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|parents=Harry, Sr., and Willie Green Spoon

|parents=Harry, Sr., and Willie Green Spoon

|religion=[[United Methodist]]}}

|religion=[[United Methodist]]}}

 

'''William Franklin Spooner''', known as '''Frank Spooner''' (born September 9, 1937), is an [[oil]] and [[natural gas]] producer in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] in Ouachita Parish in northeastern [[Louisiana]], who has been active since the early 1970s in his state's [[Republican Party]]. In the fall of 1976, Spooner waged a strong but losing race for the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Louisiana's 5th congressional district in a bid to succeed incumbent Otto Ernest Passman (1900-1988), who had been unseated in the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[primary]] by [[farmer]]/[[business]]man Thomas Jerald "Jerry" Huckaby, then from Ringgold in Bienville Parish. Therefore, instead of facing Passman, as he had expected, Spooner competed with Huckaby for a relatively rare open seat in the state's congressional delegation.​

'''William Franklin Spooner''', known as '''Frank Spooner''' (born September 9, 1937), is an [[oil]] and [[natural gas]] producer in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] in Ouachita Parish in northeastern [[Louisiana]], who has been active since the early 1970s in his state's [[Republican Party]]. In the fall of 1976, Spooner waged a strong but losing race for the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Louisiana's 5th congressional district in a bid to succeed incumbent Otto Ernest Passman (1900-1988), who had been unseated in the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[primary]] by [[farmer]]/[[business]]man Thomas Jerald "Jerry" Huckaby, then from Ringgold in Bienville Parish. Therefore, instead of facing Passman, as he had expected, Spooner competed with Huckaby for a relatively rare open seat in the state's congressional delegation.​

After several years in [[Shreveport]], Spooner moved to Monroe in 1967, and entered into a partnership with his brother, Harry Spooner, Jr. They discovered several natural gas fields in Northeast Louisiana.  After 1971, Spooner operated under his own name until 1980, when he formed Spirit Petroleum Company.  The company name was changed to Mark V Petroleum Company in 1997.​ Over the years these entities were successful in developing additional gas and oil fields, including the first commercial coal seam methane gas production in Louisiana in 2004.​<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 346.</ref>

After several years in [[Shreveport]], Spooner moved to Monroe in 1967, and entered into a partnership with his brother, Harry Spooner, Jr. They discovered several natural gas fields in Northeast Louisiana.  After 1971, Spooner operated under his own name until 1980, when he formed Spirit Petroleum Company.  The company name was changed to Mark V Petroleum Company in 1997.​ Over the years these entities were successful in developing additional gas and oil fields, including the first commercial coal seam methane gas production in Louisiana in 2004.​<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 346.</ref>

 

In 1971, Spooner was the chairman of the Ouachita Parish Young Republicans and directed the Monroe-area campaign of the party's gubernatorial nominee, [[David C. Treen]], an attorney then from Metairie in Jefferson Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]]. Treen was defeated in this first bid for governor by Democrat [[Edwin Edwards]]. Later in 1972, Treen was elected to the U.S. House, and four years thereafter, Spooner sought to join Treen in Congress when he opposed Jerry Huckaby for the seat Otto Passman was compelled to vacate.<ref>''Louisiana History'',  p. 346.</ref> Treen left Congress in 1980, when he was inaugurated as the first Republican governor of Louisiana since [[Reconstruction]].​

In 1971, Spooner was the chairman of the Ouachita Parish Young Republicans and directed the Monroe-area campaign of the party's gubernatorial nominee, [[David C. Treen]], an attorney then from Metairie in Jefferson Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]]. Treen was defeated in this first bid for governor by Democrat [[Edwin Edwards]]. Later in 1972, Treen was elected to the U.S. House, and four years thereafter, Spooner sought to join Treen in Congress when he opposed Jerry Huckaby for the seat Otto Passman was compelled to vacate.<ref>''Louisiana History'',  p. 346.</ref> Treen left Congress in 1980, when he was inaugurated as the first Republican governor of Louisiana since [[Reconstruction]].​

==1976 congressional campaign==

==1976 congressional campaign==

 

