Daly Joseph "Cat" Doucet Sr. (November 8, 1899 – February 9, 1975) was an American politician who served as Sheriff of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana from 1936 to 1940 and 1952 to 1968.

Background

Doucet was born in Grand Prairie, Louisiana. Doucet was elected sheriff in 1936, served for four more years, and later returned in 1952 for sixteen years, his

civil rights Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' political freedom, freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals. They ensure one's entitlement to participate in the civil and ...

endorsement and anti-

segregation Segregation may refer to: Separation of people * Geographical segregation, rates of two or more populations which are not homogenous throughout a defined space * School segregation * Housing segregation * Racial segregation, separation of human ...

stance giving Doucet enough African-American support to combat his electoral rivalry. He was investigated by the FBI for his role in the presence of

gambling Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of Value (economics), value ("the stakes") on a Event (probability theory), random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy (ga ...

and

prostitution Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, no ...

in his local parish, and was once indicted for

embezzlement Embezzlement (from Anglo-Norman, from Old French ''besillier'' ("to torment, etc."), of unknown origin) is a type of financial crime, usually involving theft of money from a business or employer. It often involves a trusted individual taking ...

Legacy

He had six children with his wife Anna Dorcey. Doucet died at his daughter's house in New Orleans on February 9, 1975. He has been described as a colorful figure for his time. Doucet was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in 1999.

Bibliography

*''The Cat and St. Landry'' (1972) by Mary Alice Fontenot and Vincent Riehl

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doucet, Cat 1899 births 1975 deaths Cajun people Louisiana Democrats Louisiana sheriffs People from Opelousas, Louisiana People from St. Landry Parish, Louisiana 20th-century Louisiana politicians