O. H. Haynes, Jr.

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Oscar Henry Haynes, Jr.
Sheriff of Webster Parish, Louisiana
In office July 1964 – July 1980
Preceded by	John D. "J.D." Batton
Succeeded by	Royce L. McMahen, D.V.M.

Born	October 28, 1920(1920-10-28) Minden in Webster Parish, Louisiana
Died	December 9, 1996 (aged 76)
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse	Freddie Louise Walker Haynes (born 1924)
Children	O.H. Haynes, III, Fred Haynes (born 1946), Jerry Haynes, Gary Haynes
Occupation	Businessman; Law-enforcement officer
Religion	Baptist

Oscar Henry "O.H." Haynes, Jr. (October 28, 1920 - December 9, 1996), was the Democratic sheriff of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana from 1964-1980. He was also the parish Exxon distributor for some four decades. He was the father of Louisiana State University American football star Freddie Lynn "Fred" Haynes, who played for the Tigers in Baton Rouge during the latter 1960s.

Haynes was born in Minden, the seat of government of Webster Parish, to Mr. and Mrs. O.H. Haynes, Sr. The senior Haynes, originally from tiny Shongaloo north of Minden, was sheriff from 1933-1952. Haynes graduated from Minden High School in 1939, having played football on the MHS state championship team in 1938, twenty-five years before his son Fred played on the next MHS state championship team. Thereafter, he married the former Freddie Louise Walker (MHS Class of 1940), originally from the village of Ashland in northernmost Natchitoches Parish. Besides Fred, the couple had three other sons, O.H., III, Jerry, and Gary Haynes, all of Minden.

In the 1964 party primary, Haynes unseated fellow Democratic Sheriff John D. "J.D." Batton (1911-1981), who had served for twelve years. Haynes appointed the African American deputy Louis Dunbar, Sr., whose son "Sweet" Lou Dunbar became, like Haynes' son a distinguished athlete. Dunbar played for twenty-seven years for the Harlem Globetrotters.

In 1967, Haynes scored a second term by again defeating Batton. In the general election on February 1, 1972, Haynes obtained his third term by defeating George A. Pipes (1913-1976), a businessman from Dubberly in south Webster Parish and the only Republican candidate who ever challenged him in the traditionally Democratic area.

Haynes did not seek a fifth term in 1980 but instead supported his chief deputy, Royce L. McMahen (1923-1999), a veterinarian from Springhill in northernmost Webster Parish, as his successor. He resumed private business.

Prior to his sheriff's tenure, Haynes directed the Louisiana state driver's license office in Minden, a position which gave him contact with voters who would later elect him four times as sheriff. In Louisiana, the sheriff is the collector of property taxes and also enforces criminal laws outside the municipalities.

Haynes, who was Baptist, died at his residence after a lengthy illness. He is interred in the Minden Cemetery.

Preceded by John D. "J.D." Batton	Sheriff of Webster Parish, Louisiana Oscar Henry Haynes, Jr. 1964–1980	Succeeded by Royce L. McMahen