My grandfather's voice still resonates in my mind as I hear him and see him lecturing me on what this world is coming to. There were politicians he absolutely could not stand locally and federally. Mostly, I remember the stories of Huey Long. Governor Long was going to see that families of all socio-economical backgrounds were going to have the equal opportunities. Governor Long was the people's man.

The story I remember the most was hearing of Governor Long's death and the thousands of people who attended the services from all over Louisiana. Two of those attending were my grandmother and my great-grandmother. My grandfather saved all of Huey Long's published speeches, which I found in my grandmother's hope chest.

The one artifact that I regret we no longer have in our possession is buried with my grandfather. In 1982, after cancer stole Poppa from our family, he was presented at the Joseph Laughlin Funeral Home on Magazine Street in New Orleans — fastened to his jacket was his 'Every Man a King' lapel pin.”

Read Mrs. Castro's full story

— Glenda April Castro, Metairie, LA

Ithink it is relatively unknown to many how severe poverty was in the early 1920s in Louisiana and the lack of basic services that were available to all of its citizens, e.g. schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, health care. Enter Huey P. Long.

Gov. and Sen. Long was responsible for so many great things that happened to Louisiana when he was in office. It is remarkable he accomplished so much. He was a genius. Say what you will about his motives, clothes, speaking manner, roots, whatever, this man changed it all in favor of the Louisiana citizen.

In my opinion, the criticism he received in the waning years of his life and career was over the top and generated by the wealthy and powerful that feared him. He was not a socialist, nor a fascist as some portray him to be. What he accomplished was within the bounds of a state and federal democracy. When his opponents could not defeat him at the polls or on the floor of the state capitol or the Senate, they verbally maligned him and finally killed him.

What would he have been and where would he have gone on a state and national level we will never know. One thing we do know is that Louisiana is a much better, more educated, healthier state than it could have ever been without the KINGFISH. When you watch the DVD biography of Huey P. Long by Ken Burns, keep in mind who the people are who are criticizing Mr. Long and examine their motives, from those residing in Louisiana to FDR. Watch this DVD, think for yourself, look around you, study Louisiana history, and decide for yourself. Louisiana folks should always revere the great Huey P. Long.”

Read Dr. Gremillion's full story

— Dr. Dan Gremillion, Nashville, TN (native of Ferriday, LA)

My dad, A.W. ‘Slick’ Morton, was an orphan from Tallulah by the age of 9 or 10. He later became a star football player at Tallulah High. In 1933, Huey Long got wind of my dad's football prowess and summoned him to his penthouse at the Roosevelt Hotel. Until that trip from Tallulah to New Orleans, my dad had never even seen a paved road.

My dad and another good football player, Cy Wickson, were both introduced to Huey — still wearing his pajamas midmorning. Huey commented, ‘Ain't no more good football players goin' to Tulane, they're all goin' to LSU,’ and then he turned to someone else in the room and had my dad and Wickson dropped off in Baton Rouge.

My dad ended up a 3-year starter from 1935-37 and captained the team his senior year. Without Huey, my dad would have never graduated from college or enjoyed the success of separate careers as a football coach and general contractor.”

— John Morton, Alexandria, LA

I have been often disappointed with the way Huey has been portrayed by ill-informed people. Huey's legacy, so misunderstood by glib commenters and historians with axes to grind, is alive in Louisiana in the form of roads, hospitals and healthy, educated children.

Huey Long, though certainly no saint, did more to help real, working people in Louisiana than anyone before or since, and his proposed Share Our Wealth program did as much to goose Franklin Roosevelt to real reforms as did people like Sen. Robert Wagner and Roosevelt's wife, Eleanor.

I believe Louisiana, and the nation, owe Huey a very large debt. For my (very small, inconsequential) part, I recently released a song about Huey [see Thank God and Huey Long at right] and what he meant to the working people of the state.”

— Louie Ludwig, songwriter, New Orleans, LA

Iam the granddaughter of poor north Louisiana farmers. My dad was able to get a high school education and go on to college because of the free public education made possible by Governor Long.

My grandparents lived in a shack and made a meager living on 25 acres, most of which they had to sell by 1940 to survive. The paved roads Governor Long implemented allowed my grandparents to get their crops to market. My grandmother, Sally Ballard, had a faded photo on her dresser when she died. It was one of Governor Long dedicating a hospital.

