J. Frank McInnis (January 28, 1886–January 27, 1959) was a judge of the state Second Circuit Court of Appeal from Minden, Louisiana, who in 1952 succeeded Robert F. Kennon, also of Minden, in the judgeship which Kennon vacated to become governor of Louisiana. Prior to his appeals court service, McInnis served for twenty-two years on the now 26th Judicial District Court.
McInnis was born in Castor in Bienville Parish. From 1919-1924, he was the deputy Webster Parish clerk of court. In 1923, he was admitted to the Louisiana bar. In January 1930, McInnis, a Democrat, was appointed to the district court based in Benton, the seat of Bossier Parish, to succeed Harmon Caldwell Drew (1889-1950), who was at the time elevated to the circuit court.<SUP id=cite_ref-mcinnis_ Drew was the father of later Judge and State Representative R. Harmon Drew, Sr., of Minden. Harmon Caldwell Drew's grandson, Harmon Drew, Jr., also of Minden, now serves on the same appeals court.
In December 1953, McInnis retired after a year and a half of service on the appeals court. In 1953, he was named "Citizen of the Year" in Minden. In February 1954, McInnis joined the Minden law firm of John B. Benton (1924-2009) and Enos Carr McClendon, Jr. (1917-2003), later a state court judge.He was married to the former Cortez Mixon (November 3, 1889–December 2, 1947). The couple resided at 211 Goode Avenue in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish.McInnis died the day before his 73rd birthday. The McInnises are interred at Minden Cemetery.


References


"Judge J.F. McInnis Will Retire Soon," Minden Herald, December 18, 1953, p. 1
Judge J.F. McInnis Joins Law firm," February 19, 1954, p. 1
Earlene Mendenhall Lyle, Minden Cemetery records
Telephone directory, Minden, Louisiana, 1940


Submitted by:  Billy  Hathorn, Class of 1966