Archibald Thomas LeCesne was one of twelve children born to Adrian and Adele Gaignard LeCesne in New Orleans on 4 December 1907. The family home was located at 1617 ½ North Tonti Street. He spent his younger years with his siblings: Selma, Clifton, Armand, Anthony, Theodore, Warren, Arnold, Alma, Pauline, Rhea, and Emmanuel LeCesne.
A product of the parochial and public schools, Mr. LeCesne attended Xavier University from 1933-1936 (where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree) and in 1939 was awarded a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law. He also completed one year post graduate studies at Catholic University School of Law. He married Eunice Nickens of Washington, D.C. on 2 September 1939.
From 1943 to 1945 Archibald LeCesne served in the U.S. Armed Forces and was assigned to Yale University where he studied Russian History and the Russian Language.
In 1947, he was admitted to the Illinois Bar and he and his wife moved to Chicago where he was an associate in the firm of Temple &Wimbish, one of the oldest law firms in Chicago.
New Orleanians followed Mr. LeCesne’s career closely. They admired him and knew of his great potentials in the field of law. They knew him to be honest, loyal, and energetic. So, when he was appointed Assistant State’s Attorney of Cook County in March of 1949, many wanted to welcome him back to the city in grand style.
The NOLA native was one of five people of color now appointed as Assistant State Attorney and one of the few ever to function as a trial prosecutor in the major courts of Chicago.
On May 8, 1949 New Orleans welcomed back their favorite son by honoring him with a testimonial scroll. The scroll was presented by Rev. A.L. Davis (president of the Louisiana State Progressive voter League) to Archibald T. LeCesne for his recent appointment to the office of Assistant State Attorney in Chicago. The presentation was made at a meeting held in the Autocrat Club, 1725 St. Bernard Ave., by the 7th Ward Progressive League with Marcel Trudeau presiding. LeCesne was a speaker at the event and all those present signed the scroll.
Below is a copy of the scroll he received with the signatures of many political and civic leaders of the city.
Row 1: Frank Lastie, Rev. J.L. Spears, Charles F. Lewis, Henry A. LeRoy Jr., Lawrence Fleury, Louis Lawrence, Albert J. Bloom, C.L. Belfield Jr., C.L. Belfield Sr., Joseph Azemard, Edward J. Bertrand, Joseph —-Jr., E.J.P—–, G.C. Chapital Jr., Gilbert L. Maury, N.H. Burleigh, Albert Chapital, Richard D. Gumbel Sr.
Row 2: Joseph E. Wilkins, August H. Metoyer, Marcus Neustadter Jr., Numa Rousseve, Walter E. Morial, Asa H. Atkins, Warren McKenna, Dr. Ernest Cherrie, A.F. Laneuville, H.J. Christophe, O.C.W. Taylor
Row 3: P.P. Creuzot, A.P. Tureaud, Thomas R. Lee Jr., C.C. Dejoie Jr., Rev. A.L. Davis Jr., Jackson V. Acox, Dave A. Dennis, Joseph O’Brien, Avery C. Alexander, George C. Clark, J. Victor Vavasseur, Alvin K. Isaiah, George Monnie, A.J. B—–, Joseph C. Hayes, Robert W. Chattard, Clarence E. Williams
Another event held in his honor was the invitation extended to him to address the Ladies and Knights of Peter Claver during the communion breakfast following the 7o’clock morning Mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. This event took place on Mother’s Day and Mrs. LeCesne, his mother, was selected “Mother of the Year” She was described as “A typical Crescent City Mother” in conjunction with the Mother’s Day observances here.
Mr. LeCesne was also a loyal member of Xavier and Howard Alumni Associations. He was invited often to speak at Xavier’s alumni functions and is pictured below (1950s) with his fellow Xavier graduates who resided in the Chicago area.
Seated– left to right: Lenora Washington Collins, Helen Ward Clore, Gladys Halliburton, Pearl Cahn Wright, Catherine Morgan
Standing– left to right: Sr. M. Helene (former Dean of X.U.), John Smith, Mr. Saunders (half hidden by Mr. Smith), De Quincy Foster, Atty. Archibald LeCesne, Robert Johnson, James E. Stamps, Waldo Dejan, Carlton Tucker, Porter Myrick, Wilfred Bonner, Atty. Richard Gumbel, Samuel Mitchum, Archie Reeves, two unidentified persons, Sr. Marie Christine (former librarian of X.U.)
From 1952-1962. Attorney LeCesne returned to private practice. From 1962 to 1975, he served as Assistant United States Attorney, Criminal Division.
During his professional career, Mr. LeCesne represented defendants and plaintiffs in hundreds of cases of every kind. Most involved jury trials. Among the many newspaper headline cases tried and won by him as an attorney were those involving mail theft, tax evasions, heroin, smuggling and bank embezzlement.
In 1975 he was appointed Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. He was sworn in on June 27 of that year and held the office until his retirement in 1978.
