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'''Hilry "Huck" Huckaby III''' was a four-term [[councilman]] in the city of [[Shreveport, Louisiana]] noted for his progressive government work.<ref name="shreve_times1">{{cite news |last1=Benefield |first1=Kerry |title=Huckaby dies |publisher=Shreveport Times |date=2 June 2001}}</ref><ref name="shreve_times2">{{cite news |last1=Brumble |first1=Melody |title=Huckaby always took time to visit his contituents |publisher=Shreveport Times |date=2 June 2001}}</ref> He was instrumental in changing the city government from a commission form of government to a City Council form of government which provided greater representation for the people of Shreveport, especially the [[African American]] community.<ref name="shreve_times1" /><ref name="bar_eulogy">{{cite news |last1=Casey |first1=Billy R. |title=Memorial for Hilry Huckaby, III |agency=Shreveport Bar Association |publisher=First Judicial District Court, Louisiana |date=30 October 2001}}</ref> On his civil rights work, Shreveport Mayor [[Keith Hightower]] said "This guy [Huckaby] was about everything that was right, about everything that needed change, and he was the guy to fight that fight."<ref name="mourns_leader">{{cite news |last1=Benefield |first1=Kerry |title=City mourns civil leader |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-hilry-huckaby-iii-obit-1/119656615/ |access-date=4 January 2024 |publisher=Shreveport Times |date=10 June 2001}}</ref> |
'''Hilry "Huck" Huckaby III''' was a four-term [[councilman]] in the city of [[Shreveport, Louisiana]] noted for his progressive government work.<ref name="shreve_times1">{{cite news |last1=Benefield |first1=Kerry |title=Huckaby dies |publisher=Shreveport Times |date=2 June 2001}}</ref><ref name="shreve_times2">{{cite news |last1=Brumble |first1=Melody |title=Huckaby always took time to visit his contituents |publisher=Shreveport Times |date=2 June 2001}}</ref> He was instrumental in changing the city government from a commission form of government to a City Council form of government which provided greater representation for the people of Shreveport, especially the [[African American]] community.<ref name="shreve_times1" /><ref name="bar_eulogy">{{cite news |last1=Casey |first1=Billy R. |title=Memorial for Hilry Huckaby, III |agency=Shreveport Bar Association |publisher=First Judicial District Court, Louisiana |date=30 October 2001}}</ref> On his [[Civil and political rights|civil rights]] work, Shreveport Mayor [[Keith Hightower]] said "This guy [Huckaby] was about everything that was right, about everything that needed change, and he was the guy to fight that fight."<ref name="mourns_leader">{{cite news |last1=Benefield |first1=Kerry |title=City mourns civil leader |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-hilry-huckaby-iii-obit-1/119656615/ |access-date=4 January 2024 |publisher=Shreveport Times |date=10 June 2001}}</ref> |
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==Early Life== |
==Early Life== |
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Revision as of 15:06, 4 January 2024
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Hilry Huckaby III | |
|---|---|
| Shreveport City Council, District A | |
| Member of the Shreveport City Council from District A | |
| In office 1978–1990 | |
| Succeeded by | Cedric Glover |
| In office 1998 – 2001 (his death) | |
| Caddo District Judge | |
| In office 1992–1995 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 27, 1944 Shreveport, Louisiana, US |
| Died | June 1, 2001 (aged 56)[1] Shreveport, Louisiana, US |
| Spouse | Pearl Esther Huckaby (neé Aaron) |
| Children |
|
| Education | Southern University |
Hilry "Huck" Huckaby III was a four-term councilman in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana noted for his progressive government work.[2][3] He was instrumental in changing the city government from a commission form of government to a City Council form of government which provided greater representation for the people of Shreveport, especially the African American community.[2][4] On his civil rights work, Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower said "This guy [Huckaby] was about everything that was right, about everything that needed change, and he was the guy to fight that fight."[5]
Early Life