I am a CPA, MBA in Accounting from Rice University. I know that I would not have had any of this if Governor Long had not provided programs that helped my grandparents and my dad improve their lives. I try to visit his grave every few years to pay my respects. My respect and admiration for him has only grown over the years. I would not be where I am today without his tremendously compassionate programs.”

— Glenda B. Turner

Ifirst became familiar with Huey Long by reading T. Harry Williams’ biography. When I enrolled at Harvard College in 1975, I found a shelf, deep in the bowels of Widener Library, that held a dozen books by and about Governor Long. I enjoyed them all.

He was, quite simply, someone who fought to improve the lives of ordinary people. He delivered roads, bridges, textbooks and higher education to people who never would have gotten them any other way. He was utterly fearless. He won over and over again. And he did it all with such style. Huey Long demonstrated a lesson that needs to be remembered today: that populism is popular.”

— Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL)

My late dad, Henry Rickerfor, worked for the Recorder of Mortgages for the city of New Orleans during Huey Long's time. In those days, the city administration was at odds with Governor Long. Accordingly, all city employees, well at least those in the Recorder of Mortgages, were charged with going to the homes of New Orleans' residents and "canvassing" for their candidate and against Huey Long.

My dad often remarked how useless and frustrating that was. Many residents would not invite them into their homes once they were identified as promoting the opponent of Huey Long. And those who would invite them in always seemed to have a picture of Huey Long on their mantlepiece. My dad said it was an exercise in futility.

Huey Long was so admired — actually worshipped — by the people here that my dad said he would leave his "canvassing" for the day depressed. I met a gentleman years ago who was such a believer in Huey that he told me he used to pray to Huey Long … and, most importantly, Huey answered his prayers.”

— Ron Rickerfor

My grandfather was a member of the Share the Wealth chapter in Wisconsin. He told me that he wept bitter tears when Huey Long was shot. His birthday was on the day Huey Long died, and he never celebrated his birthday again.”

— John Lovell

My husband, Huey D. Ingram, was named after Huey Long. His mother, Ruby Ingram, raised five children as a single woman. Her husband went off one day to hunt for a job and never came back. She worked at odd jobs and gave her children an education while living in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My husband is proud of his name and tells everyone who he is named after.

I grew up in Winnfield. My dad would have gone around the world for Huey P. Long. He was always there when Huey or his staff were handing out bacon or some kind of meat the the Court House lawn.”

— Luella Curry Ingram, Midland, TX

Huey Long died long before I was born, but his name and legacy were an everyday part of my life. My grandfather, Eddie Manuel of Mamou, Louisiana, was a friend of Huey Long and a supporter of every Long to run for office. He told me as long as I can remember, "Always vote for the Long."

At my grandmother's funeral, Russell Long came and presented a book on the life of Huey P Long to my grandfather. He wrote the following inscription in the front cover "To Eddie Manuel, my father's good friend." I asked my grandfather what that was all about, and he told me that he and Huey were good friends, and that at one point in his life, he actually drove Huey around in an "open car" campaigning and running for governor of Louisiana. You just never know.”

— Benny Richard, Hayes, LA

It is true that Huey completely changed the political landscape that had existed for many years. The change was for the better but the “establishment” certainly did not appreciate being ousted and they were the ones that still had enormous influence with the newspapers and other media. Was Huey “colorful?” Probably, but he was also light years ahead of his time in his political thinking.”

— William B. Owens, Alexandria, LA

I was born in my grandmother's shotgun house, which sat on the old Hu Long place in Winnfield, LA. My grandmother was very pro-Long. She had raised two children by herself during the Depression, and she stood firm on her belief that Huey Long had saved many a poor person's life with his various programs.

On occasion, especially when Earl pulled some stunt or one of the other Long politicians may have done something she did not agree with, she'd get mad and say something about the Longs. But under no circumstances would she allow anyone else to say anything negative about Huey or Earl Long.

My grandmother always said that much of the negative news (media) on Huey came from "carpetbaggers" who came south to profit off the poor folks. And in time, I came to realize that much of what was written about Huey was from people who were not Southern and were from families of wealth.

No doubt Huey did many things that were not quite up to today's so-called ethical standards, but I firmly believe that many of the big name news editors of that time period were influenced by the landed gentry who Huey had displaced when he was elected to the Railroad Commission, and later as governor.”

