November 5, 1943), was employed in various capacities in the sheriff's office from 1973 until his retirement in 2008. His wife, Debbie Haynes, remains an administrative assistant to current Sheriff Gary Sexton. Their son, O.H. "Hank" Haynes, IV (born May 4, 1967), is employed as a Louisiana State Police trooper. ^[10]

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Preceded by John D. "J.D." Batton

Sheriff of Webster Parish, Louisiana Oscar Henry Haynes, Jr. 1964–1980

Succeeded by Royce L. McMahen

References

1. ^ Social Security Death Index
2. ^ ^{a b c} Death of O.H. Haynes, Minden Press-Herald, December 10, 1996
3. ^ "Batton and Haynes Paired in Runoff for Sheriff's Post", Minden Press, December 9, 1963, p. 1
4. ^ Minden Press-Herald, January 6, 1964
5. ^ Minden Press-Herald, January 13, 1964, p. 1
6. ^ Minden Press-Herald, November 6, 1967, p. 1
7. ^ "O.H. Haynes Re-Elected As Sheriff", Minden Press-Herald, February 2, 1972, p. 1
8. ^ Minden Press, December 9, 1963, p. 1
9. ^ Minden Press-Herald]], November 3, 1975, p. 1
10. ^ Jana Ryan, "Haynes retires after 35 years with the WP Sheriff’s Office", Minden Press-Herald, September 4, 2008, p. 1:http://www.nwlanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9890&Itemid=1

Persondata
Name	Haynes, Jr., Oscar Henry
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 28, 1920
Place of birth	Minden Webster Parish, Louisiana
Date of death	December 9, 1996
Place of death	Minden, Louisiana