US Congressman. He was elected, as a Democrat, to represent Louisiana's 5th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1915 to 1937. The Louisiana 5th District is in the area of the city of Monroe in the most northern part of the state. In 1936, he was not nominated to be a candidate for re-election. After graduating in 1894 from Iuka Normal Institute in Mississippi, he was the principal of Harrisonburg High School in Catahoula Parish from 1895 to 1897. He studied law privately and in 1897 was accepted to the bar and commenced a private law practice. In 1904, he served on the first board of directors of Catahoula State Bank. Starting a political career, he held the positions of district attorney, state district court judge, and from 1900 to 1904, served in the State of Louisiana House of Representatives. In 1920 he was a delegate from Louisiana to the Democratic National Convention. In 1928 he was an unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial candidate, losing to Huey Long, one of Louisiana's most controversial governors. Wilson spent his later years in Ruston, the seat of Lincoln Parish, in north Louisiana. He married and the couple had a son, Riley J. Wilson, Jr.
US Congressman. He was elected, as a Democrat, to represent Louisiana's 5th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1915 to 1937. The Louisiana 5th District is in the area of the city of Monroe in the most northern part of the state. In 1936, he was not nominated to be a candidate for re-election. After graduating in 1894 from Iuka Normal Institute in Mississippi, he was the principal of Harrisonburg High School in Catahoula Parish from 1895 to 1897. He studied law privately and in 1897 was accepted to the bar and commenced a private law practice. In 1904, he served on the first board of directors of Catahoula State Bank. Starting a political career, he held the positions of district attorney, state district court judge, and from 1900 to 1904, served in the State of Louisiana House of Representatives. In 1920 he was a delegate from Louisiana to the Democratic National Convention. In 1928 he was an unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial candidate, losing to Huey Long, one of Louisiana's most controversial governors. Wilson spent his later years in Ruston, the seat of Lincoln Parish, in north Louisiana. He married and the couple had a son, Riley J. Wilson, Jr.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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