Biography of Hillyer Rolston Speed, Vicksburg, MS., then Ouachita Parish, Louisiana

Submitted by Mike Miller
Source: A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 317-318, by Henry E. Chambers.  Published by
The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.



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Hillyer Rolston Speed.  The very qualifications that make men successful in the insurance 
business make them also successful and natural leaders in citizenship.  One of the ablest 
insurance men in the state is Hillyer Rolston Speed, of Monroe.  While building up an extensive 
insurance agency in this city, he has kept in close touch with the best interests of the 
community and has been twice chosen to the post of Commissioner of finance and utilities.

Mr. Speed was born at Vicksburg, Mississippi, October 4, 1873, son of Judge Frederic and Esther 
A. (Hillyer) Speed.  On both sides he represents families long prominent in the State of 
Mississippi, his parents being well known in the social, professional and business life of the 
historic town on the Mississippi.

Hillyer R. Speed attended public schools at Vicksburg, and after completing the work of grammar 
school was sent north, completing a high school course at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and a course in 
the Cayuga Lake Military Academy at Aurora, New York.

His early business training was acquired in New Orleans and New York, where he Learned the 
fundamentals of the insurance business.  In 1897 he located at Monroe, and in 1900 engaged in 
the insurance business on his own account.  In a quarter of a century he has built up one of 
the largest insurance agencies in the state.  In the course of this work he has come in touch 
with many individuals and communities outside of his own city, and has a wide acquaintance all 
over Louisiana.  He knows personally nearly every citizen of Monroe.

In 1918 Mr. Speed was first elected commissioner of finance and utilities in the City of 
Monroe, and the efficiency he displayed in that office brought his reelection by a large 
majority.  In this office he has shown that devotion to the public welfare which had 
characterized his general civic attitude in years before he took office.  At all times he has 
been active in movements for the advancement of the city's best welfare.

Mr. Speed was a Louisiana delegate to the National Democratic Convention of New York in 1924, 
participating in the historic deadlock there.  He is a man of special tastes, is active in 
clubs and other organizations, being affiliated with the Masonic order, Knights of Pythias, 
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Riverside and Lotus clubs in Monroe, the Coastal 
Club, the Lake Arthur Club, the Newark, New Jersey, Athletic Club, and the Chess, Checkers and 
Whist Club of New Orleans.

Mr. Speed married April 19, 1899, Miss Anna Lee, daughter of John Martin and Vada (Burch) Lee.  
They have two daughters, Vada Lee Speed and Layton Speed, the latter the wife of E. T. Lamkin.

NOTE:  The sketch is accompanied by a black and white photograph/drawing of the subject.

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