The “L&B; Cotton Gin”, by artist Larry Casso illustrates the early 1900’s when cotton was one of the major commercial crops in Southwest Louisiana and East Texas. Every community and town supported at least one cotton gin that was open to all farmers, although some larger fields and plantations had their own gins. The 1930’s brought improved transportation leading to the widespread marketing of goods and services. Farmers could grow crops that were best suited to their areas. Cotton farming in Southwest Louisiana and East Texas was eventually replaced with more successful crops such as rice. Fields of cotton, along with the many cotton gins that were once commonplace, are now only a memory to some, but remain an important part of our history.

Artist Larry Casso joins the ranks as one of Cameron Telephone Company’s many distinguished and successful artists. Casso grew up in historical New Orleans, where he graduated from the John McCrady Art School. He founded the Baton Rouge Fine Arts Academy in 1973 and is still an instructor there. He was commissioned to paint portraits of two Louisiana governors, Edwin Edwards and Jimmie Davis. He had the honor of painting a portrait of Pope John Paul II, which he presented to the Pope at the Vatican in Rome.