Background
Chastain, Merritt Banning was born on January 28, 1940 in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States. Son of Merritt Banning and Lydia (Spock) Chastain.
Chastain, Merritt Banning was born on January 28, 1940 in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States. Son of Merritt Banning and Lydia (Spock) Chastain.
University of Oklahoma (Bachelor of Science, 1962). Louisiana State University (Juris Doctor, 1967). Phi Delta Phi (Vice President, 1967).
Vice President, Louisiana State University School of Law, 1967.
Outstanding Young Manitoba of Shreveport and Louisiana, Louisiana Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1975. President, Ark-Louisiana-Tex Tax Institute, 1978.
Member, Board of Directors and Vice President, Shreveport-Bossier Bank Counsel Group, 1985-1988.
Bar: Louisiana 1967, United States District Court (western district) Louisiana 1968, United States District Court (eastern district) Louisiana 1972, United States Court Appeals (5th circuit) 1972, Supreme Court of the United States Court 1979. Law clerk Louisiana Court 2nd District Court of Appea circuit), Shreveport, 1967-1968. Associate Smitherman, Lunn, Chastain & Hill Shreveport, 1968-1972, partner, since 1972.
Managing director National Association of Pipe Coating Applicators, since 1979.
Special counsel Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, 1985-1987. Chairman United Way of Shreveport/Bossier City, 1975, Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas Ambs., Incorporated., 1989.
President Volumes American, 1976, Norwela council Boy Scouts American, 1977-1978, Cotillion Governor Board, 1989, Demoiselle Club, 1992, Shreveport Opera, 1992, 93. Executive vice president Shreveport Symphony Society, 1981.
Board directors Shreveport Opera, 1981-1995, secretary, 1981.
Trustee Loyola College Preparatory School, 1984-1989, Executive Committee, 1985-1989, president of the board of trustees, 1986-1987. Chairman.bd. Loyola Foundation Shreveport, 1987-1988. Chairman Ark-Louisiana-Texas Ambs., Incorporated., 1989.
President Cotillion Governing Board, 1989.
Corporation sponsor chairman, Arthritis Foundation Telethon, 1990. Captain United States Army Reserve, 1962-1968.
Named OutstandingYoung Manitoba of Louisiana, Louisiana Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1975, Outstanding Young Manitoba of Shreveport, Shreveport Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1975.
Member American Bar Association (Louisiana. Member chairman 1976-1982), Louisiana State Bar Association (special committee 1974-1975), Shreveport Bar Association, (executive council 1971-1975, secretary-treasurer 1972, Board of Governors young lawyer"s section 1967-1974, president young lawyer"s section 1974), Louisiana Law Institute. Clubs: Shreveport.
Married Virginia Anne Ferguson, July 21, 1962. Children: Merritt Banning III, Grayson Anne Clarke.