Lionel Ott

Lionel Gordon Ott (July 25, 1894 – October 16, 1987)^[1] was an accountant and a Democratic politician from New Orleans, Louisiana, who served in the 20th century as a state senator and as a member of the New Orleans City Council.

Biography

Ott was born in the unincorporated community of Mount Hermon in Washington Parish in southeastern Louisiana, one of the Florida Parishes. He was the sixth of ten children (one died on the day of birth), born to Elbert Weston Ott (1855-1924) of Mount Hermon, Louisiana, who was of German and French descent, and the former Martha Estelle Leggett (1860-1955, a native of Mississippi. His father was engaged in the mercantile and planting businesses and instituted the post office in Mount Hermon. Young Ott worked in his father's store and office and became self-educating in the field of accounting. The senior Ott was known for his strong support for prohibition of alcoholic beverages.^[2]

In 1918, Ott moved to New Orleans to enter the accounting firm of Smith and Skinner. In 1921, he formed his own company, Ott and Prados.^[3] He was active in the Masonic lodge and the Young Men's Business Club.^[2]

In 1940, Ott was elected to one of the eight state Senate slots from Orleans Parish. He served during the administrations of Governors Sam H. Jones and Jimmie Davis. He resigned in 1945 early in his second term.^[4] The next year, he was elected commissioner of finance on the New Orleans City Council under the city commission government. He was reelected as finance commissioner in 1950.^[3] The mayor at the time of Ott's two council terms was deLesseps Story Morrison, a subsequent three-time candidate for governor.

In 1952, Ott joined the ticket of gubernatorial candidate James M. McLemore a cattleman from Alexandria in Central Louisiana, in an unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor. Much of the campaigning was conducted in the last few months of 1951.^[5][6] While Robert F. Kennon won the governorship, C. E. "Cap" Barham of Ruston, the choice of gubernatorial candidate Hale Boggs, the U.S. representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district,^[7] was placed into a runoff election with the later Governor John McKeithen for the second position. Barham prevailed and served one term until his own defeat in 1956 by the educator Lether Frazar.

Ott was twice married; his wives were the former Helen Merritt and Carolyn McCormick (1912-2007). He had no children.^[8] He is interred beside his second wife at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans.^[1]

Ott's papers are housed at the New Orleans Public Library.^[3]

References