Ron J. Gomez Sr., 87, of Lafayette died Wednesday. Most folks in this corner of the state probably don’t know much about Gomez, but he ranks as one of the most effective legislators and public servants in Louisiana’s recent political history.

The late-Gov. Buddy Roemer, when he named Gomez head of the state Department of Natural Resources in 1989, said, “All legislators are important but none is better than Ron Gomez. None. None. He brings to my office the wisdom of experience and integrity of strong personal values and convictions.”

The Associated Press said at the time, “The 55-year-old Gomez, a third-term House member, was admired even by Roemer’s staunchest opponents in the House.”

Former state Senate president and speaker of the House John Alario of Westwego in 2000 called Gomez “an intelligent, articulate and highly effective legislator. He has a knack for making everyone feel he is their best friend …”

Gomez attended LSU and left to serve in the U.S. Air Force. He later attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and was the voice of the Ragin’ Cajuns from 1961 to 1979. Gomez had an interest in three radio stations and was station manager of KPEL Radio.

Gomez was first elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1979. He was named legislative Rookie of the Year in 1980, his first year in office. Gomez was re-elected in 1983 and in 1987 and served until he resigned to take the Natural Resources job in 1989.

While in the Legislature, Gomez worked to end the state’s Blue Laws that prohibited commercial activities on Sunday. KPEL in his obituary said Gomez was critical in steering the legislation that led to the creation of the Cajundome in Lafayette and was a supporter of helping to restore the state’s dwindling coastline.

One of his later jobs in life was serving as head of Louisiana’s unit of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse that fights for civil justice reform in Louisiana.

I got to know Gomez during his first term in office and reviewed two of his books written after he left office. He was a major advisor when I published my first book, “Positively Beaming,” a collection of 110 of the columns I have written since my first one on July 26, 1962.

“My Name Is Ron, and I’m a Recovering Legislator” is the title of Gomez’ autobiography. In it, he sized up political figures well.

Gomez said Edwin Edwards could have done more than any one person — including the legendary Huey P. Long — to change the course of the state’s political scene because of his charisma, intelligence, and communication skills. However, Gomez said Edwards squandered those assets by governing to reward his friends and supporters.

Asked why Roemer rubbed so many people the wrong way, Gomez described Roemer as “one of the most intelligent, stubborn, humorous, dour, logical, unpredictable, charming, cold, challenging, distant, interesting and exasperating people I have ever known or worked with.”

Gomez wrote a great political novel titled “Pelican Games” that was so linked to the real Legislature it was difficult at times to tell fact from fiction.

Arturo Candida was a 24-year-old investigative reporter in the novel. Gomez told me his Candida character was based on the late Hector San Miguel, an American Press investigative reporter who was one of the best in the country.

In his novel, Gomez said Candida was lured away from his Houston newspaper job by John “Black Jack” Daniels, an American Press columnist noted for scathing commentary. Something about that Daniels fellow sounds awfully familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it.

Gomez was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in 2019. He definitely belongs there because of his legislative successes and his firm understanding of this state’s politics.

Notable quotes from state legislators introduced each chapter in Gomez’ autobiography. Three of them are worth repeating here:

Former Rep. Thomas Wright of Jena said, “I know that people in New Orleans take a keen interest in the political process. Some of them vote two or three times in the same election.”

Former Rep. John Travis said, “I can’t believe that we’re going to let a majority of the people decide what is best for this state. That’s not right.”

Rep. Francis Thompson, who is currently serving in the House for the second time after being term-limited in the Senate, said, “I know you’re worried about being a hypocrite for voting for this, but that’s our job.”

Thanks, Ron, for a life well-lived.