Joe Sampite

Joseph Michael Sampité, known as Joe Sampité (January 22, 1931—May 18, 2012) was an American politician from Louisiana. He was known for the promotion of his adopted hometown of Natchitoches, of which he served as the mayor from 1980 to 2000.

Joe Sampité was born on January 22, 1931, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Joseph Alphonse Sampité Sr. and Bathilda Guillot Sampité (1885–1962). He had eleven siblings—Albert J. Sampité (1909–2003), Eleanor Sampité Dimmick (1910–1997), Frances Ruth Sampité (1912–2011), Leona Sampité Hernandez (1914–2003), Grundy C Sampité (1915–1975), Kelly Sampité Poche (1917–1981), Cecilia Bathilda Sampité Morford (1919–2007), Marielise Sampité Brosset (1921–2023), Joseph Alphonse Sampité (1923–2013), Michael C. Sampité (1926–1952), and Mary Sampité Lacour (1927–2009).

A colorful figure, Sampité wore white socks, a habit begun during his early days as a coach. He distributed "I Love Natchitoches" stickers by the thousands during his twenty years in municipal office and was instrumental in bringing the filming to Natchitoches of Steel Magnolias, starring Dolly Parton and Sally Field. Coincidentally, the year that Sampité graduated from Northwestern, another picture was filmed in Natchitoches, John Wayne's The Horse Soldiers.

In his first election as mayor in 1980, Sampité, a native of New Orleans, defeated the one-term incumbent Robert DeBlieux. As mayor, he expanded the city's fire and police departments and recreation program and directed major improvements in infrastructure and the Natchitoches airport.

As the president of the Louisiana Municipal Association from 1986 to 1987, he was the first recipient of that organization's President's Award. At the turn of the 21st century, the Shreveport Times named Sampité among its "Top 100 Influential People in Northwest Louisiana." In 2000, he was inducted into the Northwestern State University Hall of Distinction, or Long Purple Line, the highest designation for alumni. In 2002, he was named to the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.

Mayor Sampité was profiled in The Oxford American magazine in an article entitled "No Ordinary Joe." He received numerous other honors, including "Man of the Year" awards from the Natchitoches Parish Chamber of Commerce, Natchitoches Junior Chamber, and the Louisiana Parks and Recreation Association. He was a member of the American Legion, the group Founders of Natchitoches, and the Roman Catholic men's organization, the Knights of Columbus.

A Democrat, Sampité did not seek reelection to a sixth term in the municipal election held in the spring of 2000. Two Democrats competed in the runoff election held on April 15 for the right to succeed Sampité. City council member-at-large and current mayor, Wayne McCullen, narrowly defeated John Winston in the election, 3,026 (50.3 percent) to 2,962 (49.7 percent).

Sampité sought a political comeback in the fall of 2007, but he was defeated in a competitive campaign by the Republican Rick Nowlin, a Natchitoches businessman, for the District 23 seat (then Natchitoches and Winn parishes) in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Nowlin polled 4,609 votes (55 percent) in the general election to Sampités 3,766 (45 percent) In the primary on October 20, Nowlin led a four-candidate field with 4,849 votes (35 percent) to Sampités 4,598 (33 percent). Two other Democrats, Ralph Wilson and Mack James, polled 2,847 (21 percent) and 1,459 (11 percent), respectively. Hence, Nowlin and Sampité were thrust into the general election.

Sampité was married to Hazel Barnes (1937—2004). They had four children—Sharon Elizabeth Sampité (1961–2009), Chris Sampité, Sheila Sampité Hardin, and Michaela Marie Sampité.

Sampité died in Natchitoches on May 18, 2012, at the age of eighty-one. His services were held on May 22, 2012, at his home church, the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in downtown Natchitoches, with interment at Memory Lawn Cemetery.

Mayor Wayne McCullen issued this statement on his predecessor's death:

It is certainly a sad day for the citizens of Natchitoches and the state of Louisiana. Natchitoches has lost an icon with the passing of Mayor Joe Sampité. He touched so many lives through his years of coaching and twenty years as mayor ... He was a mentor of mine as I served with him while I was city councilman at large. Our prayers certainly go out to his family. Mayor Sampité’s legacy will live on forever in Natchitoches.

David West, the Northwestern State University news bureau director, described Sampité as "a tireless advocate for Natchitoches and NSU. He loved NSU a lot. He was always available to speak to freshmen at our Freshman Connection and was a commencement speaker at one of our graduations. Mayor Sampité was one of a kind."A "Joe Sampité Scholarship Fund" has been established at the Northwestern State University Foundation.