Firm History

Kitchens, Benton, Kitchens & Black has a heritage which it can be proud of; both for the firm’s length of successful legal service in Northwest Louisiana, and for the history and example of high quality and ethics the firm has maintained.

Graydon K. Kitchens, Sr., who began practicing law in Louisiana in 1926, is the patriarch of the Kitchens Law Firm.  In 1926, Graydon Sr. and Robert F. “Bob” Kennon formed a partnership when they organized the firm of Kennon and Kitchens.  Kennon and Kitchens continued to practice together until 1956.

Bob Kennon was the District Attorney for Webster Parish , and Graydon served as acting DA for a period of time while Bob served in World War II.   Bob Kennon also served in the Louisiana State Legislature, and was eventually elected governor of Louisiana from 1952 – 1956.  As governor, Bob appointed Graydon Sr. as Chairman of the Louisiana Tax Commission, a position normally central to Louisiana’s legendary system of graft.  However, Graydon Sr. always served his position honestly and ethically.  Graydon kept his position as Chairman of the Louisiana Tax Commission even after Kennon was succeeded as Governor, forcing newly elected Governor Long to make a trip to the Louisiana Legislature and have him voted out of office.

From 1956 until 1965, Graydon Sr. worked in Minden as a sole practitioner.  In 1965, Graydon Sr. formed a partnership with his son, Graydon K. Kitchens, Jr., who was fresh out of law school;  the 2 organized their firm under the name Kitchens & Kitchens.  Father and son practiced together until 1970 when the 2 merged the firm with John B. Benton, Jr.  The resulting firm was now called Kitchens, Benton, and Kitchens. 

In 1974, Graydon Sr.’s younger son, Paul E. Kitchens, joined the firm.  Then, in 1978, Graydon Jr. was elected to the position of District Judge.  He would remain on the bench until 1996, when he rejoined the firm after his retirement.  The Kitchens Law Firm had several partners and associates during the 1980's and early 1990's.  Rick Warren was a partner in the firm Kitchens, Benton, Kitchens & Warren from 1988 until 1995.  In 1988, Graydon Sr. passed away. 

1990 marked a milestone for Kitchens, Benton, Kitchens & Warren, when Graydon K. Kitchens, III, the third generation of Kitchens’, began practice with the firm.  Gray became a partner in 1993, and John Benton ended his partnership status in 1991, assuming an of counsel role.  The year 2000 was also a milestone year for the Kitchens Law Firm; it marked the first geographic expansion of the firm in its more than 60 year history.  This expansion took place with the opening of an office in Bossier City, Louisiana.  Both Shreveport and Bossier experienced excellent economic growth in the late 1990's.  Clinton C. Black joined the firm in the year 2000, and became a partner in May 2002.

Kitchens, Benton, Kitchens & Black's rich history represents more than 75 years of exemplary legal service to Northwest Louisiana.  Its tradition of excellence is reflected by the accomplishments of its attorneys and the successful nature of the practice itself.

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