Politics: Congressman A. Leonard Allen, 1951, 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: July 26, 1951 Winn Parish Enterprise Allen To Retire After 16 Years In Congress Congressman A. Leonard Allen, who has represented the Eighth Louisiana Congressional District since January 3, 1937, this week formally announced that he will retire at the end of his current term on January 2, 1952. He will have served eight consecutive terms, or 16 years. The 60 year old veteran lawmaker said in a statement that he plans to engage in farming, do some fishing, talk to his neighbors, and do church work. Congressman Allen owns a beautiful hill farm just outside the Winnfield city limits on Dodson highway. He is one of the State's leading Baptist laymen, and served once as vice- president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. He also served five years as Superintendent of Schools in Winn Parish, and as Winnfield city attorney for several years. One of his two sons, Harwell L. Allen, now holds this post. As he retires, Mr. Allen is the ranking Democratic member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, ranking next to the committee chairman. He is considered a conservative in Congress, and states, "I have helped on flood control matters, worked for the betterment of agriculture and forestry, and benefits for the veterans." The full text of Congressman Allen's retirement announcement follows: To The People of the 8th Congressional District: In 1936 the citizens of the 8th Congressional District elected me to Congress and I began my service on January 3, 1937. You have elected me to represent you for 8 consecutive terms, a total of 16 years. You have increased my majority in each succeeding election, and last year you gave me my greatest majority, nearlly 25,000 votes. I shall always be grateful for the faith and confidence which you have repeatedly expressed. From the bottom of my heart I thank you. Since the founding of our country, 8,972 citizens have been privileged to serve in the House of Representatives and my 8 terms and 16 years are nearly 3 times the average tenure in the House. My entire period of service has been devoted to an unselfish effort to render to all the people the greatest possible service. From the day I arrived in Washington I have made service to all of you my guiding aim and principle. You have been good to me and I have tried to show my appreciation by laboring for you with a whole heart and it will always be a matter of great consolation to me that I have been able to bring help, aid, and joy to so many. But I now feel that the time has come that I sould be permitted to return to my home, my family, and my friends. Service in Congress largely deprives a member from the full enjoyment of home life. I long for the chance to spend more time in Louisiana among the finest people in the world. I love all of you. I have held this position during the most trying period of American history and I think the time has come for me to ask you to place this great responsibility upon other shoulders. It is therefoe my intention to retire from Congress at the end of the 82nd Congress on January 3, 1953. I feel that it is right and proper for me to make this statement at this time so that you will have ample time to consider the selection of my successor in the next Congress. In taking this step I want it understood that my interest in you will continue and I will continue to serve and help you in any way I can. I expect to keep up my interest and perhaps my participation in public affairs. I will leave Congress with love for all and with deep appreciation for the confidence reposed in me. God bless our nation. God bless you, the finest people in the world.