Biographies: Judges Cas Moss & R. W. Oglesby, 1963, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: September 12, 1963 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American Eulogies, Remarks Read At Open Court (for late Judges Moss and Oglesby) Following are eulogies of the late Judge Cas Moss and Judge R. W. Oglesby delivered September 3 at the opening of the Eighth Judicial District Court in Winnfield. Judge Harwell Allen's remarks on acceptance of portraits of the two judges are also reprinted. The Enterprise was unable to print this part of its coverage of the opening court last week because of space shortage. Judge Cas Moss Judge Cas Moss was born in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana on September 26, 1874, the son of Dr. Thomas Anderson Moss and Eva Meredith Moss. He attended the public schools of Louisiana, studied law at Tulane University and graduated in 1901. Judge Moss served two terms as Superintendent of Schools of Winn Parish and during his tenure in that office, Winn Parish adopted a full nine months school term, being one of the first parishes in the state to do so. He began the practice of law in Winnfield in 1901 with his father in law, J. T. Wallace, under the firm name of Wallace & Moss. In 1911 he was elected District Judge and served for 12 years until he resigned to re-enter the practice of law. He engaged in private practice until 1935 when he was again elected District Judge. He served as Judge of the Eighth Judicial District from 1935 until his retirement at the age of 80 years on September 26, 1954. During this second period he was twice re- elected without opposition. He married Ophelia Wallace, the daughter of Judge J. T. Wallace on March 17, 1897. Of this marriage, two children survive, Cas D. Moss, an attorney of Winnfield, who is president of First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Winnfield and one daughter, Mrs. Ophelia M. Storey, who is engaged in the insurance business in Winnfield. Judge Moss was a dedicated man, astute and soundly grounded in the law and his opinions as a Judge were greatly respected by the appellate courts of this state. He was held in the highest esteem not only by the members of the bar and the judiciary but by his fellow man. During his 30 years of service on the bench, the influence of his strong character and his dedication to the equality of justice without regard to station in life or political consideration left an indelible mark on the lives of the people in his district. All came to respect the deep sense of integrity upon which his decisions were based. During 1941 he was assigned by the Supreme Court to serve as Judge of the Ninth Judicial District Court during the illness of Judge Culpepper. His services in this court was also distinguished, so much so that the Alexandria Daily Town Talk in is issue of November 24, 1941, editorialized that Louisiana needed more men like him and said that "Judge Moss is rebuilding the standards by which our state courts must be conducted to warrant respect and maintain their essential dignity. Louisiana must look for men like this surprising gentleman from Winn to restore full confidence in justice and fairness in our great state." Judge Moss was first and foremost a Christian. For many years he was a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Winnfield and then organized and led the Laurel Heights Baptist Church of Winnfield into a position of strength and spiritual leadership. He served as President of his own District Brotherhood, was twice elected President of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and served as Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention. With all his heart, Judge Moss believed that man should live for Christ and he dedicated his life to the service of God. Not many can say, as did the Apostle Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." In truth and in deed, Judge Moss could have made this statement. His deep religious convictions were the foundation for his superior judicial leadership. The life Cas Moss will live as an inspiration and guide to all who knew him. His many accomplishments and life of Christian service have helped and benefitted all of the people of his judicial district. Cas Moss was a Christian Judge possessed of wisdom, humility, fear of God, disdain of gain, love of truth, love of his fellow man, and a good reputation. No greater tribute could be paid to this beloved jurist. Judge R. W. Oglesby Judge Robert Wade Oglesby was born on September 4, 1871, in Obion County, Tennessee, the son of a Confederate soldier, Henry Elisha Oglesby and his mother being Tennessee Flemming. Both parents died when he was eight years old and he was reared by his maternal grandmother. He was educated the hard way attending the private schools of Obion County; there being no public schools during the carpetbag era. During his early life he worked for his uncle in a sawmill until he saved enough money to attend college. He graduated form Peabody College in Nashville and served as principal of Glass High School, Obion County, Tennessee. He was elected as Obion County Representative