E. L. Henry
E. L. “Bubba” Henry joined Adams and Reese in 1987 and is the former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He has the distinction of being the only speaker to succeed himself in modern history, and in 2012, he was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.
E. L. has served as Partner in Charge of the Adams and Reese Baton Rouge office and on the firm's Executive Committee. He has hired associates and lateral partners to enhance the governmental group. He is also the firm's voting member and past Chair of the State Capitol Law Firm Group.
Practicing in governmental relations, E. L. possesses keen insight into the complex relationships between local, state and federal governments, and has a reputation as one of Louisiana's most successful and influential lobbyists. Admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1961, E. L. practiced law in Jonesboro, Louisiana, until 1980.
He served as a member in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1968 to 1980 from District 13 (Jackson, Bienville, and Ouachita parishes), and he was house speaker from 1972 to 1980. In 1973, he chaired the Constitutional Convention, and in his first term in the Legislature, he worked with a group of younger members who advocated reform. Called the "Young Turks," the group urged major changes in how the Legislature operated, including creating decorum in the House, removing lobbyists from the House floor, and bringing accountability to the appropriations process. They blazed a trail that led to a new state Constitution in 1973 and reforms impacting state government.
E. L. served as Commissioner of Administration for the State of Louisiana from 1980 to 1984. During this appointment, he was responsible for the daily operation and management of state government. As Commissioner, he pushed to fruition the plans and blueprints for the State Capitol Complex and the consolidation of state offices within the Capitol environs.
E. L.’s honors and recognitions include:
E. L.’s past professional and community affiliations include the Council for a Better Louisiana, the Public Affairs Research Council, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Baton Rouge Sunrise Rotary Club, Louisiana Appleseed, State Capital Law Firm Group, and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
E. L. married Frances Turner Henry in 1958, and they have two children, Patrick E. Henry and Lori Henry Taylor. He has served as Deacon and Trustee and has taught the Young Adult Sunday School class of University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge for many years.
In his free time, E. L. enjoys being with his family, reading and playing golf.
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Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801