Joe Reece Salter

Joe Reece Salter, former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, passed away on Saturday, August 16, 2025, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana surrounded by his family. Born on August 13, 1943, in Many, LA, Salter grew up in Redland. He and his wife, Bettye, spent most of their lives raising their family in Florien, Louisiana where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church.

After graduating from Northwestern State in Natchitoches, LA, where he was a member of the Blue Key Society and Phi Kappa Phi, Salter became principal at Florien High School and held that position for 11 years. As principal, he initiated the construction of a new school building, FHS became state accredited, and he served 4 consecutive terms as president of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Salter was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Sabine Parish Schools where he served for 17 years.

Joe’s political career began in 1986 when he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, District 24, where he served a 22-year term, becoming House Speaker in 2004. Among numerous honors during his political career, Salter was a three-time recipient of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, Legislative Golden Apple Award, named three times to the Louisiana Association of Educators Legislative Honor Roll, and honored by a wide-ranging group of organizations such as the Louisiana Council on Aging, Fleur de Lis Health Care, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and the Louisiana Association of School Executives. He was inducted into the Long Purple Line and the Hall of Distinguished Educators at NSU and the Sabine Parish Hall of Fame. In 2008, Speaker Salter was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame.

After term limiting out of the legislature, Salter spent the next 4 years at the State Department of Education as Director of Governmental Affairs. In 2012, Speaker Salter became Chief of Staff for the Secretary of State, and he was appointed to the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System. Speaker Salter left the employment of the Department of State on January 8, 2024, having amassed 59 years of work in various fields to better the great state of Louisiana.

Despite all the many accomplishments made by Joe as an educator, politician and local community leader, nothing brought him greater joy than spending time with family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved to grill and his family ate many a good steak cooked on his big red grill on Saturday nights.

Salter is survived by his loving wife and childhood sweetheart of 60 years, the former Bettye Lilly of Florien; two children, Amanda Marye Gibbs (Billy) of Florien and Brantley Reece Salter (Tammy) of Baton Rouge; four grandchildren: Hannah Gibbs Fontenot (Gage), Haylee Salter, Tyler Gibbs and Riley Salter and two great grandchildren, Kendall Fontenot and Axel Fontenot. He was preceded in death by his brother, Lamar Salter, and parents J. D. and Loucille Salter.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, August 22nd at 2:00 p.m., First Baptist Church Baton Rouge. An additional Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, August 24th at 3:00 p.m., First Baptist Church Florien, LA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home at 7200 Desiard St., Monroe, LA 71203.