Career
Jim Fonteno, born July 2, 1926, in Portuguese Arthur, Texas, was one of 6 children of Walton and Lula Mae Fontenot. Fonteno joined the Merchant Marines and later the Army and received an honorable discharge. Fonteno became a County Commissioner in 1974 with the intent of serving for two or possibly three terms - he stayed for 7 terms, serving a total of 28 years.
Fonteno left office in 2002 after 28 years in office, due to Parkinson"s disease.
Fonteno is credited with starting a Senior Citizen program that was later copied in counties throughout the United States of America.