Long, Catherine Small, 1924-2019

Mary Catherine Small Long (born Mary Catherine Small; February 7, 1924 – November 23, 2019) was an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Louisiana's 8th congressional district, which she filled from 1985 to 1987, the remainder of the term left by the death of her husband, Gillis William Long. Until it was disbanded in 1993, the 8th district was based in Central Louisiana about Alexandria. She was the first female military veteran elected to Congress, having served as a WAVE in the United States Navy.

Born Mary Catherine Small in Dayton, Ohio, she attended school in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. She served as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy during World War II before earning a B.A. degree from Louisiana State University in 1948. In 1947, Cathy Small married Gillis Long, a decorated World War II veteran and member of one of Louisiana’s most powerful political families. While raising their two children, George and Janis, Cathy Long’s early career included nonelective political work. She served as a staff assistant to Oregon Senator Wayne Lyman Morse and Ohio Representative James G. Polk. She also served as a delegate to Democratic National Conventions and was a member of the Louisiana Democratic Finance Council and the state party’s central committee. Her husband served in the U.S. House from 1963 to 1965 and from 1973 until his death in 1985.

When Gillis Long died on January 20, 1985, the party turned immediately to his widow to run for his vacant seat. On February 4, she declared her intention to seek the nomination. Long ran on her name recognition with a central campaign pledge to fulfill her husband’s legislative interests without offering many specific policy positions of her own. Cathy Long was elected by a more than a two-to-one margin carrying all but one of 15 parishes in the special election on March 30, 1985. As a Representative, Cathy Long hewed to the same agenda as her husband, who often criticized the Ronald Reagan administration. Additionally, Representative Long worked on issues impacting women and other minorities. Owing to the burden of remaining campaign debts from her special election, Cathy Long elected not to run for re-election in 1986.

After Congress, Long worked as a volunteer in Washington, DC, area homeless shelters and as a reading tutor. She also spent time with her grandchildren, who grew up near the capital. At the age of 95, Cathy Long died in Chevy Chase, Maryland.