Biographies: George P. Long, 1932, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: July 22, 1932 Winnfield News-American

Passing In Review

This Week We Have George P. Long

by R. W. Oglesby

A history of Winnfield without George P. Long would be like a history of the
United States without George Washington.  He was a connecting link between the
old and new Winnfield.  Long prominent in the affairs of Winn Parish and
having accumulated a neat sum of money and quite a lot of property in the
confines of the town, he was ready to meet the boom which started with the
building of the first railroad which converted Winnfield from a sleepy country
village into a hub of business activities.

In 1901 the Bank of Winnfield was organized and Mr. Long was its first
president.  He was safe and sound and yet accommodating.  The bank had a
phenomenal growth in its early history and has been able to withstand many
financial storms during its long and useful life.  Although not active in the
conduct of its affairs during the last years of his life, his advice was
sought and appreciated by those in charge.

Fearful that the growth of the town might be retarded by holding on to his
property, he was content to dispose of his holdings at a moderate profit.  He
had more to do with opening up new additions and the sale of town lots than
any other one citizen.  He knew more about land lines and property values than
anyone else.  It was a familiar sight to see him on the sidewalk with a pencil
making a drawing of a lot to some prospective purchaser.  He was progressive
and always in the forefront of all betterment of the town and surrounding
country.  He was meticulous and exacting.  He lived up to his contracts and
expected everyone else to do the same.  His motto was, "take care of the
little things and the big ones will take care of themselves."  He detested
waste and extravagance and could be seen almost daily with his buggy loaded
down with things that had been cast aside by carpenters building and repairing
his own property or that which had been placed in his charge.  On the first of
the month he was right there to collect the rent.  The tenant knew his habits
and had the money ready for him.  There was no unpleasantness and no
misunderstandings.

About twenty years ago he let the contract for a fine home on Maple Street. 
He was not content to leave the construction of this important edifice
entirely to the architect and builder.  He was always on hand and watched
every movement from the time the building was first started until it was
completed.  It is useless to say that he got a good job, and the building
stands today as a monument to his good taste and business ability.

Mr. Long was a great believer in churches and schools and contributed
liberally for their upkeep.  He was a Baptist and his wife a Methodist and had
the pleasure of supporting both generously and ungrudgingly.  He was greatly
interested in the phenomenal rise of his nephew, Huey Long, in the political
world.  It was Huey's custom while he was a member of the Railroad Commission
to spend a month of his vacation in Winnfield and cut cordwood for his Uncle
George to keep himself physically fit.  I do not know how much Huey got a
cord, but it is safe to say before he got paid Uncle George checked up on him
to see that the wood was all there.  Knowing his exacting habits, Huey learned
the lesson of giving good measure heaped up and running over, which he has
practiced in state affairs in requiring those having dealings with the state
to stand and deliver according to contract.  He lived long enough to see Huey
elected and inaugurated as Governor of Louisiana.

The intense grief over the sudden passing of a beloved daughter in 1929 so
weakened his already waning strength that he soon followed her to the grave. 
He was kind and gentle to everyone and especially to his family.  His life,
like all good fathers, was one of sacrifice and devotion to his children to
whom he was faithful to the end.