In October 1959, aspiring presidential candidate Senator John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie were guests at the International Rice Festival in Crowley, Louisiana. They were hosted by Judge and Mrs Edmund M. Reggie. Other notable political figures of the day in attendance were Edwin Edwards and Camille Gravel.

On Saturday, May 31, 2008, a marker was placed in Crowley Louisiana on the spot where Kennedy addressed a crowd of 135,000.

Photos property of the Edmund Reggie family.  For press copies and permission to reprint, contact us.

• Senator and Mrs. John F. Kennedy Arriving in Lafayette, LA in October 1959 Senator and Mrs. John F. Kennedy Arriving in Lafayette, LA in October 1959
• Judge Edmund Reggie, Jackie Kennedy and Senator John F. Kennedy Judge Edmund Reggie, Jackie Kennedy and Senator John F. Kennedy
• Senator and Mrs. Kennedy at departure with Judge and Mrs. Reggie Senator and Mrs. Kennedy at departure with Judge and Mrs. Reggie
• Edmund Reggie, Jackie Kennedy, JFK and Lafayette Mayor Jerome Domegeaux Edmund Reggie, Jackie Kennedy, JFK and Lafayette Mayor Jerome Domegeaux
• JFK talks to reporter. JFK talks to reporter.
• JFK talks to State Senator Gob Ackal. LA Supreme Court Chief Justice John B. Fournet in background. JFK talks to State Senator Gob Ackal. LA Supreme Court Chief Justice John B. Fournet in background.
• Doris Reggie, JFK, Edmund Reggie and Alma Deeb Doris Reggie, JFK, Edmund Reggie and Alma Deeb
• Yvonne Reggie LaHood, Doris Reggie, JFK, Edmund Reggie and Alma Deeb Yvonne Reggie LaHood, Doris Reggie, JFK, Edmund Reggie and Alma Deeb
• Edmund Reggie, JFK and Jackie Edmund Reggie, JFK and Jackie
• Edmund Reggie, Ricci Scholl and JFK in den at Reggie home Edmund Reggie, Ricci Scholl and JFK in den at Reggie home
• Edmund Reggie, Jackie, Camille Gravel (back), Mitchell John, Mrs. Harold McSween (back) Edmund Reggie, Jackie, Camille Gravel (back), Mitchell John, Mrs. Harold McSween (back)
• Jackie greeting guests in from yard of Edmund Reggie home Jackie greeting guests in from yard of Edmund Reggie home
• USL Blue Key Honor Society members Roland Guidry; Jay Honeycutt, vice president of Blue Key; P. J. Laborde; JFK; Jackie Burson; and Doug Adkins, president of Blue Key. USL Blue Key Honor Society members Roland Guidry; Jay Honeycutt, vice president of Blue Key; P. J. Laborde; JFK; Jackie Burson; and Doug Adkins, president of Blue Key.
• JFK, Edmund Reggie, Jackie, Harold I. "Red" Mitchell JFK, Edmund Reggie, Jackie, Harold I. "Red" Mitchell
• Edmund Reggie, JFK, Jackie, Beatrice Boustany, Steve Smith, Frem Boustany, Jr. Edmund Reggie, JFK, Jackie, Beatrice Boustany, Steve Smith, Frem Boustany, Jr.
• Edmund Reggie, Jackie and Mrs. Harold McSween (Congressman McSween's wife) Edmund Reggie, Jackie and Mrs. Harold McSween (Congressman McSween's wife)
• Barbara Reggie, Sammie Reggie, Alma Deeb, Yvonne LaHood and JFK Barbara Reggie, Sammie Reggie, Alma Deeb, Yvonne LaHood and JFK
• JFK, Jackie and Frem Boustany en route to Oakbourne Country Club Luncheon JFK, Jackie and Frem Boustany en route to Oakbourne Country Club Luncheon
• JFK interview with KVOL reporter Tom Pears JFK interview with KVOL reporter Tom Pears
• Fr. Bacque, Edmund Reggie, JFK, former governor James A. Noe, Doris Reggie Fr. Bacque, Edmund Reggie, JFK, former governor James A. Noe, Doris Reggie
• JFK signs poster for State Trooper JFK signs poster for State Trooper
