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==Democratic campaign for auditor, 1955-1956==

==Democratic campaign for auditor, 1955-1956==

Kolb was a native of Colfax, the seat of Grant Parish in north central Louisiana. He was a Baton Rouge attorney, banker, and businessman whom voters nominated for auditor in the 1952 Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election. He served under a fellow Democrat, Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]]. In 1955, Bill Dodd announced that he would attempt to unseat Kolb in the primary held in January 1956.

Kolb was a native of Colfax, the seat of Grant Parish in north-central Louisiana. He was a Baton Rouge attorney, banker, and businessman whom voters nominated for auditor in the 1952 Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election. He served under a fellow Democrat, Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]]. In 1955, Bill Dodd announced that he would attempt to unseat Kolb in the primary held on January 1956.

In his memoirs, Dodd claimed that Kolb "would be a sitting duck for anyone who ran against him. He had alienated every local official and professional politician in Louisiana. He did it by publicizing nitpiking mistakes and suggesting that each and every sheriff, clerk of court, tax assessor, parish school superintendent, police juror (equivalent of county commissioner in other states), and school board member was a crook. The news media had bragged on Allison [Kolb] while criticizing all those local officials. Allison could not have defeated Hitler, had the fuhrer been alive and running against him."[2]

In his memoirs, Dodd claimed that Kolb "would be a sitting duck for anyone who ran against him. He had alienated every local official and professional politician in Louisiana. He did it by publicizing nitpicking mistakes and suggesting that each and every sheriff, clerk of court, tax assessor, parish school superintendent, police juror (the equivalent of county commissioner in other states), and school board member was a crook. The news media had bragged on Allison [Kolb] while criticizing all those local officials. Allison could not have defeated Hitler, had the fuhrer been alive and running against him."[2]

[[Earl Long]] and his wife, Blanche Revere Long, endorsed Dodd's candidacy against Kolb. Mrs. Long had a grudge against Kolb because, in Dodd's words, "old Allison [He was then forty-one.] had audited her brother and recommended that he be indicted. Her brother had purchased a lawmower through his public office and paid for it with his personal check. He did it to save a few dollars, but violated a bookkeeping rule, not any law, or even the code of ethics."[3]

[[Earl Long]] and his wife, Blanche Revere Long, endorsed Dodd's candidacy against Kolb. Mrs. Long had a grudge against Kolb because, in Dodd's words, "old Allison [He was then forty-one.] had audited her brother and recommended that he be indicted. Her brother had purchased a lawnmower through his public office and paid for it with his personal check. He did it to save a few dollars, but violated a bookkeeping rule, not any law, or even the code of ethics."[3]

After they agreed to support Dodd for auditor, either Earl or Blanche Long, or both, enticed [[Douglas Fowler]], a local politician from Coushatta in Red River Parish, to enter the race. At first, Earl Long let Fowler speak on the platform, but Dodd said that "the public felt that I was the real Long candidate, and Fowler finally quit making our meetings. Miss Blanche threw me a couple of curves, including the printing up of some Earl Long ticket sample ballots with my number beside Fowler's name. But we caught her trick and corrected it."[4]

After they agreed to support Dodd for the auditor, either Earl or Blanche Long, or both, enticed [[Douglas Fowler]], a local politician from Coushatta in Red River Parish, to enter the race. At first, Earl Long let Fowler speak on the platform, but Dodd said that "the public felt that I was the real Long candidate, and Fowler finally quit making our meetings. Miss Blanche threw me a couple of curves, including the printing up of some Earl Long ticket sample ballots with my number beside Fowler's name. But we caught her trick and corrected it."[4]

Fowler lost the race, but Governor Long named him "custodian of voting machines" thereafter. The position was later called "elections commissioner," and it was abolished in 2004, with duties returned to the office of secretary of state. Long had created the post as a result of a feud that he waged with Secretary of State Wade O. Martin, Jr. (1911-1990)."[5]

Fowler lost the race, but Governor Long named him "custodian of voting machines" thereafter. The position was later called "elections commissioner," and it was abolished in 2004, with duties returned to the office of the secretary of state. Long had created the post as a result of a feud that he waged with Secretary of State Wade O. Martin, Jr. (1911-1990)."[5]

Dodd sent Jack M. Dyer, a young Baton Rouge attorney and later a state representative (1960-1964), to the secretary of state's office to get photocopies of every corporation that Kolb had chartered as state auditor and on which Kolb took stock for fees and in which he became a director. Dodd found that Kolb had ordered the construction of a "semiprivate paved road" to Kolb's property. "We could find no project number. Allison got it built secretly." Dodd also challenged Kolb's involvement in the Gulf Union Corp. and the Gulf Union Holding Co.[6] (In 1959, Dyer was Dodd's candidate for the new position of Louisiana voting machine custodian, which was won by Douglas Fowler.)

