Jack P. F. Gremillion

Jack Gremillion was born on June 5, 1914, in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, to parents, William Kossuth Gremillion (1881–1939) and Genoa Henderson Gremillion (1892–1969). His father was a telegraph operator and his mother was a teacher. Jack attended high school in his hometown of Donaldsonville at Ascension Catholic High School. Due to Gremillion's French descent, he and his family spoke French fluently. Coming from meager family means, with four siblings, he worked his way through college mainly at Solvay Chemical in Baton Rouge. He studied law under the tutelage of Fred S. LeBlanc, then a practicing attorney in Baton Rouge and later the attorney general whom Gremillion unseated. Thereafter, Gremillion was admitted to the practice of law and was a member of the American Bar Association. Gremillion was noted for his short stature, quick mind, and intractable will.[2]

Upon graduating from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor's degree, Gremillion attended LSU Law. Gremillion worked in the local district attorney's office and was mentored by Fred S. Leblanc, whom he later succeeded as Attorney General of Louisiana. Gremillion was a member of the American Bar Association. However, his law career took a pause when he served in World War II through the United States Army. After the war, Gremillion continued his law career and worked as a prosecutor.

Landing on D-day +4 in Normandy, Gremillion was an Infantry Company Commander, Company L, (3rd BN) Second Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division in World War II. He was severely wounded near Le Perron, France in what is termed the hedge wars,[3] leading his Company in the assault of St.Lo. Gremillion was wounded by gunshot while leaning over to help a fallen infantry man. Field medics passed Gremillion for dead, saying his wounds were too severe. Gremillion was able to put his fluency in French to good use, and was rescued by a French farmer in the Le Perron area. Gremillion received a Purple Heart for his bravery during World War II.

Gremillion's rise to Attorney General of Louisiana was a very unique progression. Earl Long tapped Gremillion to succeed his long-time mentor Fred S. Leblanc during his uncle's funeral, where Gremillion was attending as a pallbearer. Soon after, Gremillion defeated Leblanc and became Attorney General in 1952. Gremillion went on to serve four consecutive terms as Attorney General of Louisiana. Gremillion was a Democratic Party loyalist and helped elect John F. Kennedy president in 1960.[4]

As attorney general, he led Louisiana's tidelands litigation—the setting of maritime boundaries for oil exploration on the Louisiana coastal zone between the state and federal levels, implicating the oil and gas industry.[5] The tidelands litigation was a protracted legal battle implicating the fluctuations in Louisiana's wetlands as a boundary, the Louisiana purchases' boundaries, and ultimately where the revenues from taxing offshore exploration would be directed.[6] In describing the dispute, Gremillion is quoted as saying, “Our first responsibility is to protect the three million stockholders in the corporation known as the State of Louisiana.” He quickly rallied public sentiment behind the defense of Louisiana’s cause.

First, the attorney general argued, the court’s inquiry into foreign policy regarding the tidelands was unconstitutional. Second, the Supreme Court “is not authorized by the Constitution to entertain an original suit between the United States and a state.” Finally, Gremillion asserted, “Louisiana has sovereign immunity from suit unless it gives its consent, and the state has not consented to be sued by the United States.”

Following protracted litigation, in 1986, the state of Louisiana was awarded $540 million “in reparation for past actions by the fed,” said John Broussard, assistant state treasurer and chief investment officer. “The state’s 8(g) fund receives yearly royalty payments between 10 and 36 million dollars. In total, the educational fund has received about 1.5 billion dollars.” To this end, the Louisiana Educational Trust Fund was created to help fund secondary and higher education. Through it, education—the great equalizer— remains accessible. Whatever their socioeconomic status, young people can still imagine a future that gives voice to their dreams.[7]

In 1969, Gremillion was indicted on federal charges of fraud and conspiracy in connection with the bankrupt Louisiana Loan and Thrift Co. He was found not guilty of all charges. But in 1971 he was convicted of perjury and sentenced to three years in prison.[8] He was paroled after serving fifteen months in a federal facility. He declined to resign his office and ran for re-election again, but lost in the Democratic primary.[9]