In 1948 , Earl Long asked Miss Dickerson to narrate his radio campaign speeches . She had first caught Long 's attention on her debate team at Northwestern State University , where she once helped beat powerhouse Harvard University , according to her daughter , Mary Bryant Parker Smith . Lieutenant Governor Dodd urged Long to appoint Miss Dickerson to the position of executive director of the Louisiana Department of Commerce and Industry . While holding this position , she was also from 1948 to 1952 the Democratic national committeewoman from Louisiana and a delegate to the 1948 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , which nominatged the successful Truman-Barkley ticket . Strom Thurmond of South Carolina won Louisiana 's electoral votes that year as the nominee of the States Rights ' Party , but in Louisiana , he was the official Democratic candidate
1948 Democratic National Convention
1948 Democratic National Convention
Mary Evelyn Parker