Gillis William Long

Gillis William Long
Long as U.S. representative
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 8th district
In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1965
Preceded by	Harold B. McSween
Succeeded by	Speedy Long
In office January 3, 1973 – January 20, 1985
Preceded by	Speedy Long
Succeeded by	Catherine Small Long
Personal details
Born	(1923-05-04)May 4, 1923 Winnfield, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	January 20, 1985(1985-01-20) (aged 61) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Alexandria National Cemetery, Pineville, Louisiana
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Catherine Small ​ (m. 1947)​
Children	2
Relatives	Long family
Education	Louisiana State University (BA, JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1941–1947
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Campaign medal (5)

Gillis William Long (May 4, 1923 – January 20, 1985) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. representative from Louisiana. He was a member of the Long family and cousin of Speedy Long.

Long was born on May 4, 1923, in Winnfield, Louisiana, to Floyd Harrison Long and Birdie Long. His family moved to Pineville when he was a teenager and he attended Bolton High School. When his cousin Earl Long was running for Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, Gillis gave campaign speeches for him at his school.^[1]

In 1939, Long attended Louisiana State University for law, but was interrupted when he enlisted into the army in 1941 as a private. During World War Two he received a bronze star, five campaign stars, and the Purple Heart, and served at the Nuremberg trials before being discharged as a captain in 1947. Later that year he married Catherine Small, and four years later graduated from college with a bachelor's and a Juris Doctor degree.^[2]

In 1962, he was elected to the House of Representatives from Louisiana's 8th congressional district and was selected to be the assistant Democratic Whip.^[3] In 1963, he entered the Democratic primary for the Louisiana gubernatorial race, but came in third place with 15% of the vote.^[4] In 1964, he attempted to win reelection, but was defeated by his more openly segregationist cousin Speedy Long.^[5] In 1971, he entered the Democratic primary for the gubernatorial race again, but again came in third place, this time with 13% of the vote.

After his cousin Speedy Long retired from office, Gillis Long decided to run for the House seat he had once held. He won and was re-elected six additional times. He rose to the position of Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, which he held from 1981 to 1984. Long generally held political positions more liberal than that of most White Southern Democrats. During the 1984 presidential primaries, Long endorsed former vice president Walter Mondale.^[6]

On January 20, 1985, Long died from heart failure in Washington, D.C., and a moment of silence was given for him at Ronald Reagan's second presidential inauguration.^[7] His wife Cathy won the special election to succeed him and served one term. In 1994 he was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame.^[8]

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1950–1999)

• United States Congress. "Gillis William Long (id: L000417)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Appearances on C-SPAN