The entirety of Sabine Parish is in mourning following an announcement last week that Joe R. Salter, a Florien native whose dedication to local education led to him becoming a legendary state politician, died on August 16 at the age of 82 due to kidney cancer.
Salter distinguished himself in education, serving Sabine Parish with honor prior to his political career in the Louisiana House of Representatives. After serving honorably for 17 years in the house as the District 24 representative, he was elected as the 62nd Speaker of the House in 2004. He is the only person from Sabine Parish to have ever served as speaker and is the longest serving member of the house from Sabine Parish (1986-2008). He spent the past eight years as a board member of the University of Louisiana system.
On January 10, 2008, he began working as Director of Governmental Affairs for the Louisiana Department of Education in Baton Rouge under State Supt. Paul Pastorek. His responsibilities included working with the Legislature on elementary/ secondary issues and with the Federal delegation. He also interacted with other governmental units on elementary/secondary issues.
On June 22, 2012, Secretary of State Tom Schedler hired him as Undersecretary of Management and Finance for the Louisiana Dept. of State. Salter supervised the following divisions: commercial, internal audit, human resources, legal, accounting, information technology and archive/museum.
Salter first entered politics in Florien, when he was elected as alderman and served the town as treasurer. He was also secretary/treasurer of Wards 1 & 2 Fire Protection Dist. 1; a member of the Joint Commission in the Fisher-Florien Sewerage Project; treasurer of the Sabine Neutral Strip Historical Foundation and a commissioner for the Sabine Recreation District. He was also a member of the Florien Lions Club. Those years eventually led him to bigger and better things on a statewide level.
His background in education made him a distinguished legislator. He referred to his political career as “a golden opportunity.”
When approached about running for State Representative, he talked to his family and prayed about the decision.
One of those he talked to was his mother-inlaw, Mrs. W.G. Lilly of Florien. She offered her advice by saying, “I think you need to do it because I’ve always heard that an honest man can’t get elected, and if he does, he can’t stay that way.” She told Salter, “I’d like to see you do it in order to prove that wrong.”
Salter took the challenge and was elected not once, but six times. He also proved the axiom wrong and was selected as Speaker of the House. Sadly his mother-in-law didn’t live to see his distinguished career.
Salter noted that he didn’t enter the legislature interested in leadership. “I just wanted to represent my people and improve things.”
Part of that effort was working with the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation on issues of moral and social concern.
Rep. Salter was the floor leader for 10 years at the Foundation, according to Executive Ken Ward in 2004.
“Joe has always lived an exemplary life of a Christian public servant. He is not only tremendously respected in the Legislature but is also exemplary as an advocate for moral values based upon his Christian faith.”
“My faith gives me a clear sense of what’s right and wrong,” Salter said.
He was first elected to the Louisiana Legislature to complete the fouryear term formerly held by H.M. ‘Mutt” Fowler of Coushatta in 1986. Two years later, in 1988 he was re-elected without opposition for a full fouryear term beginning in 1992 and then again in 1996.
Known as a man of his word, Salter worked hard for District 24 (Sabine, Red River and parts of Desoto and Bienville parishes) and his state in the Legislature. He was an honest, well respected and effective legislator, who served for 17 years before he was elected as the 62nd Speaker of the House in 2004.
During his tenure in the House, he served on the House Education Committee and on key committees, which addressed the budget and financing of state government; the Appropriations Committee, the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget and Joint Capital Outlay Committee. He also chaired the House Legislative Bureau and Rural Legislative Task Force and served as a member of the Special Committee on Louisiana Homeland Security.
In addition, Salter has served as vice chairman of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts; the Advisory Board of NSU-Leesville/ Fort Polk, Secondary School Redesign Study Committee, School Finance Review Commission and the Louisiana School-To-Work Council.
Salter is the only legislator from Sabine Parish to have served as Speaker of the House. He also has the distinction of being the longest serving member of the House from Sabine Parish (21 plus years, 1986-2008).
Dedicated to serving the people of Louisiana, he was committed to moving the state forward by continuing to improve education, healthcare and economic development.
In 2008, Salter resigned because of term limits and joined state government. On Jan. 10, 2008 he began working as Director of Governmental Affairs for the Louisiana Dept. of Education, under State Superintendent Paul Pastorek. His responsibilities included working with the legislature on elementary/secondary issues and working with the federal delegation. Salter also interacted with other governmental units on elementary/secondary issue.
On his final day at the Dept. of Education, State Supt. John White sent an email to everyone in the department, saying, “Joe is both unflinchingly honest and disarmingly gentle. He has both purpose and empathy. He is universally respected.” He continued, “Victories in the legislature this year and in years past. Come after thousands of small interactions between those on one side and those on another. Moving people toward large-scale change is an art of incremental brushstrokes. In this art, Joe is a master.”
On June 22, 2012, Secretary of State Tom Schedler hired Salter as Undersecretary of Management and Finance for the Louisiana Dept. of State. Salter supervises the following divisions: commercial, internal audit, human resources, legal, accounting, information technology and archives/museum.
Needless to say, Salter has made a name for himself on the local, parish and state levels. He is truly the success story of “hometown boy makes good.”
When one hears the name Joe Salter, words like respected, effective, ethical, distinguished, honorable and servant come to mind. Salter is a loving husband, fine father and great grandfather, who became an excellent educator and a true statesman. His career skyrocketed for a young man who never aspired to leadership. He became one of the most important elected officials in the state and took his time listening to constituents and voters, as he aimed to make Louisiana a better place to live.
