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Jim Hlavac's
Lagniape
William Safire Books:
Disconcur & Nonconcur
Hunt Downer
BIC Magazine
William Safire Books:
Disconcur & Nonconcur
Hunt Downer
BIC Magazine
HUNT DOWNER:
Something that came from within
BY JIM HLAVAC
BusinessNews Writer
written October 27, 1997
Appeared in Houma Business Magazine
He seemed to know his calling when he was just a kid. He became involved in government as early as high
school as a member of the student government at Terrebonne High. "I don't remember the exact position,"
he admitted, "but it was something that I knew I wanted to do."
H.B. "Hunt" Downer, Jr., is today the third Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Houma
this century, getting into politics, he says, just because he wanted to. "It was something that came from
within," he said.
Known as Hunt by friends and family, and "Mr. Speaker" by many people, he demurs when asked what the
"H.B." stands for.
His parents, both now retired from Texaco, worked worked and lived in Houma throughout his early years.
They have been proud of their son's rise from a high school government official to one of the most powerful
and visible positions in state government.
After graduating high school in 1964, Downer went to Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. There he
earned a B.S. in Agriculture, knowledge that would be useful later in his life.
He had lived on a 30-acre farm with cattle when he was a youngster, and was a member of the 4-H in
Terrebonne Parish.
While at Nicholls he drove a school bus and also worked as a roughneck and roustabout in the oil and gas
fields of Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. He did so to pay his way through college.
He became a school senator in the college's student government, again pursuing his political dream.
He later entered Loyola Law School in New Orleans graduated in 1972. Downer was laying a technical
foundation all the while planning to pursue his political career.
After graduating from Loyola he returned to Houma and began practicing law. He still maintains a practice
with the firm Waitz and Downer, although state government monopolized his time.
Three years after his return to Houma, Downer ran for an open House of Representatives seat in District
52. He faced a run-off in that election, but won handily and took his seat in 1976. He has faced a few
opponents since but has never had to face a run-off.
Now 51, the speaker is as busy as ever, running the legislative branch he was chosen to lead. Elected by
acclamation a year and a half ago, the speaker maintains long hours. His days start with a jog with fellow
legislators and usually end with meetings and social events in the evenings. The speaker is often on the
job 16 hours or more.
Trim and energetic, he keeps a steady hand on the details of his job while exchanging good-hearted
repartee with all he meets and travels with. A string of facts and figures comes out of him. They are
interspersed with a passion for change and modernization while respecting the traditions and the past.
He has embarked on several personal missions that he wants to achieve as speaker. One of them is to visit
every legislative district and every parish in the state. "I believe this gives me a better appreciation of what
the district representation wants to achieve," the speaker said. He has accomplished half this goal so far,
and expects to achieve it in the next two years.
Another mission is the restoration of the first floor on the new capitol building in Baton Rouge. Begun just a
few months ago, the project has been moving along quickly. The house of representatives' sitting room is
nearly complete, with the original terrazzo tiling uncovered and polished. Furniture original to the room was
reacquired from around the state and the room has been returned to its former Art Deco glory.
Downer is now using the same desk once use by Huey Long when he was governor. When reports of the
restoration of Long's desk were released, the matching credenza and other furniture were donated by
various Louisianians. The credenza bears a penciled note "Gov. Long's office" on the inside of one of the
drawers.
Downer's accomplishments aren't limited to historic restoration. He is one of 10 public officials nationwide to
win the 1997 "Public Officials of the Year" award. Presented by Governing Magazine, a major publication
read by government officials around the country, the speaker won the award because of his many reforms
instituted in the operation of the House of Representatives. Each member now has a laptop computer that
is programmed to give them access to pending legislation, the house's web page and progress reports on
programs affecting their districts.
But, with all of Downers accomplishments he has still found time for his family. "My wife is a great supporter
of mine," says Mr. Downer of Linda, his wife of 28 years. His 17-year-old daughter, Mary, who is entering
LSU next year and 16-year-old son, Blair, who attends Vandebilt High School in Houma have accompanied
their father many times during his 20 years in the House. "Both of my children have worked in the support
areas of the House," the speaker proudly points out. Mary was a messenger during the session while Blair
was working the loading dock. "If they want to enter politics, I'd be supportive," their father said. But, so far
neither has expressed an interest in politics, which is also fine with Dad.
At home Downer relaxes with his collection of military memorabilia and classic vehicles. He has a restored
1931 Model "AA" one-ton Ford pickup and a white police-version Kawasaki 1000 that he rides in
fundraising parades and events.
He often listens to Tom Clancy novels and current history and political books on tape as he drives around
the state to the many functions and meetings he attends.
The speaker brings an intense love of Louisiana and the House with him every day to work. He is always
looking for new ideas to take the state of Louisiana's governing institutions into the 21st century. At the
same time he serves the people of District 52, which covers northern Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes,
with distinction. He ran unopposed twice already, showing the respect he's earned with the work he's done.