Spooner was the first Republican in seventy-six years even to contest the 5th district seat. The previous GOP candidate, Henry Ernest Hardtner (1870-1935) of LaSalle Parish, had polled a mere 628 votes (9.2 percent) in 1900 against the Democrat Joseph Eugene Ransdell (1858-1954) of Lake Providence in East Carroll Parish, who was elected with 6,172 votes (90.8 percent). Hardtner later became a Democrat and served in the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref>Anna C. Burns, "Henry E. Hardtner (1870–1935): Louisiana's First Conservationist," ''Journal of Forest History'' Vol. 22 No. 2 (April 1978)</ref> Ransdell thereafter served in the [[United States Senate]] until he was unseated in the 1930 primary election by [[Governor]] [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]]<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections'', 1900–1976, U.S. House races from Louisiana.</ref>​

Spooner was the first Republican in seventy-six years even to contest the 5th district seat. The previous GOP candidate, Henry Ernest Hardtner (1870-1935) of LaSalle Parish, had polled a mere 628 votes (9.2 percent) in 1900 against the Democrat Joseph Eugene Ransdell (1858-1954) of Lake Providence in East Carroll Parish, who was elected with 6,172 votes (90.8 percent). Hardtner later became a Democrat and served in the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref>Anna C. Burns, "Henry E. Hardtner (1870–1935): Louisiana's First Conservationist," ''Journal of Forest History'' Vol. 22 No. 2 (April 1978)</ref> Ransdell thereafter served in the [[United States Senate]] until he was unseated in the 1930 primary election by [[Governor]] [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]]<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections'', 1900–1976, U.S. House races from Louisiana.</ref>​

In preparation for his race and when he expected to face Passman, Spooner attended a Republican candidate training school in [[Washington, D.C.]] The [[Republican National Committee]] sent John Bruce Hildebrand, former editor of the party's ''First Monday'' newsletter who had written speeches for vice-presidential candidate [[Bob Dole]], to work on Spooner's behalf. Jennie Carroll Casey, a reporter at the time for ''The Monroe News-Star'', worked as an unpaid public relations specialist.<ref>''Louisiana History'', pp. 348–349.</ref>​

In preparation for his race and when he expected to face Passman, Spooner attended a Republican candidate training school in [[Washington, D.C.]] The [[Republican National Committee]] sent John Bruce Hildebrand, former editor of the party's ''First Monday'' newsletter who had written speeches for vice-presidential candidate [[Bob Dole]], to work on Spooner's behalf. Jennie Carroll Casey, a reporter at the time for ''The Monroe News-Star'', worked as an unpaid public relations specialist.<ref>''Louisiana History'', pp. 348–349.</ref>​

 

Top-name Republicans, including former Governors [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of California and [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], of Texas, later rivals for the party's presidential nomination in 1980, came into the sprawling district, with a large agricultural component, to urge voters to elect Spooner. Connally lashed out at the increased power of the House Democratic Caucus, which he maintained had undermined the influence of the more moderate party members, such as then U.S. Senator [[Russell Long]] of Louisiana.<ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk''', October 26, 1976.</ref> Connally did not know Spooner, but he had known Mrs. Spooner, the former Mary Flippo, when she was a child in the Connally neighborhood in [[Fort Worth]] in the 1950s. Reagan and Connally gave the race a high profile and helped to provide critical financial support for Spooner<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 348.</ref>

Top-name Republicans, including former Governors [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of California and [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], of Texas, later rivals for the party's presidential nomination in 1980, came into the sprawling district, with a large agricultural component, to urge voters to elect Spooner. Connally lashed out at the increased power of the House Democratic Caucus, which he maintained had undermined the influence of the more moderate party members, such as then U.S. Senator [[Russell Long]] of Louisiana.<ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk''', October 26, 1976.</ref> Connally did not know Spooner, but he had known Mrs. Spooner, the former Mary Flippo, when she was a child in the Connally neighborhood in [[Fort Worth]] in the 1950s. Reagan and Connally gave the race a high profile and helped to provide critical financial support for Spooner<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 348.</ref>

Reagan appeared in Monroe and Connally in West Monroe and [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], the oldest city in the state. Huckaby, who like Spooner was a political newcomer, nevertheless developed effective television advertising critical of out-of-state politicians trying to influence voters in an otherwise unnoticed Louisiana district.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=22703104|title=At Monroe Motel, Reagan Views Debate|last=Spurlock|first=Kathy|date=September 24, 1976|work=''The Monroe News-Star''|access-date=August 12, 2018|author-link2=Photographer Jack Dietle}}