Dodd sent Jack M. Dyer, a young Baton Rouge attorney and later a state representative (1960-1964), to the secretary of state's office to get photocopies of every corporation that Kolb had chartered as state auditor and on which Kolb took stock for fees and in which he became a director. Dodd found that Kolb had ordered the construction of a "semiprivate paved road" to Kolb's property. "We could find no project number. Allison got it built secretly." Dodd also challenged Kolb's involvement in the Gulf Union Corp. and the Gulf Union Holding Co.[6] (In 1959, Dyer was Dodd's candidate for the new position of Louisiana voting machine custodian, which was won by Douglas Fowler.)

In his memoirs, Dodd described Mrs. Parker accordingly: "As a teacher [in Oakdale High School], I had taught her how to speak; as a legislator, I had gotten her a scholarship that gave her a college education; and as lieutenant governor, I had found her a big job in our administration. She was a wonderful speaker and a good administrator, but she must have been a born ingrate."[8]

In his memoirs, Dodd described Mrs. Parker accordingly: "As a teacher [in Oakdale High School], I had taught her how to speak; as a legislator, I had gotten her a scholarship that gave her a college education; and as lieutenant governor, I had found her a big job in our administration. She was a wonderful speaker and a good administrator, but she must have been a born ingrate."[8]

Mrs. Parker had also been the Louisiana welfare commissioner. She was the Democratic national committeewoman from Louisiana from 1948-1952 and was therefore a staunch party loyalist. As Dodd attested to her speaking talent, in the 1964 Democratic gubernatorial runoff primary campaign, she delivered a speech entitled "All That Glitters Is Not Gold." Though a line from Shakespeare, Mrs. Parker's speech was really a vituperative attack on the record of McKeithen's intraparty opponent, former New Orleans Mayor deLesseps Story Morrison, Sr.[9]

Mrs. Parker had also been the Louisiana welfare commissioner. She was the Democratic national committeewoman from Louisiana from 1948-1952 and was, therefore, a staunch party loyalist. As Dodd attested to her speaking talent, in the 1964 Democratic gubernatorial runoff primary campaign, she delivered a speech entitled "All That Glitters Is Not Gold." Though a line from Shakespeare, Mrs. Parker's speech was really a vituperative attack on the record of McKeithen's intraparty opponent, former New Orleans Mayor deLesseps Story Morrison, Sr.[9]

Mrs. Parker ran for treasurer, with McKeithen's full support. McKeithen had defeated conservative Democratic Congressman John Richard Rarick in the primary and was unopposed in the general election for his second consecutive term, the first permitted in state history.

Mrs. Parker ran for treasurer, with McKeithen's full support. McKeithen had defeated conservative Democratic Congressman John Richard Rarick in the primary and was unopposed in the general election for his second consecutive term, the first permitted in state history.

There was not much of a campaign for treasurer. Kolb was the only statewide Republican candidate, and voters historically do not consider a minor party nominee if there is no gubernatorial candidate setting the campaign theme. Mrs. Parker won all 64 parishes: 337,234 (73.7 percent) to Kolb's 120,253 (26.3 percent). Kolb fared best in [[Lafayette]] Parish and East Baton Rouge Parish, where he polled 43 percent each. It was in those two parishes where Republicans had won special state legislative races in 1966 and 1967, respectively. Kolb polled 37 percent in St. Mary Parish, his third best showing.[10]

There was not much of a campaign for treasurer. Kolb was the only statewide Republican candidate, and voters historically do not consider a minor party nominee if there is no gubernatorial candidate setting the campaign theme. Mrs. Parker won all 64 parishes: 337,234 (73.7 percent) to Kolb's 120,253 (26.3 percent). Kolb fared best in [[Lafayette]] Parish and East Baton Rouge Parish, where he polled 43 percent each. It was in those two parishes where Republicans had won special state legislative races in 1966 and 1967, respectively. Kolb polled 37 percent in St. Mary Parish, his third-best showing.[10]

