Philip H. Gilbert

Philip H. Gilbert was district attorney of the twenty-seventh judicial district of Louisiana from 1908 to 1916 and later district judge of its judicial district from 1916 to 1920. He was born on October 25, 1870 and died at his home in Napoleonville on October 18, 1932.

Early years

Gilbert was the son of Pierre J. Gilbert and Ernestine Blanchard of Napoleonville, Louisiana. He was a faithful son of the Roman Catholic Church and did much for its support. Judge Gilbert was instrumental in the construction of St. Anne's Catholic Church in Napoleonville, Louisiana. He was a Trustee of the church as well as a founding member of the Knights of Columbus, Group 1099.

Until he was sixteen years old, Gilbert attended the public and private schools of Assumption Parish and Napoleonville. In 1905, he began his studies at the Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, from which he obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree.

Family life

On January 24, 1894, Philip H. Gilbert married Ella M. Savoie, daughter of Sabin Savoie of Belle Rose, Louisiana and his first wife, Camilla LeBlanc. The couple had eight children: Heloise, Thomas Bryan, Camille, Savoie S., Philip H.,Edna, Laurence, and Leroy.

The oldest daughter, Heloise, married Risley C. Triche of Napoleonville, a businessman. This couple had several children, one of whom, Risley C. "Pappy" Triche, followed his grandfather into Louisiana politics, having been one of the youngest mayors in Louisiana history and later serving in the Louisiana House of Representatives.

Philip H. Gilbert’s great-granddaughter, Jane M. Triche-Milazzo, daughter of Risley "Pappy" Triche, is a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The United States Senate confirmed her appointment from U.S. President Barack H. Obama on October 11, 2011, in a 98-0 vote.

Philip H. Gilbert's great-granddaughter, Laurie A. Hulin, granddaughter of Laurence G. Bergeron, was elected as District Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial District, Division G, of the State of Louisiana, on November 4, 2014.

Political offices

Gilbert served as District Attorney of the Twenty-third Judicial District of Louisiana (1908 to 1916), District Judge of the Twenty-third Judicial District (1916 to 1920), Louisiana State Senator (1924–1926), for the 12th Senatorial District comprising the parishes of Assumption, Lafourche, and Terrebonne.

Gilbert served as the Secretary of the State Senate and the Assistant Clerk of the 1908 Louisiana Constitutional Convention. He was chosen as a member for the 1921 Louisiana Constitutional Convention. He was the president pro tempore of the state senate. After the death of Governor Henry L. Fuqua in 1926, O.H. Simpson succeeded to the governor's office and Gilbert became Lieutenant Governor, a post he held until 1928.

In 1928, he became judge of the Twenty-third Judicial District; he served in this capacity until 1932.

Judge Gilbert was also a delegate to the 1916 Democratic National Convention.

Business

Philip H. Gilbert was president of the Lula Company, Inc., which operates the Lula Plantation, located in Assumption Parish. This company operated its own sugar refinery. He was president of the Avon Planting Company, Ltd., operating the Avon Plantation, near the town of Napoleonville, Parish of Assumption.

He served as president of the Bank of Assumption, Napoleonville, which opened its doors for business in 1901.