Reagan appeared in Monroe and Connally in West Monroe and [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], the oldest city in the state. Huckaby, who like Spooner was a political newcomer, nevertheless developed effective television advertising critical of out-of-state politicians trying to influence voters in an otherwise unnoticed Louisiana district.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=22703104|title=At Monroe Motel, Reagan Views Debate|last=Spurlock|first=Kathy|date=September 24, 1976|work=''The Monroe News-Star''|access-date=August 12, 2018|author-link2=Photographer Jack Dietle}}

</ref><ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 348.</ref>​

</ref><ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 348.</ref>​

 

Spooner hoped to poll convincing majorities in urban areas of the district to offset expected losses in rural regions, where voting Republican was still comparatively rare at the time except for the presidential level on occasion. He aimed particularly at winning in his own Monroe and West Monroe as well as Natchitoches, [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], Bastrop, and Winnfield. The [[general election]] turnout was more than double that of the Passman-Huckaby race because, while Huckaby and Spooner sought the House seat, in the same November 2 election, [[Jimmy Carter]] and the unelected incumbent, [[Gerald Ford]], were the nominees for U.S. President.<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 349.</ref>​

Spooner hoped to poll convincing majorities in urban areas of the district to offset expected losses in rural regions, where voting Republican was still comparatively rare at the time except for the presidential level on occasion. He aimed particularly at winning in his own Monroe and West Monroe as well as Natchitoches, [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], Bastrop, and Winnfield. The [[general election]] turnout was more than double that of the Passman-Huckaby race because, while Huckaby and Spooner sought the House seat, in the same November 2 election, [[Jimmy Carter]] and the unelected incumbent, [[Gerald Ford]], were the nominees for U.S. President.<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 349.</ref>​

After his primary defeat, Passman "threatened" to endorse Spooner in the general election but never did so. Passman had run mostly without opposition after his initial primary victory in 1946, when he had unseated Charles Edgar McKenzie (1896-1956). He was unopposed in his last successful general election on November 5, 1974. Passman was particularly known as a critic of foreign aid and a supporter of farm subsidies and the recently concluded Vietnam War.<ref>''Louisiana History'', pp. 334, 337, 343.</ref>​

After his primary defeat, Passman "threatened" to endorse Spooner in the general election but never did so. Passman had run mostly without opposition after his initial primary victory in 1946, when he had unseated Charles Edgar McKenzie (1896-1956). He was unopposed in his last successful general election on November 5, 1974. Passman was particularly known as a critic of foreign aid and a supporter of farm subsidies and the recently concluded Vietnam War.<ref>''Louisiana History'', pp. 334, 337, 343.</ref>​

Carter's statewide victory in Louisiana (and in nine other former [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] states) worked to Huckaby's advantage. Huckaby received 83,696 votes (52.5 percent); Spooner, 75,574 ballots (47.5 percent). Spooner surpassed Passman's primary showing by 35,000 votes, which translated only into a 0.2 percent gain over Passman's primary share of the vote because of the much larger turnout in the general election. Spooner polled 59 percent in Ouachita Parish and also won in the parishes of Lincoln (Ruston), Morehouse (Bastrop), Union (Farmerville]], and Richland (Rayville), but his strength was insufficient to overcome large Democratic margins stretching from Huckaby's Bienville Parish on the west to Madison Parish (Tallulah) on the northeast, Concordia (Vidalia) on the southeast, and the most northern precincts of Rapides Parish ([[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]) on the south. Spooner received just 27 percent in Bienville Parish and less than 40 percent in Madison and Winn parishes, the latter the ancestral home of the [[Huey Long|Long]] political faction.<ref>Office of the Louisiana Secretary of State, Congressional Election Returns, 1976</ref><ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 349.</ref>​

Carter's statewide victory in Louisiana (and in nine other former [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] states) worked to Huckaby's advantage. Huckaby received 83,696 votes (52.5 percent); Spooner, 75,574 ballots (47.5 percent). Spooner surpassed Passman's primary showing by 35,000 votes, which translated only into a 0.2 percent gain over Passman's primary share of the vote because of the much larger turnout in the general election. Spooner polled 59 percent in Ouachita Parish and also won in the parishes of Lincoln (Ruston), Morehouse (Bastrop), Union (Farmerville), and Richland (Rayville), but his strength was insufficient to overcome large Democratic margins stretching from Huckaby's Bienville Parish on the west to Madison Parish (Tallulah) on the northeast, Concordia (Vidalia) on the southeast, and the most northern precincts of Rapides Parish ([[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]) on the south. Spooner received just 27 percent in Bienville Parish and less than 40 percent in Madison and Winn parishes, the latter the ancestral home of the [[Huey Long|Long]] political faction.<ref>Office of the Louisiana Secretary of State, Congressional Election Returns, 1976</ref><ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 349.</ref>​