A devout Catholic, Mr. LeCesne was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church. He was National Advocate of the Knights of St. Peter Claver (an organization that had supported him financially during his college years) and he received their Gold Medal Award for Meritorious service in 1982. In addition, he was a member of the Board of Governors of the Catholic Lawyers Guild and the Holy Name Society.
He was one of the distinguished Knights present for the act of sale when the French Hospital on Orleans Avenue was transferred from the hands of La Societe Francaise de Beinfaisance et d’Assistance Mutuelle De La Nouvelle-Orleans to possession of the Knights & Ladies of Peter Claver whose names are shown below.
left to right: John H. Clouser, James Gibson, A.P. Tureaud, Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, Mrs. S.C. McCarthy, Mrs. A. R. Aubry, Mrs. Geraldine Prejean, Rev. Frances G. Wade (S.V.D), Dr. F. H. LeGall, Joseph M. Wakefield, Raphael Favre
Back Row: Dr. B.V. Baranco Jr., Charles Broussard, J. Roland Prejean, H. J. Christophe, Archibald T. LeCesne, Numa Rousseve
Mr. LeCesne was one of the founders, former president and board member of the Bravo Chapter of Lyric Opera of Chicago.
He also held membership in the NAACP, Chicago Urban League, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the Druids Club. member of the American, National and Illinois Bar Associations.
Judge LeCesne died on April 3, 1983. He was survived by his wife, four sisters, two brothers and many other relatives and friends. He was buried in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.
Sources: Amistad Research Center, “The Archibald T. LeCesne Collection” (Main source of information) ; Xavier University Archives (2 photos) ; The Louisiana Weekly, 07 May 1949 pages 1 and 2 + 14 May 1949 page 1 +05 July 1975 page 5, Genealogy bank.com (obituaries).
Lolita Villavasso Cherrie
Archie LeCesne was my daddy’s cousin, and his niece Charmaine was in my year at Xavier Prep. I enjoyed seeing my dad’s signature on the scroll and his picture with Archie and others. I remember well at the sale of the French Hospital to the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver. Wonderful job as usual, Lolita, and so much fun and educational to read. Thanks.
I remember his brother Armand Lescene and his family. Diane who attended the Prep, Kenneth,the twin boys, Arlene, Charmaine and an older female child and another daughter we called Lennie lived around the corner from me on Havana Street. Oh yes, and the baby was Blain or Blair.Mr.Lescene if I remember was a baker. Armand the oldest boy worked at Veterans Hospital. Diane died very young. Good days well remembered.
Hi Numa, I remember all of this and you. Wonderful history. Glad my family, Sterling Meyers, Marjorie and Mary Elizabeth, Sharon, Kathleen and Deborah were involved.
Thank you for this historic information. My grandmother is the Mrs Elizabeth Thomas in the Knights of Peter Claver picture.
Please continue to publish articles like this that is historical and informative. Dr. B V Baranco’s son, Dr. Raphael Baranco was my family dentist, until the time of his passing! I absolutely love it!!!
Hi Numa and all . Great to see we are still in touch with our history
Seriously. We would not be here if it weren’t for that history. Good to hear from you, Glynne.
Thanks for sharing this historical review of my dad’s oldest brother. It was always a pleasure to visit him in Chicago. He was a great role model and inspiration to me and my twin brother, Terrel. I will be sharing this article with my granddaughter Maria, who hopes to seek a law degree next year.
Archie LeCesne was my Godfather. Despite the miles of distance between us, Chicago and New Orleans, he remembered me on special occasions and when he visited New Orleans.
My “parrain” was a mentee and friend of my father,
A.P.Tureaud, Sr.
Thank you Lolita and all Creolegen members for your dedication in researching, recording and publishing our history and the many contributions we have made to this world.
Ms Cherrie, thank you for continuing your wonderful research. It is delightful to be historically informed and to see so many names of persons I knew as I grew up in NOLA.
Loved reading this article. I believe one of his sisters was Bryant Gumble’s Mother Who was also married to a Chicago Judge.
Hi Eileen,
Yes, you are correct. Rhea LeCesne, one of Archibald Lecesne’s sisters married Bryant Gumbel’s father. Bryant’s father was Judge Richard Gumbel Jr. who also became a judge in Chicago. He was a product of Xavier University as was Mr.LeCesne and he is pictured in the photo above with the Xavier alumni group who resided in Chicago. Together Judge Gumbel and Rhea LeCesne had 4 children: Bryant, Greg, Rhonda, and Renee.
Lolita, you continue to amaze me !
When I was elected Mayor of Inkster, Mi. I received a call from my uncle Archie, who was a U.S. Attorney at the time, whose specialty then was investigating political corruption in the Chicago area. After congratulating me he cautioned me to not fall for bribery or other forms of favors or inducements from those seeking to do business in the city. He has been our mentor and role model that we admired and was very proud of. His words of encouragement and caution was well heeded.
Mr.LeCesne, Thank you for sharing with us those words of wisdom from your uncle, Judge LeCesne. It’s too bad that many of our leaders have not received or chosen not to heed the advice you were given. You must be proud of having had such an honorable man as a family member….Lolita