Huckaby was born in Shreveport, Louisiana[2] but grew up in Allendale, Louisiana, and lived about five miles from there for the rest of his life.[3] He was named after his father, Hilry Huckaby Jr., who lived at 1543 Kenneth Avenue in Shreveport with his mother Nancy Davis Huckaby.[2] As a child, he attended Central Free Methodist School.[4] He graduated with honors from Notre Dame High School in 1962 and then attained an undergraduate degree in political science in 1966 and two law degrees, including a Juris Doctorate in 1969, from Southern University.[2][4]
Career
Civil Rights
Huckaby was devoted to civil rights work and progressive politics within the Shreveport, Louisiana region and beyond.[2][3] After graduating college, Huckaby worked for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before starting a private practice in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.[4] Huckaby was actively involved in regional politics from the early 1970s until his death. As a member of Blacks United for Lasting Leadership, he helped sue the city of Shreveport in 1973-1974 to change the structure of the local government from a commission form of government to a City Council form of government.[2] These efforts helped the African American community gain representation in the Shreveport government.[2]
City Councilor
In 1978, Huckaby was one of the first African American representatives of the city of Shreveport alongside Senator Greg Tarver and the Reverend Herman Farr, with Huckaby becoming the city's first African American council chairman in 1979.[2] He served as the councilor for District A from 1978-1990, and from 1998 until his death in 2001.
Judgeship and Controversy
After losing his bid for re-election in 1990, he successfully ran for the position of Caddo District Judge in 1992.[2] In 1995, it was reported that Huckaby had failed to file tax returns from 1981-1992, and was found to owe $146,311.25 USD in 1995 ($267286.37 USD today).[6] Huckaby plead guilty to failing to file his 1987 tax return, and was sentenced to one year in jail, one year supervised release, a $5000 USD fine and orders to pay his owed taxes for 1987.[6] This resulted in Huckaby being removed as district judge by the Louisiana Supreme Court in 1995.[2][7] His trial was highly publicized, with some seeing his punishment as not harsh enough and others believing that he was being prosecuted because he was African American.[6] After losing another judge election after his release from prison in 1996, He was later re-elected to represent Shreveport District A in 1998, a position he held until his death in 2001.[2]
Membership
Huckaby belonged to a large number of organizations throughout his career,[4] including:
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- Black Lawyers Association of Shreveport-Bossier
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
- Louisiana Municipal Black Caucus Association
- Prince Hall Mason-33rd Degree
- NAACP
- Southern University Alumni Association
- Southern University Law School Alumni Association
- Lakeside Baptist Church (Trustee Board)
Personal Life
Huckaby and his wife, Pearl, had three children: two daughters and one son.[2] Huckaby enjoyed spending time with his family, friends, and community members in his free time. Former Councilman C. O. Simpkins was quoted describing Huckaby's farm north as Shreveport as Huckaby's "home away from home. He had two trailers and one was used for guests. He had hogs, and he liked to barbecue and show off those pigs. We played cards and talked about life."[2]
Death
Huckaby died of a heart attack at the age of 56, attributed to existing health conditions and to possibly overworking himself in his job.[2]
Legacy
Huckaby was fondly remembered for spending time with members of his community,[3] and was referred to as one of Shreveport's "favorite sons" by Reverend Joe Grant because of his work.[2]
There is a road in Shreveport, Louisiana named for him.
References
- ^ "Hilry Huckaby III (1944-2001) - Find a Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Benefield, Kerry (June 2, 2001). "Huckaby dies". Shreveport Times.
- ^ a b c d Brumble, Melody (June 2, 2001). "Huckaby always took time to visit his contituents". Shreveport Times.
- ^ a b c d e Casey, Billy R. (October 30, 2001). "Memorial for Hilry Huckaby, III". First Judicial District Court, Louisiana. Shreveport Bar Association.
- ^ Benefield, Kerry (June 10, 2001). "City mourns civil leader". Shreveport Times. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Court affirms federal trial judge's decision to unseal presentence report of convicted judge". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. January 23, 1995.
- ^ "In Re Huckaby". Justia Law.