J. D. de Blieux - Early Years, Education, Military

Early Years, Education, Military

DeBlieux was the oldest of fourteen children (seven boys and seven girls) born to Honore Louis "Bubba" DeBlieux, Sr. (1889–1958), and the former Ozet Perot (1895–1981). Honore and Ozet were both natives of Natchitoches Parish: he was from Clarence and she from nearby Campti. The couple married in 1911 in Winnsboro, the seat of Franklin Parish south of Monroe. Honore was a farmer, operated a grocery store, and delivered Monroe News Star newspapers. In 1973, Ozet, whose last child was born in 1939, was named Louisiana "Mother of the Year". The DeBlieux family had just relocated to Columbia, the seat of Caldwell Parish, at the time of J.D.'s birth there. He graduated in 1929 from Caldwell Parish High School, then known as Columbia High School. While in high school, he worked for the Caldwell News.

The DeBlieuxs lived on land adjacent to the Hogan Plantation acquired by future Louisiana Governor John J. McKeithen. McKeithen recalled that the DeBlieux family overcame great odds: "Everything he did, he did on his own. It's a credit to him. I think it's a credit to America that he could do what he did." McKeithen added, "There has never been a man in the legislature more honest than J.D. DeBlieux.".

The family thereafter relocated to Bastrop, the seat of Morehouse Parish in north Louisiana near Monroe. In 1932, DeBlieux received a two-year associate's degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, when the institution was Ouachita Parish Junior College. He then transferred to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he procured his Juris Doctor degree in 1936. To earn money for his studies, DeBlieux was an elevator operator at the Louisiana State Capitol and performed many odd jobs over the years.

DeBlieux opened his Baton Rouge general practice in 1936. He declined to take divorce cases or other requests which he thought might be unethical. He opposed advertising by lawyers.

In 1941, DeBlieux was drafted into the United States Army, having served during World War II in the Middle East as a staff sergeant law clerk. From 1949 to 1950, he was an officer of the Baton Rouge American Legion post.