By George Moss
In my first article, I asked: Who are we? Where are we? Well, let’s take out that mirror again and take a hard, honest look. We’ll see some things to be proud of—and some things we’d rather not admit.
Winnfield, like so many small towns, has a proud past. We are the hometown of three governors and, for decades, were the epicenter of Louisiana politics. Think about it: from 1928 to 1972, every Louisiana governor but one came from within 40 miles of Winnfield—and that lone exception was impeached and removed from office. That’s an incredible amount of political power for one small community.
But here’s the question: What happened? Did we embrace that good fortune and build on it? Or did we let jealousy, division, and complacency turn us inward? Governor Earl K. Long once told my grandfather, “I would give Winnfield anything they want but, they don’t want anything from me”. I find that to be very sad.
The Winnfield of 50 Years Ago
Those who remember 1975 will recall a Winn Parish that was alive and thriving. Downtown bustled with cafés, grocery stores, locally owned lumberyards, theaters, and more. Industry was strong—Winn Parish was home to both large and family-owned lumber mills, and at one point boasted the three largest pine plywood mills in the world, employing hundreds in stable, career-level jobs.
But those days are gone. Some losses were beyond our control. Others were not.
Outside Forces That Hit Hard
National politics has shaped our fate more than many realize. Trade agreements like NAFTA had a devastating impact here. Subsidized Canadian timber flooded the U.S. market, undercutting local mills and making it nearly impossible for small owners to compete.
Every change in labor laws and trade policy ripples through towns like ours. We all want better wages and working conditions, but when our market is opened to countries with no such standards, we are left behind. Yes, cheaper goods may seem like a win at the checkout counter—but what’s the real cost when your neighbors’ jobs disappear?
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Over the past 25 years, our population has declined by more than 30%. Winnfield is no longer a city—just a town of about 3,900 people. Our job market continues to shrink at roughly 3.5% a year, and our poverty rate hovers around 30%. These facts are not just hard to face—they are hard to overcome.
Self-Inflicted Wounds
Since we’ve got the mirror out, let’s face the damage we’ve done to ourselves.
Take I-49. I’ve seen the original map. The plan was for the interstate to run from Alexandria to Winnfield, then split—one branch toward Monroe, the other toward Bossier City. This would have placed us at the crossroads of three major highways—a potential economic game changer. But fear of change killed the project. We fought the route, and in the end, we got nothing.
Downtown tells a similar story. Once a vibrant heart of the community, it’s now in disarray. The destruction of the old hotel stripped away character. The decision to run a five-lane highway beside the courthouse tore away half of downtown, leaving a scar that never healed.
Even when we had opportunities, we didn’t follow through. In the late 1980s, Mayor Max Kelly worked to sell Winnfield as a tourism destination, even landing the movie Blaze here. Things were looking up. But without planning, without persistence, the momentum died, and we drifted back to “the way it was.”
The Hard Truth
And here we are—living in a dying town. We can blame Washington, the economy, or global markets all we want. But much of the responsibility lies with us.
So… what now?
In my next column, I’ll explore the possibilities we still have—and yes, there are still some left. But remember this: change will not come from him, her, them, or they.
It will come from us.
If we want Winnfield to thrive again, we must stop sitting on the sidelines, stop pointing fingers, and start doing the hard work—together.
George Moss is a former Winnfield City Mayor now turned columnist. This piece is the second installment of several being shared with the Winn Parish Journal.