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As the president of the Louisiana Municipal Association from 1986 to 1987, he was the first recipient of that organization's President's Award. At the turn of the 21st century, ''The Shreveport Times''' named Sampite among its "Top 100 Influential People in Northwest Louisiana." In 2000, he was inducted into the Northwestern State University Hall of Distinction, or Long Purple Line, the highest designation for NSU alumni.<ref name=obit/> In 2002, he was named to the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lapoliticalmuseum.com/inductees.php|title=Political Hall of Fame|publisher=lapoliticalmuseum.com|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref>​

As the president of the Louisiana Municipal Association from 1986 to 1987, he was the first recipient of that organization's President's Award. At the turn of the 21st century, ''The Shreveport Times''' named Sampite among its "Top 100 Influential People in Northwest Louisiana." In 2000, he was inducted into the Northwestern State University Hall of Distinction, or Long Purple Line, the highest designation for NSU alumni.<ref name=obit/> In 2002, he was named to the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lapoliticalmuseum.com/inductees.php|title=Political Hall of Fame|publisher=lapoliticalmuseum.com|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref>​

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Mayor Sampite' was profiled in ''The Oxford American'' literary [[magazine]] in an article entitled "No Ordinary Joe." He received numerous other honors, including "Man of the Year" awards from the Natchitoches Parish [[Chamber of Commerce]], Natchitoches Junior Chamber International, and the Louisiana Parks and Recreation Association. He was a member of the American Legion, the Founders of Natchitoches, and the [[Roman Catholic]] men's organization, the [[Knights of Columbus]].<ref name=obit/> ​

Mayor Sampite' was profiled in ''The Oxford American'' literary [[magazine]] in an article entitled, "No Ordinary Joe." He received numerous other honors, including "Man of the Year" awards from the Natchitoches Parish [[Chamber of Commerce]], Natchitoches Junior Chamber International, and the Louisiana Parks and Recreation Association. He was a member of the American Legion, the Founders of Natchitoches, and the [[Roman Catholic]] men's organization, the [[Knights of Columbus]].<ref name=obit/> ​

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A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Sampite' did not seek reelection to a sixth term in the municipal election held in the spring of 2000. Two Democrats competed in a runoff election held on April 15 for the right to succeed Sampite'. Then city council member at-large and current mayor, Wayne McCullen, narrowly defeated John Winston, 3,votes (50.3 percent) to 2,962 (49.7 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/04152000/04152000_35.html|title=Natchitoches Parish election results, April 15, 2000|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref>​

A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Sampite' did not seek reelection to a sixth term in the municipal election held in the spring of 2000. Two Democrats competed in a runoff election held on April 15 for the right to succeed Sampite'. Then city council member at-large and current mayor, Wayne McCullen, narrowly defeated John Winston, 3,votes (50.3 percent) to 2,962 (49.7 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/04152000/04152000_35.html|title=Natchitoches Parish election results, April 15, 2000|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref>​

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Sampite' sought a political comeback in the fall of 2007,  but he was defeated in a competitive campaign by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Rick Nowlin]], a Natchitoches businessman, for the District 23 seat (then Natchitoches Winn parishes) in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Nowlin polled 4,609 votes (55 percent) in the [[general election]] to Sampite's 3,766 (45 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11172007/11172007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 17, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref> In the primary on October 20, Nowlin led a four-candidate field with 4,849 votes (35 percent) to Sampite's 4,598 (33 percent). Two other Democrats, Ralph Wilson and Mack James, polled 2,847 (21 percent) and 1,459 (11 percent), respectively. Hence, Nowlin and Sampite' were thrust into the general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/Default.html|title=Primary election returns, October 20, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref>​ After one term, Nowlin was defeated for reelection to the House. He is now the first president of the Natchitoches combined municipal and parish governments.

Sampite' sought a political comeback in the fall of 2007,  but he was defeated in a competitive campaign by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Rick Nowlin]], a Natchitoches businessman, for the District 23 seat (then Natchitoches Winn parishes) in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Nowlin polled 4,609 votes (55 percent) in the [[general election]] to Sampite's 3,766 (45 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11172007/11172007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 17, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref> In the primary on October 20, Nowlin led a four-candidate field with 4,849 votes (35 percent) to Sampite's 4,598 (33 percent). Two other Democrats, Ralph Wilson and Mack James, polled a significant 2,847 (21 percent) and 1,459 (11 percent), respectively. Hence, Nowlin and Sampite' were thrust into the general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/Default.html|title=Primary election returns, October 20, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref>​ After one term, Nowlin was defeated for reelection to the House. He is now the first president of the Natchitoches combined municipal and parish governments.

==Legacy==

==Legacy==

"It is certainly a sad day for the citizens of Natchitoches and the state of Louisiana. Natchitoches has lost an icon with the passing of Mayor Joe Sampite'. He touched so many lives through his years of coaching and twenty years as mayor ... He was a mentor of mine as I served with him while I was city councilman at large. Our prayers certainly go out to his family. Mayor Sampite's legacy will live on forever in Natchitoches."<ref name=adtt>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20120518/NEWS01/120518020/Former-Natchitoches-Mayor-Joe-Sampite-dies|title=Former Natchitoches Mayor Joe Sampite' dies|publisher=''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk'', May 18, 2012|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref>​</blockquote>

"It is certainly a sad day for the citizens of Natchitoches and the state of Louisiana. Natchitoches has lost an icon with the passing of Mayor Joe Sampite'. He touched so many lives through his years of coaching and twenty years as mayor ... He was a mentor of mine as I served with him while I was city councilman at large. Our prayers certainly go out to his family. Mayor Sampite's legacy will live on forever in Natchitoches."<ref name=adtt>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20120518/NEWS01/120518020/Former-Natchitoches-Mayor-Joe-Sampite-dies|title=Former Natchitoches Mayor Joe Sampite' dies|publisher=''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk'', May 18, 2012|accessdate=May 20, 2012}}</ref>​</blockquote>

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David West, the Northwestern State University news bureau director in 2012, described Sampite' as "a tireless advocate for Natchitoches and NSU. He loved NSU a lot. He was always available to speak to freshmen at our Freshman Connection and was a commencement speaker at one of our graduations. Mayor Sampite' was one of a kind."<ref name=adtt/> A "Joe Sampite' Scholarship Fund was established at the Northwestern State University Foundation.<ref name=obit/>​

David West, the Northwestern State University news bureau director in 2012, described Sampite' as "a tireless advocate for Natchitoches and NSU. He loved NSU a lot. He was always available to speak to freshmen at our Freshman Connection and was a commencement speaker at one of our graduations. Mayor Sampite' was one of a kind."<ref name=adtt/> A Joe Sampite' Scholarship Fund was established at the Northwestern State University Foundation.<ref name=obit/>​

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==References==

==References==