Ralph Norman Bauer

Ralph Norman Bauer
Louisiana State Representative from St. Mary Parish
In office 1928–1936
Preceded by	George T. Veeder
Succeeded by	C. Russel Brownell, Sr.
Louisiana State Representative from St. Mary Parish
In office 1940–1948
Preceded by	C. Russel Brownell, Sr.
Succeeded by	E. J. Grizzaffi
Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives
In office 1940–1948
Preceded by	Lorris M. Wimberly
Succeeded by	Morris Lottinger, Sr.
Personal details
Born	May 1899 Patterson St. Mary Parish Louisiana, USA
Died	March 13, 1963 (aged 63)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Norma Wooster Bauer
Children	Carl W. Bauer
Residence	Franklin, Louisiana
Occupation	Lawyer

Ralph Norman Bauer, sometimes known as R. Norman Bauer (May 1899 - March 13, 1963),^[1] was a lawyer from Franklin in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, who served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1928 to 1936 and again from 1940 to 1948.^[2] During his last two terms, Bauer was the Speaker of the chamber, having served in that capacity under the administrations of Governors Sam Houston Jones and Jimmie Davis.^[3]

Biography

Bauer was born in Patterson in St. Mary Parish to Theodore Bauer (1867-1919) and the former Ernestine Norman (1868-1944). He married the former Margaret Wooster, who was also a lawyer, and the couple adopted her distant cousin, Carl Packard Wiegmann, then twelve years of age. They renamed him Carl Wiegmann Bauer. From 1966 to 1976, Carl Bauer served in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature from St. Mary Parish. A lawyer and businessman, Carl Bauer spent his later years as chief lobbyist for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.^[4]

Bauer was in law practice with his brother Theodore Bauer and near the end of his career with his son, Carl, as well.^[3] Norman Bauer Drive in Franklin, Louisiana, is named in his honor.

Political career

In the 1929 legislative session, freshman lawmakers Bauer and Cecil Morgan of Shreveport and second-term member Mason Spencer of Madison Parish, formed what was known as the "Dynamite Squad" to impeach Governor Huey Pierce Long, Jr., for a long list of abuses of power. Key Long supporters, including John Baptiste Fournet, Allen J. Ellender, and Lorris M. Wimberly in the House, and a phalanx of defenders in the Louisiana State Senate prevented conviction and removal from office.^[5]

References

1. "Ralph Norman Bauer (1899-1963)". records.ancestry.com. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
2. "Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2012" (PDF). house.louisiana.gov. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
3. "Carl W. "Wimpy" Bauer". Baton Rouge Morning Advocate. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
4. "Carl Bauer, former University of Louisiana lobbyist, dies: Carl Bauer was retired coordinator of UL relations". Shreveport Times. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
5. American Legislative Leaders in the West: 1911 - 1994, p. 11. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Company, 1997. Retrieved June 14, 2013.