Catherine Small Long

American politician (1924–2019)

Catherine Small Long


Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 8th district
In office March 30, 1985 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by	Gillis William Long
Succeeded by	Clyde C. Holloway

Personal details
Born	Mary Catherine Small (1924-02-07)February 7, 1924 Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Died	November 23, 2019(2019-11-23) (aged 95) Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Gillis William Long (m. 1947; died 1985)
Children	2
Education	Louisiana State University (BA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Rank	Pharmacist's mate 2nd class (PhM2c)
Battles/wars	World War II

Mary Catherine Small Long (born Mary Catherine Small; February 7, 1924 – November 23, 2019) was an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Louisiana's 8th congressional district, which she filled from 1985 to 1987, the remainder of the term left by the death of her husband, Gillis William Long. Until it was disbanded in 1993, the 8th district was based in Central Louisiana about Alexandria. She was the first female military veteran elected to Congress,^[1] having served as a WAVE in the United States Navy.

Early life and education

Mary Catherine Small was born in Dayton, Ohio, and attended school in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.^[2] She served as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy during World War II. Long earned a B.A. degree from Louisiana State University in 1948.^[2]

Career

Long served in the U.S. Navy as a pharmacist's mate. Long became a staff assistant for Oregon senator Wayne Morse and Ohio Representative James G. Polk.^[2]

In January 1985, Long's husband died and left a vacancy in Louisiana 8th congressional district.^[2] In 1985, when Long announced her candidacy, some of the wives of other U.S. representatives came into the district to campaign on her behalf.^[3] Long won the special election, defeating candidates including Republican Clyde C. Holloway, a nurseryman from Forest Hill in southern Rapides Parish, and then State Representative Jock Scott of Alexandria, a Democrat who later switched parties. In 1986, Long declined to seek a full term as congresswoman.

In his autobiographical Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics, former lieutenant governor and education superintendent William J. "Bill" Dodd, an astute observer of Louisiana politics for a half century, describes Cathy Long, who compiled a liberal voting record in Congress, as the "perfect political wife."^[4]

Personal life

She married Gillis William Long in 1947.^[5] Long had two children, George Harrison Long (born October 13, 1954) and Janis Catherine Long (born March 25, 1957).^[6]^[2]

Death

Long died from complications of dementia at an assisted-living facility in Chevy Chase, Maryland on November 23, 2019, at age 95.^[5] Five years after her death and on her 100th birthday, Long's ashes in a ceremony were interred with her husband at Alexandria National Cemetery.^[7]

References

^ Doris Weatherford, Women in American Politics: History and Milestones, Vo. 1, p.165.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Long, Catherine Small". house.gov. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ "Gillis Long's widow seeks vacant Congress position", Minden Press-Herald, March 25, 1985, p. 1.
^ Bill Dodd, Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics
^ ^a ^b Pope, John (November 23, 2019). "Former U.S. Rep. Cathy Long, who won a term in Congress after her husband's death, dies at 95". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
^ "Long, Catherine Small (1924-)". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ Melinda Martinez (February 8, 2024). "U.S. Rep. Cathy Long's ashes buried with husband Gillis Long at Alexandria National Cemetery". The Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved February 9, 2024.

External links

United States Congress. "Catherine Small Long (id: L000411)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Appearances on C-SPAN

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Gillis William Long	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 8th congressional district 1985–1987	Succeeded by Clyde C. Holloway