Richland Parish, Louisiana, est., 1868

Richland Parish is located in Northeast Louisiana, on the western boundaries of the Mississippi River delta. Prior to its creation in 1868, the area known as Richland was previously parts of Ouachita, Morehouse, Franklin, & Carroll Parish.

How RichlandRoots Began

RichlandRoots began as a hobby and a repository of sorts, for local history research relative to Richland Parish. Not all posts are directly connected to Richland, but more often than not, there is a tie that binds.

About the author: Luke J. Letlow

Luke Letlow was born and raised in Richland Parish, Louisiana. He attended Start school from the 1st-8th grade, and attended High School at Ouachita Christian, graduating in 1998. Luke received a B.S. from Louisiana Tech University in 2003, and is married to Dr. Julia Barnhill Letlow, of Monroe, where she serves as the director of external affairs for the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Luke began his career in public service, working for the United States House of Representatives in 2004, as the District Director for the First Congressional District of Louisiana, located in the greater New Orleans metro area. In 2007, Letlow was appointed as a Special Assistant to the Governor, serving as both the Director of Louisiana Boards and Commissions and the Louisiana Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.

In 2010, Luke moved to the private sector, where he resided in Shreveport, La., and later, in Denver, Colorado. He served as the Director of Government and Community Affairs for QEP Resources, an Oil and Gas exploration and development company.

In 2014, Letlow returned home to Louisiana to serve as the campaign chairman for Ralph Abraham’s first election to the United States Congress, representing Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District. He has served as Chief of Staff to Rep. Abraham throughout Abraham’s term in Congress. He commutes regularly between Washington and Louisiana, with his primary residence remaining in Louisiana. Luke and his wife Julia Barnhill Letlow recently built their home in Start, Louisiana, where he often jokes “is right back where it all began.” They are the parents of Jeremiah John Letlow and Jaqueline Taylor Letlow.

Luke and his family worship at Covenant Presbyterian Church, in Monroe. He enjoys writing, spending time with family, as well as local and regional history. He also volunteers his time supporting numerous boards and charitable causes.