Palmer Reid Long, the last surviving child of former Louisiana Gov. and Sen. Huey P. Long, died Saturday in Shreveport. He was 89.
Long was one of three children of the former governor and his wife, Rose McConnell Long. Palmer Long was only 14 when his father Huey was shot and killed in 1935.
Palmer Long and his sister, the late Rose Long McFarland, did not follow their parents into politics, like their brother Russell, who served seven terms in the U.S. Senate. Palmer Long did work to support the campaigns of his brother and uncle, former Gov. Earl K. Long.
Palmer Long was born in Shreveport but also lived in Baton Rouge and New Orleans as a child. After attending public schools in several Louisiana cities, including New Orleans, and graduating from Baton Rouge High School, he attended LSU before joining the Army Air Corps as a flight instructor during World War II. He attended LSU before entering the family's oil and gas business.
He was very active in Masonic organizations and contributed to many other civic causes, according to his family.
He is survived by a son and daughter, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at noon at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 275 Southfield Road in Shreveport. Visitation will be held from Tuesday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Osborn Funeral Home in Shreveport.