==Later political activities==

==Later political activities==

 

Right after his congressional campaign, Spooner became the Louisiana Republican National Committeeman. He did not seek office again though he remained active in the GOP.  In 1979, Spooner was uncommitted between Treen and U.S. Representative William Henson Moore of [[Baton Rouge]], who then held Louisiana's 6th congressional district seat, as the Republican choice for governor. His stance brought criticism from his predecessor as national committeeman, the Treen aide John Hamilton Cade, Jr. (1928-1988), of Alexandria. In 1983, Spooner was chairman of the Platform Committee for the Louisiana State Republican Convention that nominated Treen in an unsuccessful bid for reelection as governor.<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 347.</ref>  

Right after his congressional campaign, Spooner became the Louisiana Republican National Committeeman. He did not seek office again though he remained active in the GOP.  In 1979, Spooner was uncommitted between Treen and U.S. Representative William Henson Moore of [[Baton Rouge]], who then held Louisiana's 6th congressional district seat, as the Republican choice for governor. His stance brought criticism from his predecessor as national committeeman, the Treen aide John Hamilton Cade, Jr. (1928-1988), of Alexandria. In 1983, Spooner was chairman of the Platform Committee for the Louisiana State Republican Convention that nominated Treen in an unsuccessful bid for reelection as governor.<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 347.</ref>  

Over the years, Spooner has supported former Governor [[Bobby Jindal]], former U.S. Senator [[David Vitter]], elected as Breaux's successor in 2004, and former U.S. Representative Rodney Alexander, who held the seat that Spooner contested from 2003 to 2013, by which time the district had expanded far south into Rapides and Avoyelles parishes and even into the Florida Parishes east of Baton Rouge. In 2004, Spooner contributed to Alexander's unsuccessful intraparty rival, former State Representative John Wyeth "Jock" Scott (1947-2009) of Alexandria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec/elec-MONROE-LA.html|title=Monroe, Louisiana (LA) Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref> In 2007, Spooner donated to the presidential campaign of former Governor [[Mike Huckabee]] of Arkansas because he wanted a candidate with executive experience.<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 353.</ref> ​

Over the years, Spooner has supported former Governor [[Bobby Jindal]], former U.S. Senator [[David Vitter]], elected as Breaux's successor in 2004, and former U.S. Representative Rodney Alexander, who held the seat that Spooner contested from 2003 to 2013, by which time the district had expanded far south into Rapides and Avoyelles parishes and even into the Florida Parishes east of Baton Rouge. In 2004, Spooner contributed to Alexander's unsuccessful intraparty rival, former State Representative John Wyeth "Jock" Scott (1947-2009) of Alexandria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec/elec-MONROE-LA.html|title=Monroe, Louisiana (LA) Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref> In 2007, Spooner donated to the presidential campaign of former Governor [[Mike Huckabee]] of Arkansas because he wanted a candidate with executive experience.<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 353.</ref> ​

 

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

 

Spooner is a [[United Methodist]]<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 343.</ref> and a donor to the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home orphanage in Monroe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmch.org/pathways/v37PathwaysSpring06.pdf|title=Donors: January 1, 2006 – April 30, 2006|publisher=Louisiana Methodist Children's Home|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref>He was a member of the Optimist Club.<ref name=whoswho/>He and his wife have three daughters and eight grandchildren.​<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 354.</ref>

Spooner is a [[United Methodist]]<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 343.</ref> and a donor to the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home orphanage in Monroe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lmch.org/pathways/v37PathwaysSpring06.pdf|title=Donors: January 1, 2006 – April 30, 2006|publisher=Louisiana Methodist Children's Home|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref>He was a member of the Optimist Club.<ref name=whoswho/>He and his wife have three daughters and eight grandchildren.​<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 354.</ref>

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​