in the Tennessee Legislature and graduated from the Law School of the University of Nashville, now known as Vanderbilt. He practice law in Nashville and was married to Miss Carrie Emerson on August 28, 1902, and was survived by the following children: Jack E. Oglesby, his law partner and former City Judge, Mrs. Elizabeth Oglesby Long, Mrs. John L. Cahill, Mrs. Harry G. Gist. His beloved wife and companion died on October 17, 1943. Judge Oglesby died on January 29, 1963. His passing fills the hearts of the members of his profession and the passing of a loyal friend, the passing of Judge Oglesby, ended the career of one of the best known and best liked attorneys and public officials who ever made an appearance in the Parish of Winn and State of Louisiana. Judge Oglesby moved to Winnfield in 1903, where his late brother in law, the Honorable O. M. Grisham of Monroe and the Honorable Sam D. Stennis had a law firm; the Hon. Sam D. Stennis being the eldest brother of U. S. Senator John Stennis of Mississippi. Judge Oglesby practiced law under the firm name of Grisham, Oglesby, and Stennis. When he first moved to Winnfield, Winnfield was a boom town with the advent of railroads and sawmills. Judge Oglesby was elected to the State Senate during the Gov. J. Y. Sanders Administration and served as a member of the Louisiana State Tax Commission. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in Baltimore in 1916 and San Francisco in 1920. He was District Judge of the Fifth District, Winn and Jackson Parishes from 1920 to 1938 and Eighth Congressional District Democratic Elector in 1930. He was a member of the Board of Stewards of the Winnfield Methodist Church for many years and was very active in church work. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Rotary Club, and an active civic worker for many years. Be it said of him that in the study of his chosen profession he worked hard and everlasting at it and was quite willing to pay any price in devotion, energy and application to equip himself for his profession. He had the admiration of both the bench and the bar by his keen intellect and his understanding of legal principles made him recognized as a tried, true, and able attorney. Judge Oglesby knew humanity. He lived and enjoyed life. He understood and appreciated the wants and desires of the common man. He was always familiar with the disappointments in the lives of those who could not defend themselves. It can be truly said of him, that, at all times, he clung to his friends with a beautiful fidelity and neither time, nor change, nor false report, could alienate his affections for them. Our friend has fallen, peace be to his ashes, all honor to his memory. The Grant-Winn Bar Association deeply regrets the loss of our deceased brother and this body wishes to express the general feeling of sadness at the loss of this our deceased friend and fellow attorney. JUDGE ALLEN SPEAKS Mr. McCain, distinguished guests, members of the bar, ladies, and gentlemen: I am happy to see the Eighth Judicial District Bar Association sponsor opening exercises for each new term of Court. In the times in which we now live, many of us believe that some of the Courts in our land have ceased to judge and have begun to legislate. The true function of Judges is and has always been to interpret law and not to make law. All of us who are today associated with the Courts should seek the help of Almighty God that justice might be applied in its truest and purest sense. To this end, we need and ask for the prayers of all righteous people. It is also a matter of great pride to be able to accept on behalf of this Court the portraits of these two beloved Judges who have served their God, their country, and our Parish so well. These portraits will be hung in a prominent place in this magnificent courtroom and will serve to inspire future generations. Socrates defined the qualities of a Judge as follows: "Four things belong to a Judge, to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially." Both Judge Moss and Judge Oglesby fulfilled these qualities in every respect. Nothing could be added to the splendid eulogies which have been read to say that I am personally indebted to them for the high standards which they established and the high principles to which they adhered during their life. We are told in Deuteronomy that "Ye shall not respect persons in judgement, but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's, And the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me and I will hear it." I know of no man who applied this teaching of God more than Cas Moss. He believed in his Lord and Saviour and his one criteria was to do justice and fear only the Lord. Judge Oglesby contributed as much to our Parish as possibly any man. He was always extremely good-natured with a kind word for everyone. One of his nobler attributes was his ability to see the sunny side of a bad case. Winn Parish can be and is justly proud of the tremendous inheritance bequeathed by the lives of these two great men and my prayer today is to uphold the dedicated principles and the high standards which they laid down for us to follow.