[1][2] Speedy Oteria Long was born in Tullos, Louisiana, in La Salle Parish on June 16, 1928.

He was recalled to active duty in the Navy from September 1951 to December 1952, then graduated from Louisiana State University Law School in Baton Rouge in February 1959.

A state senator from New Orleans described the difference between the two Longs: Speedy was "a redneck" with a regional focus, while Gillis was "a cosmopolitan".

In 1972, he ran for Governor of Louisiana, but placed eighth in the Democratic primary, winning just 5 percent of the vote and losing to Edwin Edwards.

[7] In 1995, Long ran for LaSalle Parish Sheriff,[8] but placed fourth in the primary and did not advance to the runoff election.