When state Sen. Gerald Long exits the Louisiana Legislature Monday it will be the first time in a century the state won’t have someone from the Long family lineage serving in elective political office.

Huey P. Long, whose statue overlooks the state Capitol built on his watch, began the dynamic dynasty in 1918 after being elected to the Public Service Commission, followed by his election as governor in 1928.

He was elected to the United States Senate in 1932 and served there until his assassination in the Louisiana Capitol in 1935.

“It’s the end of an era,” said Gerald Long, 75, of Natchitoches, who was term limited after serving 12 years in the state Senate. “I don’t have a child or a grandchild or a cousin who is even talking about running for elective office.”

More news:John White resigning after 8 years as Louisiana superintendent of education

While Huey shaped the state more than any other politician before or since, he was followed by a long line of powerful siblings, cousins and son Russell Long, who became an icon in the U.S. Senate.

Huey’s brother “Uncle” Earl Long also became a powerful three-time Louisiana governor, while voters sent a succession of cousins like Gillis Long and Speedy Long to Congress and Gerald’s brother Jimmy Long and others to the state Legislature.

Gerald Long, who broke the Democratic family ranks as a Republican out of political necessity in an increasingly red state, embraces his family’s history and legacy.

“During much of the 20th Century politicians were less identified as Republicans and Democrats and more identified as Longs or anti-Longs,” Gerald said.

“I’m so proud the Longs embraced public education and its access to all people rich or poor. My two political heroes are Huey and Jimmy,” he said.

Gerald Long said his sharecropper parents Reuben and Ruby Long were among the poorest people in Winn Parish, where the seeds of the Long dynasty were sown.

But somehow they provided for Gerald and his seven brothers, including twin brother Carroll. The twins were the babies of the family.

“They never owned a car,” said Gerald, whose parents moved from Tannehill to Winnfield in 1948 when his father landed a job as a janitor for the city.

Soon after Gerald and twin brother Carroll were born in 1944, Earl Long and his wife Blanche pulled up to Reuben's and Ruby's farm house in a black Cadillac with a stunning proposition.

“My mother told the story 1,000 times,” Gerald said. “They came inside the house and Earl said, ‘Miss Ruby, I want to tell you why we’re here. You know Blanche and I can’t have children and we want to adopt these twin boys. We can provide everything they would ever need.’

“My mother started crying and said, ‘Governor, you have honored us today, but there’s one thing you can’t give them that I can, and that’s their mother’s love.’”

Gerald Long would go on to earn a scholarship to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches and build a successful career in the insurance industry.

“It wasn’t until I got to Northwestern that I realized how poor we really were, but I also realized my parents had transferred to us what money couldn’t buy – faith and family,” he said.

Gerald said his older brother Jimmy, who served more than 30 years in the state House, counseled him after Gerald won his state Senate seat.

“He said the only thing I was taking to Baton Rouge was my name and my integrity and when I left Baton Rouge to make sure I brought that name and integrity back home,” Gerald Long said. “I believe I’ve done that.

“I hope I’ve left a small footprint in the Long legacy that made Louisiana better," he said. "I believe the Long family will always be tied to the needs of the people – education, health care and highways.”

Read next:Regents punt on college admissions policy; delay action on north Louisiana dental school

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1