Vance Plauché
Vance Gabriel Plauché (August 25, 1897 – April 2, 1976) was an American attorney and politician from Louisiana. A Democrat, he served for a single term in the 77th Congress, from 1941 to 1943. Early lifePlauché was born in Plaucheville, Louisiana on August 25, 1897.[1] He attended private and public schools in Avoyelles Parish and, in 1914, received a Bachelor of Science degree from New Orleans's St. Francis Xavier Commercial College, where he received awards for excellence in typing and final examinations.[2] In 1918, he received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, where he served as class president.[1][3] He was admitted to the bar in 1918, and practiced in Lake Charles.[1] Start of careerDuring World War I, Plauché served in the United States Army.[1] Inducted into the service at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, he was a member of Loyola University's hospital unit, which subsequently served in Vicenza, Italy as Base Hospital 102.[1] He attained the rank of private first class before being discharged at Camp Shelby, Mississippi in 1919.[1] Plauché was city attorney of Lake Charles from 1928 to 1932, and district counsel for the Home Owners' Loan Corporation from 1933 to 1935.[1] In late 1939 and early 1940, he managed the successful gubernatorial campaign of Sam H. Jones.[4] In 1940, he served as secretary of the State Civil Service commission, and was a delegate to the Democratic state convention.[1][5] U.S. House of RepresentativesIn 1940, Plauché was the successful Democratic nominee for a seat in the United States House of Representatives.[1] He served in the 77th Congress, January 3, 1941 to January 3, 1943.[5] During his House service, he was a member of the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, Committee on Invalid Pensions, and Committee on Patents.[6] He was not a candidate for reelection in 1942, and resumed the practice of law.[5] Later lifeIn addition to practicing law, Plauché was a director of Calcassieu Savings & Loan and the Plauché Engineering company.[3] His civic, fraternal, and professional memberships included the American Legion, Kiwanis, chamber of commerce, Sierra Club, his local, county, state bar associations, and the American Bar Association.[3] Death and burialPlauché died in Lake Charles on April 2, 1976.[3] He was buried at Consolata Cemetery in Lake Charles.[7] AwardsIn recognition of his services to the Catholic church, Pope John XXIII awarded Plauché the Order of St. Gregory the Great (Knight).[3] References
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