Edgar H. Lancaster Jr. - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Richard P. Sevier 10/15/09

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Edgar H. Lancaster Jr. - Madison Parish, Louisiana

From Vicksburg Post October 15, 2009

TALLULAH — Edgar Hunter Lancaster Jr. died Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, at the age of 91 years.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Edward Catholic Church with Father Ferreolus D’Cruz officiating.

Visitation will be this evening from 5 until 7 at Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home in Tallulah, and burial will be at Silver Cross Cemetery.

Mr. Lancaster is survived by his wife of 65 years, Beverly Vedros Lancaster; and his three children and their spouses: Judge Michael E. Lancaster and his wife, Becky, of Tallulah, Patricia Ann (Patsy) Lancaster and her husband, Billy Clapp, of Ocala, Fla., and Edgar Hunter Lancaster III and his wife, Terri, of Monroe. He is also survived by three grandsons, Will Lancaster of Ruston, Kris Lancaster of Lafayette and Ethan Lancaster of Monroe; and his sister-in-law, Thellis M. Lancaster of Tallulah, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar Hunter Lancaster Sr. and Willie Butler Lancaster; his sister, Mabel Clair Placke; and his brother, Donald B. Lancaster, all of Tallulah.

Mr. Lancaster was a graduate of Tallulah High School, Louisiana Tech University and Louisiana State University School of Law. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After his discharge, he returned home to attend law school. He was in the active practice of law from 1948 until the time of his death. He served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1952 until 1968, where he was chairman of the Judiciary A House Committee and speaker pro tempore of the House of Representatives. He was an organizer of Southern National Bank at Tallulah and served on its Board of Directors and as the bank’s attorney. Mr. Lancaster was honored by the Louisiana Bar Foundation in 1986 as the Attorney of the Year, and he was inducted into the LSU Law School Hall of Fame in 1987. He was appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court as the 6th Judicial District judge pro tempore from 1992 until 1993, and served on the Louisiana Law Institute for over 50 years, having served as past president and chairman emeritus of the Institute. He was active in the Louisiana State Bar Association, having served on the Board of Governors and the Attorney Ethics Commission. Mr. Lancaster was an avid golfer, civic and business leader and unofficial historian.

Active pallbearers will be Will Lancaster, Kris Lancaster, Ethan Lancaster, Kent Lancaster, Allan Placke, Dale Placke and George Vedros.

Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Thomas A. Neumann, Dr. L.P. Neumann Jr., L.D. Napper, Attorney General James D. “Buddy” Caldwell, Henry C. Sevier Jr., all members of the Sixth Judicial District Bar, Collins Thomas, Charles Roberson and Charles Ladd Abrahm.

In lieu of flowers, any planned memorials may be made to the Tallulah Rotary Club Scholarship Fund in memory of Mr. Lancaster, P.O. Box 1534, Tallulah, LA 71284-1534 or to the church or charity of your choice.

From Monroe LA News Star 10/13/2009

Services for Tallulah lawyer Edgar H. Lancaster Jr., who served as a Louisiana representative for 16 years, will be Friday. Lancaster, 91, died Monday. He served as District 21 representative for four consecutive terms, from 1952 to 1968.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Edward Catholic Church, Tallulah. Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home, Tallulah. Burial will be in Silver Cross Cemetery, Tallulah.

Lancaster earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech University in 1939 and later earned his law degree from the LSU School of Law in 1948. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was named Attorney of the Year by the Louisiana Bar Association in 1986 and was inducted into the LSU Law School Hall of Fame in 1987. Later, during 1992 and 1993, Lancaster was appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to serve as a pro tempore judge in the Sixth Judicial District. Lancaster’s son, Michael Lancaster, currently serves as a 6th Judicial District judge. Lancaster also served as past president and chairman emeritus of the Louisiana State Law Institute.

In January 2008, Lancaster swore in state Attorney General-elect Buddy Caldwell. Before his election as attorney general, Caldwell had previously served as Sixth Judicial District Attorney. Caldwell said Lancaster had been the “gold standard” for not only the legal profession but as a former legislator, family man, community leader, judge and athlete. Caldwell described Lancaster as a dear friend and mentor. “He certainly will be sorely missed, but the simple example he set and lived is something we should all do our best to emulate and strive for,” Caldwell said Tuesday. “I was deeply honored to have him swear me in on one of the most incredible days of my life ... inauguration day.”

NOTE: Edgar Lancaster was interviewed in December 2007 by Peggy Carter, Louisiana Tech Archivist. This interview may be seen by clicking here.