Cleveland Dear Sr. | |
|---|---|
.jpg) U.S. House of Representatives photocirca 1934 | |
| Member of theUnited States House of Representatives | |
| In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1937 | |
| Preceded by | John H. Overton |
| Succeeded by | A. Leonard Allen |
| Constituency | Louisiana's 8th congressional district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1888-08-22)August 22, 1888 |
| Died | December 30, 1950(1950-12-30) (aged 62) |
| Resting place | Greenwood Memorial Park,Pineville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Louisiana State University Louisiana State University Law Center |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1918 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant (Army) Captain (Organized Reserve Corps) |
| Unit | 87th Division 11th Division |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Cleveland Dear Sr. (August 22, 1888 – December 30, 1950), was a two-termU.S. representative forLouisiana's 8th congressional district, since disbanded, adistrict attorney, a state court judge, and a candidate in1936 forgovernor of Louisiana.
Dear was the youngest of eleven children born toMississippi natives James Mackburn Dear (1846–1925) and the former Sarah Jane Harper (1849–1932) inSugartown inBeauregard Parish in western Louisiana. After early education in country schools, Dear graduated fromLouisiana State University and itsPaul M. Hebert Law Center, both inBaton Rouge. He was a member ofSigma Alpha Epsilonfraternity. In 1914, he received his law degree and was admitted that same year to the bar. At first, he was in partnership in Alexandria inRapides Parish in Central Louisiana, with Frank H. Peterman in the firm Peterman & Dear. When V. H. Peterman, the father of Frank Peterman joined the firm, it became Peterman, Dear & Peterman. The firm handled local interests of theTexas & Pacific Railway and the Louisiana Railway and Navigation Company.[1]
On April 8, 1917, two days after the American entrance intoWorld War I, Dear entered theUnited States Army officers' training camp atFort Logan H. Roots inArkansas, from which he received his commission as asecond lieutenant ofField Artillery. He was then assigned to the87th Division, which was undergoing organization and training atCamp Pike, Arkansas. When the 87 Division departed for France, several experienced soldiers including Dear were assigned form the nucleus of a new unit, the11th Division, which was being organized atFort Meade,Maryland. The war ended before the 11th Division could be transported to France, and Dear was discharged on December 14, 1918. He later served as acaptain in theOrganized Reserve Corps and was active in the newly establishedAmerican Legion and other veterans' organizations.[1]
In April 1921, Dear married the former Marion Suzanne Anderson (died 1969), a native ofChicago,Illinois, who later resided inMilwaukee,Wisconsin. The couple had a daughter, Marion Dear Weber (1923–2009),[2] and a son, Cleveland "Cleve" Dear Jr. (1928–2015), apetroleum engineering graduate of both theColorado School of Mines inGolden,Colorado, and LSU, who spent his later years with his wife and three children inJunction inKimble County,Texas, where he died at the age of eighty-seven.[3]
Dear was aBaptistdeacon; his wife wasEpiscopalian. He was active in theMasonic lodge, theShriners, and theBenevolent and Protective Order of Elks.[1]
In 1920, Dear was electeddistrict attorney for the 9th Judicial District based in Alexandria, a position that he held until his election in 1932 to the U.S. House. In Congress, he was the chairman of the House Committee on Elections No. 1.[1]
In 1936, Dear ran to succeed GovernorJames A. Noe ofMonroe, who had briefly served upon the death ofOscar K. Allen ofWinnfield. Noe and Allen were the political heirs ofHuey Long, who had been assassinated at theLouisiana State Capitol in 1935. Dear ran as the anti-Long candidate in the race; he lost to the pro-LongRichard Leche ofNew Orleans, 67% to 33%.[4]
Dear then resumed the practice of law and was subsequently appointed judge in the Ninth Judicial District, a position which he retained with subsequent successful elections until his death. His last judicial nomination was in the Democratic primary held in August 1948.[5]
He died in Alexandria and is interred at Greenwood Memorial Park inPineville.[3]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's 8th congressional district 1933–1937 | Succeeded by |
