William Wright Heard

William Wright Heard
Born	William Wright Heard Union Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	31 May 1926(1926-05-31) (aged 73) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Politician, banker, accountant
Years active	1876–1926
Known for	32nd Governor of Louisiana (1900–1904)

William Wright (W. W.) Heard (April 28, 1853 – May 31, 1926) held the office of the 32nd Governor of Louisiana between 1900 and 1904. His leadership coincided with the beginning of Louisiana's oil and gas sector.

Early life

Originating from Union Parish, Louisiana, Heard was raised on a farm and completed his education at nearby schools. In 1878, he wed Isabelle Manning, and together they had five children.

Public service

At the age of 23, Heard was chosen as clerk of court for Union Parish. He subsequently served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1884 to 1888 and then in the Louisiana State Senate from 1888 until 1892. In 1892, he was elected as Louisiana’s state auditor, a role he fulfilled for two terms.

Selected by outgoing Governor Murphy J. Foster, Sr., Heard won the Democratic nomination in 1900 before the establishment of statewide primaries. Although affiliated with the Democratic Party, he embraced certain Populist ideas, such as advocating for increased silver coinage. His administration was responsible for creating Louisiana’s inaugural State Board of Education.

In the general election of 1900, Heard overcame two Republican contenders during a period marked by significant African American disenfranchisement under Jim Crow laws, which led to a notable reduction in voter participation.

His gubernatorial tenure from 1900 to 1904 was characterized by a more administrative and subdued approach compared to earlier governors. A significant event during his term was the discovery of oil at Evangeline by W. Scott Heywood and Associates, which initiated Louisiana’s prominent oil and gas industry.

In 1902, Heard introduced a standardized design for Louisiana's state seal featuring the motto "Union, Justice, Confidence." He also restructured the state prison system by abolishing privately leased prisons and founded the State Department of Pest Control to address agricultural threats such as the boll weevil.

Following his time as governor, Heard entered the banking and accounting sectors in New Orleans. He later held leadership roles within religious organizations as moderator of the Concord Baptist State Convention and vice-president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He passed away in New Orleans in 1926 and was laid to rest at Metairie Cemetery.

Bibliography

• Cowan, Walter G.; McGuire, Jack B. Louisiana Governors: Rulers, Rascals, and Reformers. University Press of Mississippi, 2008. ISBN 978-1-934110-90-4.
• Carlton, Mark T. The Louisiana Governors: From Iberville to Edwards. Louisiana State University Press, 1990. ISBN 978-0-8071-1527-5.
• Reeves, Miriam G. The Governors of Louisiana. 6th ed., Pelican Publishing Company, 2004. ISBN 978-1-58980-262-9.

External links

• State of Louisiana - Biography
• Cemetery Memorial by La-Cemeteries