On the parish level, Salter held memberships in the Many Rotary Club, the Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce, and the Toledo Bend Lake Association, who named him Person of the Year in 1994. He also served on the Board of Directors of Peoples State Bank before it merged with MidSouth Bank and was a member of the Sabine Parish Library Board of Trustees. Salter is a longtime member of the Sabine Hall of Fame Board of Directors; has served on the Board of Directors of the Coordinating and Development Corporation and an executive committee member and president of the Louisiana Association of School Executives, who named him Outstanding Educator in 1986. Salter was also a member of the Coushatta-Red River Chamber of Commerce.
He is also a former member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, where he was an executive committee member for seven years and served as president for three years.
His constituents have honored him many times and he had had the honor of being recognized by many organizations. Among his honors and awards include: Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Golden Apple Award, 1986, 1987 and 1990 and Representative of the Year Award, 1991 and 2001; Louisiana Association of Educators Friend of Education, 1994; North Louisiana Area Heal Education Center, Legislative Award, 1994; Louisiana Federation of Teachers, 100% Voting Record; 1997; Outstanding Service Award and Legislative Honor Roll, 1997 and Outstanding Legislator, 2001; Louisiana Library Association Distinguished Legislator of the Year, 1989; Louisiana Council on Aging Directors’ Association, Champion of Senior Citizens in Louisiana Special Award, 2001; Fleur de Lis Healthcare Leadership Award, 2002; Guardian of Small Business Award, 1991; Louisiana Rural Health Association Legislator of the Year, 1995; Louisiana Public Broadcasting President’s Award, 2000; Police Jury Association of Louisiana Friend of the Parishes, 1997; Louisiana Federation of Teachers, Legislator of the Year, 2001; Louisiana Dietetic Association, Special Friend to Children; Louisiana State Troopers Association, Legislator of the Year, 2004; and American Psychological Association, State Legislator of the Year, 2005.
Many more were presented through his time in the legislature. In 2024, he was honored by the Louisiana house of representatives upon his official retirement after decades of public service.
Locally, Salter had the honor of serving as Grand Marshal of the Freestate Festival Parade, 2005; and the Many Christmas Parade Grand Marshal, 2005. He and his wife have also served as poster sponsor for the Tamale Fiesta and Freestate Festival. In 2015, he was inducted as a member of the Sabine Parish Hall of Fame.
Taylor House has also presented him with a plaque for his support of the domestic violence women’s shelter in Many. He has served an Honorary Chairman of the March of Dimes, Sabine Parish WalkAmerica, and supported the American Cancer Society and Easter Seals campaigns.
In the beginning
Born on August 13, 1943 to Loucille and J.D. Salter of Florien, he and his older brother, the late Lamar Salter, enjoyed a “great childhood” growing up on a 180-acre farm, west of Florien.
His parents are now deceased, but the lessons they taught shaped the man he became.
A faithful churchgoer, young Joe led the congregational singing at Antioch Baptist Church while still in his teens. “I got good training by getting up in front of people,” he stated. “I couldn’t read music, but when I was asked to lead the music, I did.”
Leading the music provided valuable experience for Salter. “I learned to be self-confident,” he added.
Those early lessons paid off in his political career, especially when, as Speaker of the House, he called the sessions to order.
Although he had chores to accomplish on the farm, he found time to shoot hoops, a hobby that paid off when he entered high school. He lettered all four years as a guard for the FHS Blackcats.
A strong student, Salter graduated as salutatorian of the Class of 1961. By that time, he had already started dating Bettye Lilly, who was on the Lady Blackcat basketball team, and active in the Future Homemakers of America and 4-H Following her graduation in 1962, Bettye began college at Northwestern, where her boyfriend was attending.
Bettye earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1965 and soon after graduation they said their wedding vows.
Bettye and Joe began their married life in Caddo Parish, where he taught at Summer Grove Elementary School. By that time, Joe had earned his degree in business education and social studies. He graduated with honors. Later on he earned his Master’s degree and Plus 30 hours at NSU. On campus he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Blue Key, National Honor Fraternity and Phi Delta Kappa.
After graduation, he accepted a job as an auditor for the Caddo Parish School Board and the couple settled down. The year was 1965.
In 1966, Salter joined the National Guard and they returned to Florien. While Salter was awaiting his orders, he pulled veneer on the Green Chain at Vancouver Plywood Co. Inc. for six weeks. Finally, he was hired to teach the second semester of the 1966-1967 school year at Rosepine. He taught junior high English and at the end of the term his orders came through. That summer he completed basic training at Fort Polk and when the new school year 196768 rolled around he was hired to teach social studies and science at Florien.
After his commitment to the military, he was honorably discharged.
In 1969, his fatherin- law, W.G. Lilly retired as principal and Salter was named his successor.
Salter served as FHS principal for 11 years and during that time he successfully completed integration and helped pass a bond issue for the construction of a new school. In 1981, Salter was promoted to assistant superintendent of Sabine Parish Schools, a position he held for 17 ½ years.
Bettye retired from the Sabine Parish School system with 20 years in teaching in 1993. She was kindergarten certificated and taught the first public kindergarten class at Florien. During her career in the classroom, he taught seventh and eighth grade remedial reading, fifth and sixth grade science, ready and social studies, and for the last five years of her career, hands-on science. She was a beloved teacher, who disciplined her students with warm smiles and sour apples.
During this time, the Salters raised two wonderful children, Mandy and Brantley Salter. The Salters attended the First Baptist Church of Florien each Sunday, where Salter served as a deacon, Church Training Director and taught children’s Sunday School. Sunday was always a day of worship at the church.
The Salters are a loving family who enjoy spending time together. Daughter Mandy and her husband, Billy Gibbs, are the parents of two children, Hannah, 18, and Tyler, 10.
Joe and Bettye Salter enjoyed an exciting life in politics, have raised their family and enjoyed living in Baton Rouge. In later years, their priority shifted to their grandchildren.
As of press time, funeral services were pending.