Obituaries: Sam L. Wells, 1973, Winn & Grant Parishes, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: February 7, 1973 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Sam Wells, Former DA, Found Dead

Funeral services were held in Colfax this morning for Sam L. Wells, 58, who
completed 24 years as district attorney for Winn and Grant Parishes on
December 31.

Wells was found dead in a Shreveport motel room Monday.

The Caddo Parish coroner said the death was apparently due to natural causes.
He had checked into the motel after visiting his son Saturday night at
Louisiana Tech in Ruston.  When he failed to return home Sunday night members
of the family became alarmed and notified the Grant Parish Sheriff's
Department.

These authorities reported Wells apparently was stricken soon after entering
the motel.

He retired on December 31 from the 8th Judicial District of Winn and Grant
Parishes.  He did not seek re-election last fall.

Regular court activities in the district were delayed Wednesday because of his
death.

He was a lifelong resident of Colfax and a graduate of Colfax High School and
Louisiana State University.  After graduating from LSU School of Law in 1936,
he was the first director of public welfare in Grant Parish before beginning
law practice in 1940.  During World War II he was with the U. S. 9th Army
Intelligence in the European theater and participated in the Battle of the
Bulge.

Wells was the great grandson of a former Louisiana governor, James Madison
Wells.

He was past president of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association and
had held every office of that organization.  At the time of his death, he was
chairman of the association's retirement system, which he was instrumental in
establishing. 

He was a member of the Colfax United Methodist Church, a steward, chairman of
the church building program, and taught an adult Sunday School class.  He was
also active in Boy Scout work.

He is survived by his wife, the former Maxine Westbrook; two sons, Sam L.
Wells, Jr., a student at Louisiana Tech, and Stephen John Wells, a student at
Northwestern State University; a brother, Dr. Wilbur G. Wells of Alexandria,
a sister, Mrs. Gordon Frey of New Orleans, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were set for Wednesday morning in Colfax Methodist Church. 
Burial was in the Colfax Cemetery under direction of Hixson Brothers of
Alexandria.