The Early Years

As our nation fought to emerge from the stock market crash of 1929, the early 1930s began to bring about some renewed hope and promise — especially for the Wylys. The family ran a cotton plantation passed down through the generations, and Flora, Charles and Sam's mother, operated a dance school in Lake Providence, Louisiana.

A decade later, the lingering effect of Wall Street's fall had taken its toll. The Wyly family — trying to save their cotton plantation — moved from its "painted house" in town to a small rural cabin. Economic realities forced the family to move again, and they finally landed in Angola, where Charles, Sr., and Flora took jobs at the state prison to make ends meet.

The Wyly family later moved to Delhi, Louisiana. They bought the Delhi Dispatch, the town newspaper, and later opened an insurance office and a Western Union franchise.

In 1950, Charles and Sam became Eagle Scouts. They later played together on the Delhi football team that won the 1951 state championship.