Civil Rights Leaders Climon Ricard Sr, of St. Helena, Louisiana

Climon Ricard
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Ancestry

Climon Ricard, Sr.  was born on July 30, 1915 to George Samuel Ricard and Susan Ricard. He died on November 15, 1992. Climon is buried at Mount Zion Cemetery in St. Helena Parish.  Climon was married to Helen Simlin. Cited in the 1940 United States Census, Climon was living in St. Helena Parish on Road No. 333. He was a farmer by occupation. He was working on his own account.  Researching the 1920 United States Census, he was living in New Roads,  Louisiana and was listed as a mulatto. Ten years later Clemon Ricard and his family was living in Police Jury Ward 4, St. Helena, Louisiana. 

As a member of the Citizens Voter League Board of Directors, Climon Ricard represented St. Helena Parish. Ten directors from St. Helena Parish served on the Board of Directors in 1950. As a result of the right to vote in 1950, Climon put his life on the line. The vote was a powerful tool for his life as well as that of African American people in St. Helena Parish. 

Livingston Parish Civil Rights Leader Lester Youngblood

Lester Youngblood
Courtesy of
 Bernice Alexander Bennett
Funeral Program Photo

I'm familiar with the name Youngblood since author and genealogist Bernice Alexander Bennett comes from the Youngblood family. Often she talked about her Youngblood ancestry from Livingston Parish. Recently I was at the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office researching charter documents and found a the charter for the Citizen Voters League. 

Among the 36 names mentioned in the charter was Lester Youngblood. Her confirmation was that there are two Lester Youngbloods: Jr. and Sr. Bernice forwarded me a copy of Lester Youngblood's funeral program. Among the civil rights icons in Head Island, a parish in Livingston, was Lester Youngblood, Sr. 

Lester was born on August, 7, 1914  to Wesley Youngblood and Fannie Walker in Head Island, Louisiana  He passed away on May 32, 1997 at his home. He was married to Dorothy Martin Youngblood. They were the parents of 16 children.  10 daughters and 5 sons: Dora Youngblood  Harris, Elnora Youngblood Quiet, Margie Youngblood Hawkins,  Helen Youngblood Raven, Georgiana Youngblood Jackson, Lillie Youngblood Davis, Jessie Youngblood Hart, Daisy Youngblood Norman, Barbara Youngblood Thomas, Toni Youngblood Jackson. James Youngblood, Elgene Youngblood,  John C. Youngblood and Henry Youngblood.  When he passed away he had 55 grandchildren, 74 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren. He and his wife had a very large family 

I used Ancestry to learn more about the man who put his life on the line for the right to vote. Lester realized that during that time in the Deep South. I found information on the U.S. World War II Draft Card. His bright day was listed as 1914, he was born in Head of Island, Louisiana and was employed at McCarrol Lumber Co.  In the United States 1940 Census he was working for as a logger for a Sawmill Company. Lester owned his home in 1940. 

Standing up for that right to vote, Youngblood could have been murdered. That didn't deter him from doing so. In 1955, he organized the Citizens Voter League with 35 other men. Civil rights leaders are often lauded on a national level and dismissed locally. The charter provided the names of brave men such as Lester Youngblood. It wasn't that long ago that he passed away. My hope is that his family members recorded his story. It is possible to gain some insight into the time and period of voting rights in the Florida Parish by learning about a few pieces of the rich history of voting rights for African Americans through documents like this charter.

Source: Funeral Program for Lester Youngblood

             Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office 

             Bernice Alexander Bennett