Something that came from within
BY JIM HLAVAC
BusinessNews Writer
written October 27, 1997
Appeared in Houma Business Magazine
He seemed to know his calling when he was just a kid. He became involved in government as early as high
school as a member of the student government at Terrebonne High. "I don't remember the exact position,"
he admitted, "but it was something that I knew I wanted to do."
H.B. "Hunt" Downer, Jr., is today the third Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Houma
this century, getting into politics, he says, just because he wanted to. "It was something that came from
within," he said.
Known as Hunt by friends and family, and "Mr. Speaker" by many people, he demurs when asked what the
"H.B." stands for.
His parents, both now retired from Texaco, worked worked and lived in Houma throughout his early years.
They have been proud of their son's rise from a high school government official to one of the most powerful
and visible positions in state government.
After graduating high school in 1964, Downer went to Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. There he
earned a B.S. in Agriculture, knowledge that would be useful later in his life.
He had lived on a 30-acre farm with cattle when he was a youngster, and was a member of the 4-H in
Terrebonne Parish.
While at Nicholls he drove a school bus and also worked as a roughneck and roustabout in the oil and gas
fields of Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. He did so to pay his way through college.
He became a school senator in the college's student government, again pursuing his political dream.
He later entered Loyola Law School in New Orleans graduated in 1972. Downer was laying a technical
foundation all the while planning to pursue his political career.
After graduating from Loyola he returned to Houma and began practicing law. He still maintains a practice
with the firm Waitz and Downer, although state government monopolized his time.
Three years after his return to Houma, Downer ran for an open House of Representatives seat in District
52. He faced a run-off in that election, but won handily and took his seat in 1976. He has faced a few
opponents since but has never had to face a run-off.
Now 51, the speaker is as busy as ever, running the legislative branch he was chosen to lead. Elected by
acclamation a year and a half ago, the speaker maintains long hours. His days start with a jog with fellow
legislators and usually end with meetings and social events in the evenings. The speaker is often on the
job 16 hours or more.
Trim and energetic, he keeps a steady hand on the details of his job while exchanging good-hearted
repartee with all he meets and travels with. A string of facts and figures comes out of him. They are
interspersed with a passion for change and modernization while respecting the traditions and the past.
He has embarked on several personal missions that he wants to achieve as speaker. One of them is to visit
every legislative district and every parish in the state. "I believe this gives me a better appreciation of what
the district representation wants to achieve," the speaker said. He has accomplished half this goal so far,
and expects to achieve it in the next two years.
Another mission is the restoration of the first floor on the new capitol building in Baton Rouge. Begun just a
few months ago, the project has been moving along quickly. The house of representatives' sitting room is
nearly complete, with the original terrazzo tiling uncovered and polished. Furniture original to the room was
reacquired from around the state and the room has been returned to its former Art Deco glory.
Downer is now using the same desk once use by Huey Long when he was governor. When reports of the
restoration of Long's desk were released, the matching credenza and other furniture were donated by
various Louisianians. The credenza bears a penciled note "Gov. Long's office" on the inside of one of the
drawers.
Downer's accomplishments aren't limited to historic restoration. He is one of 10 public officials nationwide to
win the 1997 "Public Officials of the Year" award. Presented by Governing Magazine, a major publication
read by government officials around the country, the speaker won the award because of his many reforms
instituted in the operation of the House of Representatives. Each member now has a laptop computer that
is programmed to give them access to pending legislation, the house's web page and progress reports on
programs affecting their districts.
But, with all of Downers accomplishments he has still found time for his family. "My wife is a great supporter
of mine," says Mr. Downer of Linda, his wife of 28 years. His 17-year-old daughter, Mary, who is entering
LSU next year and 16-year-old son, Blair, who attends Vandebilt High School in Houma have accompanied
their father many times during his 20 years in the House. "Both of my children have worked in the support
areas of the House," the speaker proudly points out. Mary was a messenger during the session while Blair
was working the loading dock. "If they want to enter politics, I'd be supportive," their father said. But, so far
neither has expressed an interest in politics, which is also fine with Dad.
At home Downer relaxes with his collection of military memorabilia and classic vehicles. He has a restored
1931 Model "AA" one-ton Ford pickup and a white police-version Kawasaki 1000 that he rides in
fundraising parades and events.
He often listens to Tom Clancy novels and current history and political books on tape as he drives around
the state to the many functions and meetings he attends.
The speaker brings an intense love of Louisiana and the House with him every day to work. He is always
looking for new ideas to take the state of Louisiana's governing institutions into the 21st century. At the
same time he serves the people of District 52, which covers northern Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes,
with distinction. He ran unopposed twice already, showing the respect he's earned with the work he's done.
I have had articles published in
several books and magazines.
several books and magazines.