• Dais at Oakbourne Luncheon hosted by Frem Boustany Sr. Dais at Oakbourne Luncheon hosted by Frem Boustany Sr.
• Edmund Reggie, JFK, Camille Gravel, Jackie, Doris Reggie (Vic Bussie in foreground) Edmund Reggie, JFK, Camille Gravel, Jackie, Doris Reggie (Vic Bussie in foreground)
• Frem Boustany, Sr., JFK, Camille Gravel, Edmund Reggie Frem Boustany, Sr., JFK, Camille Gravel, Edmund Reggie
• Edmund Reggie and John F. Kennedy leaving Oakbourne Edmund Reggie and John F. Kennedy leaving Oakbourne
• JFK addressing Rice Festival crowd of 135,000. Edmund Reggie in background. JFK addressing Rice Festival crowd of 135,000. Edmund Reggie in background.
• JFK looking at crowd JFK looking at crowd
• Jackie looking at crowd, 1959 Rice Festival, Crowley Louisiana Jackie looking at crowd, 1959 Rice Festival, Crowley Louisiana
• John B Fournet, Jackie and James A. Noe John B Fournet, Jackie and James A. Noe
• Jackie addresses Rice Festival crowd in French. Edmund Reggie looks on. Jackie addresses Rice Festival crowd in French. Edmund Reggie looks on.
• Camille Gravel and Jackie Kennedy Camille Gravel and Jackie Kennedy
• JFK crowns Rice Festival Queen Judith Ann Haydel JFK crowns Rice Festival Queen Judith Ann Haydel
• JFK, Judith Haydel and Jackie JFK, Judith Haydel and Jackie
• Jackie accepts gift as Edmund Reggie looks on Jackie accepts gift as Edmund Reggie looks on
• 1959 Rice Festival crowd 1959 Rice Festival crowd
• JFK, Queen Judith Haydel, and master of ceremonies Edwin Edwards JFK, Queen Judith Haydel, and master of ceremonies Edwin Edwards
• JFK addresses crowd as Edmund Reggie looks on JFK addresses crowd as Edmund Reggie looks on
• JFK addresses crowd, 1959 Rice Festival, Crowley Louisiana JFK addresses crowd, 1959 Rice Festival, Crowley Louisiana
• JFK addresses Rice Festival crowd, Crowley Louisiana JFK addresses Rice Festival crowd, Crowley Louisiana
• John F. Kennedy and Judith Haydel John F. Kennedy and Judith Haydel
• JFK accepts gift of appreciation JFK accepts gift of appreciation
• Main platform 1959 Rice Festival Main platform 1959 Rice Festival
• JFK in rice hat, with Jackie JFK in rice hat, with Jackie
• JFK wearing rice hat, flanked by Edwin Edwards JFK wearing rice hat, flanked by Edwin Edwards
• Senator and Mrs. John F. Kennedy and Judge and Mrs. Edmund Reggie in 1959 Rice Festival parade, driven by Mr. Childress Senator and Mrs. John F. Kennedy and Judge and Mrs. Edmund Reggie in 1959 Rice Festival parade, driven by Mr. Childress
• 1959 Rice Festival Parade 1959 Rice Festival Parade
• Mrs. Hoffpauir leads Crowley High School students in a song written by Evelyn Gravel Mrs. Hoffpauir leads Crowley High School students in a song written by Evelyn Gravel
• JFK meets Crowley High School students JFK meets Crowley High School students
• JFK party embarking for departure from Lafayette Airport JFK party embarking for departure from Lafayette Airport
• Kennedys and Reggies in Rice Festival Parade Kennedys and Reggies in Rice Festival Parade
• Crowley native John Gott and family at Historical Marker (photo courtesy John Gott) Crowley native John Gott and family at Historical Marker (photo courtesy John Gott)
• Historical Marker placed in Crowley Louisiana at Court Circle (photo courtesy John Gott) Historical Marker placed in Crowley Louisiana at Court Circle (photo courtesy John Gott)
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