"SURPRISE ARRIVALS FOR PLAIN DEAILNG MARSHAL"

The August 27, 1953 issue of the Bossier Banner-Progress told of an exciting event that a Plain Dealing Marshal experienced.

“Although he exceeded the speed limits and performed duties usually done by physicians, Marshal Emmett Allen, of Plain Dealing is a hero. He delivered a seven-pound 15-ounce baby while taking the mother to a Shreveport hospital and outran a Bossier City policeman in getting the mother and bay to the Confederate Memorial Hospital.”

Confederate Memorial Medical Center - 1953

“The incident happened Sunday night when he was called to the home of Mrs. Charles May, of Plain Dealing. Realizing it was too late to call an ambulance, the marshal placed Mrs. May in his car and sped toward Shreveport. Three miles south of Benton, the marshal saw he could not reach the hospital, so he stopped along the roadside and delivered the baby, although he had never performed such a task before.”

“After the birth he wrapped the mother and infant in a blanket and rushed on to the hospital where both were reported to be doing fine.”

“Enroute, police first mistook the marshal for a speeder, but when they learned of the emergency they provided an escort to the hospital.”

Two weeks later, in the September 10, 1953 issue of the Bossier Banner-Progress, the newspaper reported the following:

“Town Marshal Emmett Allen of Plain Dealing is willing to rest on his laurels as Dr. Stork after
delivering the second baby in 13 days while making emergency runs of expectant mothers to the Confederate Memorial Hospital Sunday.”

“Allen received an emergency call Sunday night for Mrs. Ethel Cagle, who lives near Plain
Dealing. Accompanied by Virgil Cagle, Mrs. Cagle’s husband, the marshal drove to Shreveport but not quite to the hospital when the baby arrived.”

“Allen did most of the emergency work, but the father gave his some assistance. The baby was born in an ambulance which Allen operates.”

“On August 24, Marshal Allen was rushing another Plain Dealing woman to the hospital when the baby was born in the rear seat of his personal car near Benton. The mother in this case was Mrs. Charles May.”

“The baby born Sunday to Mr. and Mrs. Cagle was a healthy boy. After the arrival the mother and child were taken to the hospital and admitted.”

To learn more about Bossier Parish happenings in bygone years, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center.

By: Ann Middleton