Harry Hollins

Harry Muth Hollins (August 25, 1932 – June 29, 1989) was a four-term Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Lake Charles in Calcasieu Parish in southwestern Louisiana. His tenure extended from 1964 to 1980 during the administrations of Governors John McKeithen and Edwin Edwards.^[1]

In 1970, Hollins sponsored the legislation which created the Sabine River water diversion project. In 1978, he chaired a legislative committee which investigated state Insurance commissioner Sherman A. Bernard.^[2] In 1993, Bernard confessed to having extorted during the 1980s $80,000, disguised as campaign contributions, from insurance companies in return for obtaining operating licenses in Louisiana.^[3]

After his legislative years, Hollins headed the Louisiana Real Estate Commission and the Louisiana Racing Commission.^[2] Though a Democrat, Hollins in 1986 was a donor to the unsuccessful Republican campaign to elect U.S. Representative Henson Moore of Baton Rouge to the United States Senate to succeed Russell B. Long.^[4]

Hollins died at the age of fifty-six. He is interred at Orange Grove Cemetery in Lake Charles.^[5] Hollins' extensive archival materials are located at McNeese State University in Lake Charles.^[2]

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