—Greggory Davies, Retired Deputy Sheriff, Winnfield, LA

Governor Long solved many of the ills that confronted our state during the Depression – and turned the politicians who had controlled access to the wealth and power on their collective ears. My great “Uncle” Jimmy O’Connor was a friend of Governor/Senator Long. I remember our family speaking of the times of change and challenge.”

— Mark Collins Romig, New Orleans, LA

Iwas born in 1933, about the time Huey P. Long was campaigning for the Senate. My parents were poor farmers in Tangipohoa Parish on a small piece of land that my father inherited that had been part of a land grant that my ancestors received from the Spanish Government, before the Louisiana Purchase. My family were strong supporters of Gov.Huey Long.

In the later 1940s,1950s, and early 1960s I frequently traveled U. S. 190 and U. S. 71 between Baton Rouge and Alexandria. Most of the time there was an older gentleman sitting in a chair under an oak tree along the highway distributing a poem he had written proclaiming the greatness of Huey P. Long. If anyone would take the time to listen he would recite the poem. My memory is clouded after many years but I think he was a black man. His race has no bearing on the issue or the fact that is clear in my memory, he was very pleased with Gov.-Sen. Long.”

— Howell B. Joiner

I came from a fairly well-to-do family because of Huey Long's Administration. I am a Black retired U.S. Postman. I think of the wonders he has contributed to making our jobs so easy and not as complex as described in the old days. What a great job well done in promoting Louisiana as he has. Our love and generous appreciation extends in the surpass. Thanks for a job truly well done … We miss you Gov. Long. YOU are not dead in our hearts, you are only just away. May God bless your spirit that hangs proudly in the skies of the old state we both call home—Louisiana.”

— DLC, retired U.S. Postman

I am an African American senior born in 1933. I clearly remember many stories about Huey P. Long shared among older black people most of which were complimentary and held him in high regard. This attitude confused me for many years because from his political rhetoric I somehow thought he was anti-black. Later I learned of the good work he had done for education of black people and also made numerous opportunities for employment of professionally trained blacks. My maternal aunt was employed as a "Jeans Supervisor" for black schools (the equivalent of a superintendant of education) in Bossier Parish. It is my understanding that the Jeans Supervisor program was started under the leadership of Huey P. Long.”

— Washington Butler, Jr.

I am an American songwriter living near London. I recently awoke at 3 a.m. with the idea 'share the wealth'. I thought 'what a good idea' and got up to write it down. When further inspiration failed to materialize during the days that followed, I performed a search for it online and subsequently made a close acquaintance with Huey Long. After reading about what happened during his life, I remember being totally in awe of Huey Long and spending a day or two just reflecting on the things he'd achieved (and feeling very impressed and ever so slightly proud to be American). A larger-than-life character — to say the least — and veritable hero for the progress of the state of Louisiana. So much to write about! (See 'The Ballad of Huey Long' at right.) Indeed, had I written all that occurred to me, the result would have been a very, very long song about the extraordinary Huey Long.”

— Cathy Wright, songwriter, London, UK

I was born very poor with a brother and five sisters. My mother and father struggled to send us to school because of the high cost of school books. There finally came a time when they could no longer afford to buy books for 7 children. We children were told that we could no longer attend school.

That very same year, Governor Long persuaded the Louisiana Legislature to fund school books for all children attending public schools. Not only did that mean that my brother and sisters and I could finish our education but also thousands of other children could as well. My family never forgot Huey Long and became long time political supporters of the Long family.”

— Victor Bussie, President Emeritus, Louisiana AFL-CIO

When you talk about politics in rural Louisiana, Huey Long’s name always comes up. He was a master communicator with the people in rural Louisiana.

When he visited the Washington Parish areas and delivered his famous stump speeches, I am told he would look out into the crowd of people and pick out some of the children who might be in attendance. He would then say to their parents, “Take them down to the local clothing store and buy them a new set of clothes.” He would add, “Tell the merchant to charge them to Old Huey.”

Some of the people who remember those meetings have told me that the clothes purchased and given to them by Huey Long was the first store-bought clothing they ever owned, since almost all children’s clothes were hand made from old flour sacks.

Huey Long's acts of kindness made him very popular. He had a special place in his heart for children, the poor, and others who were less fortunate than many of that day. He improved our great state in ways we enjoy even today.”

— Sen. Ben W. Nevers, Sr., Louisiana State Senator, District 12