Obituaries: Harley B. Bozeman, 1971, 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: May 20, 1971 Winn Parish Enterprise-News American Confidante of Huey and Earl Long H. B. Bozeman, 80, Dies May 16; Was Noted Historian of Parish Harley B. Bozeman, noted Winn Parish historian, former State Representative and political associate of the late Huey and Earl Long, died at 10:15 a. m., Sunday, May 16, at the age of 80. Death came at the Winnfield General Hospital after an illness of several months. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the First Baptist Church with Tommy Haralson of the First Baptist Church and the Rev. Robert Gage of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Both stressed the contribution Bozeman made to Winn Parish and far beyond this area through his historical research, writing and assistance to others seeking historical information or family genealogy. His gentle, kindly nature and unselfish service also were cited. Survivors are one son, Estes Bozeman, Winnfield; one daughter, Mrs. Helen Gayle Fausett, Oklahoma City, Okla.; one brother, Eck Bozeman, Winnfield; two sisters, Mrs. Myrtle Willis, Bossier City, and Miss Eva Bozeman, Baton Rouge; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Pallbearers were James Watts, Don Walsh, Bennie Smith, Cas B. Moss, Marvin Harrell, and Ed Grigg. A TOP HONOR One of the top honors paid to Bozeman for his historical efforts was by T. Harry Williams, whose Pulitzer prize biography of Huey P. Long frequently quoted Bozeman as a source. Williams, in a talk here, commended Bozeman for the help he had given. Bozeman in 1956 began writing a series of historical articles in the Winn Parish Enterprise entitled "Winn Parish As I Have Known It." These article continued until March 1971 although he was not able to write one every week during the last few months because of illness. Bozeman launched his writing about history following the death of his wife, the former Annabell Estes, who had urged him to write about past events and personages of Winn Parish. Mrs. Bozeman realized the rich heritage of history in Winn Parish as the home of so many governors, congressmen, and other persons of fame and infamy. A civic leader, she had been a leader in founding the Winn Parish library. Bozeman's articles in the Enterprise covered many phases of Winn Parish history and included numerous anecdotes and much fact that never had been previously published. He interviewed old-timers, dug into old manuscripts, letters, and other historical source material, and used his own remarkable memory of the past to present a fascinating account of Winn history. Sometimes he included rare pictures, letters, maps and drawings. He often sprinkled his writing with humor and had a knack of making history exciting. He helped libraries in Winn and elsewhere in Louisiana and also other states, to build up their historical files by supplying them with information and answering their questions. BORN IN ARKANSAS Bozeman was born May 3, 1891 at the Montroy Steamboat landing located between Arkadelphia and Camden in Arkansas. His parents were Martin W. Bozeman and Caroline Eck Bozeman. When Harley was 10 years old the family moved to Dodson in Winn Parish. Four years later, in 1905, the family moved to Winnfield. Harley was educated in the Winnfield schools, graduating from Winnfield High in 1910. He gained some recognition as a debater, along with Huey Long and showed a liking for history. After graduation he took to the road as a salesman, sometimes teaming up with Huey Long. He sold starch, baking powder, and pharmaceutical supplies. Then, after a hitch in the Army in 1918, which ended when he contracted a serious case of flu and pneumonia, he returned to Winnfield. He and his brother, Mike, operated the old Winnfield Drug Company for a time, with Mike as pharmacist. Harley "took to the road" again as a salesman, and on a trip into Texas he met Annabell Estes at Tyler. They were married in 1922 and soon moved to Winnfield. Harley helped open the rock quarry west of Winnfield, serving as sales manager for Southern Minerals Company. In 1928 he was elected to the state legislature and was chairman of the House appropriations committee, plus serving on many other committees. In 1928 he also introduced a bill for "free textbooks" in Louisiana. He was appointed chairman of the State Tax Commission, but resigned when it appeared, (but never materialized) that impeachment proceedings would be made against Huey Long. Bozeman returned to Winnfield as business manager of Southern Minerals, retiring from this business in 1923 when the quarry was sold. Over the years Bozeman purchased cut over timber land, managed it carefully, and was one of the first in Winn Parish to have his timber certified as a Louisiana Tree Farm. He served as U. S. Weather Observer for many years without pay. Bozeman held office as a member of the Winnfield City Council and during this period was a leader in the move which resulted in purchase of the municipal electric system by the city in 1942. He was a charter