| Dr. William "Bill" Wheat, Jr., is a lifelong resident of Ponchatoula and Hammond. He graduated from Ponchatoula High School in 1976 and attended Louisiana State University to obtain his Bachelor's degree. In 1983, he graduated from LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. That same year, he established Animal Care Center and watched its growth from the original three employees up to 43 today.
Dr. Wheat has served as member of the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association, including a stint as president in 1993; has served on the Continuing Education Committee for the Southwest Veterinary Medical Association; and has served as chair of the committee that established the Tangipahoa Parish Animal Control Facility and helped write the animal control ordinance for the Parish.
Dr. Wheat is also active in many local civic and community organizations including the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, the Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce, and the Dixie Youth Baseball and Softball League. He has served as chair of the Ponchatoula Area Recreational Department, which oversees the recreational facilities at the North Hoover Road complex; served on the Board of Directors for Florida Parishes Bank; and is a member and eucharistic minister at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He also proudly represented Ponchatoula as the 2017 Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival King.
Dr. Wheat was proudly elected as Louisiana State Representative for District 73 in 2019 and has since represented and fought for our community.
He is married to Andrea Hebert Wheat, with whom he has four children- Derek, Dana, Kristen, and Kellie. Between them, he has seven grandchildren. During his down time, Dr. Wheat enjoys being with family and friends at his camp on the Tangipahoa River.
Dr. Bill Wheat's Accomplishments
Business Experience-
Owner of Pet Care Center in Ponchatoula and Animal Care Center in Hammond
Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association - Member, Past President (1993), and Officer
Florida Parishes Veterinary Medical Association
Florida Parishes Bank Advisory Board - Member
Southwest Veterinary Medical Association Continuing Education Committee - Member
Veterinary Professional Public Education Outreach
Community Involvement-
Strawberry Festival Board - Member
Tangipahoa Parish Mosquito Board - Member
Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce - Member
Tangipahoa River Holey Board - Member
Ponchatoula Citizen of the Year - 2011
Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival King - 2017
Tangipahoa Animal Control Facility - Advocate
Ponchatoula High School Basketball Game Announcer - "The Voice of Ponchatoula"
Ponchatoula High School's Fall Softball Team - Volunteer Head Coach
Dixie Youth Baseball/Softball League - Commissioner and Coach
Dixie Youth Girls - World Series Director, 2013
Ponchatoula High School Booster's Club - Past President
Ponchatoula Area Recreational District (PARD) - Chair
Family and Personal-
Married to Andrea Hebert Wheat
Children - Derek Wheat, Dana Daigle, Kristen King, Kellie Turnage, and seven grandchildren
St. Joseph's Catholic Church - Eucharistic Minister and Council of Ministries
Graduate of Ponchatoula High School - 1976
Graduate of LSU School of Veterinary Medicine - 1983
Brittany Landaiche Memorial Foundation
Born and Raised in Ponchatoula
Registered Republican
Louisiana House of Representative District 73
Elected as Louisiana House Member (2019 - 2023)
Committee Assignments-
Appropriations
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development
Natural Resources and Environment
Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee
Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget
Caucuses & Delegations-
Louisiana Republican Legislative Delegation
Louisiana Rural Caucus
Northshore Delegation
Conservative Caucus
Awards-
Family Forum (3x)/2022 Patrick Henry Award
LA Association of Business & Industry (LABI) (3x Award Winner, Won Champion Award 2x)
Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) LA Legislative Champion Sportsman Award
Community Provider Association (CPA) OPTIONS - 3x Winner of Disability Services Award
2022 Legislator Business Champion Award
Conservative Achievement Award - The American Conservative Union Foundation
American Legion Award
LA School Board Association Award
Education Champion Award - LA Association of Public Charter Schools
Major Legislative Accomplishments-
1983 Flood Settlement Bill, Appropriation, and Settlement
North Oaks Hospital - Improvement on Funding Formula
Southeastern Louisiana University Capital Outlay Funding
Champion for Teachers Pay and Lower Health Insurance Premiums
Champion for Independent Pharmacies
Capital Outlay for Ponchatoula Fire Station
Capital Outlay for Hoover Rd. Roundabout
Athletic Park Funding for Restoration After Hurricane Ida
Highway 22 Overlay Project - 2022
Lobbied for New Senate District for the Northshore
Lake Pontchartrain Shoreline Protection - Rock Jetties
Funding for Disability Service Providers - Options
American Legion Funding
Tangipahoa Parish Council on Aging Funding
Author of the Zachary Cutrer Vaping Bill
Author of the Pediatric Day Care Camera Bill
Author of the Human Trafficking Bill for the State Police |