Alvin Olin King Politician

Alvin Olin King (June 21, 1890– February 21, 1958) was a Louisiana politician allied with the popular Long faction of the state Democratic Party. King was born in Leoti in Wichita County in western Kansas– not to be confused with Wichita, Kansas. He attended Tulane University Law School in New Orleans and began the practice of law. King was elected to the Louisiana State Senate from Calcasieu Parish in the southwestern part of the state and rose to president pro tempore of that body. When Huey Pierce Long, Jr., vacated the governorship for a seat in the United States Senate, King replaced him as governor for the three and a half months remaining in Long's elected term.During his brief tenure, he called for a reduction in highway spending, since the Great Depression made it difficult to finance bonds at an acceptable rate. This was also during the time of construction of the Huey P. Long Bridge in Jefferson Parish. Signs above the roadway entrance to the bridge proclaim that it was built during the administrations of Huey Long and Oscar K. Allen; no mention is made of King's tenure.King had succeeded Paul N. Cyr of Jeanerette as lieutenant governor after Cyr attempted in 1931 to take the oath of office as governor when Long did not leave for Washington, D.C., to assume the U.S. Senate seat to which Long had been elected in 1930.After leaving office, King reverted to his legal profession.Before his death in Lake Charles, King had become president of the Louisiana Bar Association. He was a Methodist.