member of First Federal Savings and Loan Association, serving on the board of directors until October 1970, when his son, Estes succeeded him. Bozeman was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Winnfield. (The following is an editorial by George Larson, Editor of the Winn Parish Enterprise and Winnfield News-American, published in the same dated issue as Mr. Bozeman's obituary): "BY GEORGE" is dedicated this week to H. B. Bozeman, author for many years of "Winn Parish As I Have Known It," a popular historical feature that he wrote without compensation for the Winn Parish Enterprise. Mr. Bozeman, who I considered a good friend, died Sunday, May 16, soon after his 80th birthday (May 3, 1971). Reaching the age of 80 was something of a goal for Mr. Bozeman. He had packed a heap of living into those years. On his birthday, he mentioned again, as had done often during his recent illness, that he had lived out his life span. He seemed to sense that his time on earth had run out, but he was far from downhearted or pessimistic. On the contrary, he expressed appreciation for all those friends who "helped me reach 80." And he said that he felt that the United States, though threatened with many troubles, would survive because of the men of determination and fine character who had built this great nation. He gave special credit to those sturdy folks who came South to pioneer this part of the country, and whose descendants have stayed to see it grow and take its place in the Nation. Mr. Bozeman was an amazing man in numerous ways. Talented along many lines, he was a salesman, a one-time legislator, historian, journalist, a weather observer (for free), a student of oil and gas production, a political observer. He saw the value of land and accumulated a substantial acreage of timber land many years ago. His forecast that Winn Parish would some day have productive oil and gas fields has only been partly fulfilled, but continued exploration and drilling indicate that his belief about deep oil being found here may still come to pass. He had the "nose for news" of a newspaper man, but he preferred the more startling stories and liked also do delve into the past. For may years he wrote news stories for daily newspapers in the state, specializing in oil news and stories that might bring industry to this area. As a boyhood friend of Huey P. Long and later a political associate of Huey for a number of years, he gained knowledge of the Kingfish that later was valuable in writing his newspaper yarns. The book "Huey P. Long," by T. Harry Williams, quotes more from Mr. Bozemans's writings about Huey than from any other source. In his column "Winn Parish As I Have Known It," in the Enterprise, Mr. Bozeman dug into his storehouse of history about Winn Parish to relate many fascinating anecdotes that will form part of the permanent history of Winn Parish. He had a remarkable memory and drew from a wide circle of friends to supplement what he recalled. People from near and far, of all ages, beat a path to his door to talk about history and other topics. Students wanted help in writing a theme or term paper. Families wanted to know about their ancestors. Some came to talk about oil or politics or the weather. He welcomed them all, and his friendly, helpful, gregarious nature may have weakened Mr. Bozeman and shortened his days. But he wouldn't have wanted it any other way. His "fan mail" almost overwhelmed him. He tried to answer them all but was not always able to do so in his latter days. Those who couldn't come to see him personally wrote letters. He was a self-educated man who, although he was only a high school graduate, had an insatiable desire for knowledge on any subject. He was an avid reader and student all his life. As a U. S. Cooperative Weather Observer, he took delight in checking the rainfall and temperature each day. Not an ordinary observer, he kept detailed records and frequently would supply the Enterprise with a story, for example, about the "hottest day on record for June," or the "heaviest rainfall for the month of July," or "the coldest day ever recorded in Winn for January." His weather tales were gems. His barometer was not just a weather instrument. It was a warning of impending disaster or a forecast of quiet weather. He sometimes gave the barometric reading in his stories and explained it to readers, just as he told why we received an overabundance of rain during a certain period. He did all this without charge, for the U. S. government and for the reading public of this area. He was a religious man who believed hat the Bible held the answer to man's problems. A frugal man who didn't care a lot for luxuries, he had a habit of serving his fellow men to the point of sacrifice in many ways. But he loved it, whether it was watching weather, keeping up with investments, studying oil and gas possibilities, writing history or helping young historians, or treating his grandchildren. H. B. Bozeman is a man who will be missed by the Enterprise and many other friends. They don't make many like him. --by george--