Elward Thomas Brady, Jr.

Elward Thomas Brady Jr. (September 9, 1926 – April 6, 2007), was a businessman from Houma in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, who served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972 to 1976 during the first term of Governor Edwin Edwards. He is best remembered for his work against flooding of the Atchafalaya River.

Background

Brady was born in New Orleans but moved with his parents to Bayou Dularge in Terrebonne Parish when he was fourteen years of age. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Forces as an airplane mechanic in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Once back in Houma, he joined Brady Engine Company, an oilfield supply firm operated by his father.

Political career

In 1971, prior to regular two-party competition, he was nominated in the Democratic primary election to represent state House District 52, which includes part of Terrebonne Parish.

In less than a year in the legislature, Brady faced the challenge of the 1973 Mississippi River floods, which weakened the Old River Control Structure of the Atchafalaya River. The situation created a threat to Morgan City, located in St. Mary Parish but within Brady's district. Each morning Brady was taken by helicopter from his home on Bayou Dularge to confer with Governor Edwards regarding the flooding. For his work in this venue Brady received the Louisiana Cross of Merit. After much politicking, he convinced Edwards of the need of a bridge at Bayou Dularge over the Intracoastal Waterway, but even after the structure was completed, many of Brady's constituents felt it should have also included a span across the Houma Navigation Canal. Brady also worked to adopt United States Coast Guard boater-safety regulations, but many constituents objected to the U.S. government dictating such policy. Ultimately, those same safety guidelines were implemented. Brady later challenged the Representative-turned-Senator Leonard J. Chabert of Chauvin in Terrebonne Parish but lost once more. In addition to his son, Brady was survived by his wife, the former Barbara Robichaux (c. 1924–2012), a daughter of Millard and Ivy Prince Robichaux and a native of Franklin in St. Mary Parish. The Bradys also had a daughter, Ellie Brady Skillman of Baton Rouge, and five grandchildren. The couple is interred at Magnolia Cemetery in Houma.