Mrs. Parker held the treasurer's post for nineteen years; she retired effective January 1, 1987. Fellow Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]] of New Orleans was elected to succeed her in a special 1987 election held at the same time as the jungle primary for a full term. Landrieu filled out Mrs. Parker's remaining months and then served two full terms as treasurer. She stepped down in 1996 and was succeeded by Democrat (later Republican) John N. Kennedy (no relation to the late president). Landrieu had run unsuccessfully for governor in the 1995 primary. In November 1996, however, she revived her political fortunes with a narrow victory for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by popular Democrat [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]]  Landrieu is the first woman from Louisiana ever to have been elected to the Senate.[11] She was unseated in 2014 by the Republican [[Bill Cassidy]] of Baton Rouge.

Mrs. Parker held the treasurer's post for nineteen years; she retired effective January 1, 1987. Fellow Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]] of New Orleans was elected to succeed her in a special 1987 election held at the same time as the jungle primary for a full term. Landrieu filled out Mrs. Parker's remaining months and then served two full terms as treasurer. She stepped down in 1996 and was succeeded by Democrat (later Republican) John N. Kennedy (no relation to the late president). Landrieu had run unsuccessfully for governor in the 1995 primary. In November 1996, however, she revived her political fortunes with a narrow victory for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by popular Democrat [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]]  Landrieu is the first woman from Louisiana ever to have been elected to the Senate.[11] She was unseated in 2014 by the Republican [[Bill Cassidy]] of Baton Rouge.

Kolb died in Baton Rouge General Hospital at the age of fifty-eight. Services were held at his home church, the University [[United Methodist]] Church on Christmas Eve afternoon, 1973. Entombment was in the Greenoaks Mausoleum. (His old rival Dodd is buried in the overall Greenoaks Memorial Park.)[14]

Kolb died in Baton Rouge General Hospital at the age of fifty-eight. Services were held at his home church, the University [[United Methodist]] Church on Christmas Eve afternoon, 1973. Entombment was in the Greenoaks Mausoleum. (His old rival Dodd is buried in the overall Greenoaks Memorial Park.)[14]

Kolb was survived by his wife, the former Dorothy Marjorie Halphen (March 19, 1917 – June 3, 2007), four sisters, and numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Kolb, a native of the community of Omaha in Morris County in northeast [[Texas]], was the daughter of Walton Felix Halphen and the former Zepher Wood. She received [[Bachelor of Arts]] degrees in music and art from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She previously taught music at Kaplan High School in Kaplan in Vermilion Parish in southwestern Louisiana. Thereafter, she was a private music teacher in Baton Rouge. She was the president of the Baton Rouge Opera Guild from 1978-1980. A charter member of the Louisiana chapter of Phi Beta Phi sorority, Mrs. Kolb was active in the Daughters of the American Revolution as well as the First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge.[15]

Kolb was survived by his wife, the former Dorothy Marjorie Halphen (March 19, 1917 – June 3, 2007), four sisters, and numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Kolb, a native of the community of Omaha in Morris County in the northeast [[Texas]], was the daughter of Walton Felix Halphen and the former Zepher Wood. She received [[Bachelor of Arts]] degrees in music and art from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She previously taught music at Kaplan High School in Kaplan in Vermilion Parish in southwestern Louisiana. Thereafter, she was a private music teacher in Baton Rouge. She was the president of the Baton Rouge Opera Guild from 1978-1980. A charter member of the Louisiana chapter of Phi Beta Phi sorority, Mrs. Kolb was active in the Daughters of the American Revolution as well as the First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge.[15]

In addition to the Gulf Union Corporation, Kolb was associated with the Capital Bank and Trust Co., Redi-Bilt Corp., Community Bank of Lafourche, American Bank and Trust Co. of Houma, Belair Corp., and Rollins International, Inc. He was a member of the nonpartisan Council for a Better Louisiana.[16]

In addition to the Gulf Union Corporation, Kolb was associated with the Capital Bank and Trust Co., Redi-Bilt Corp., Community Bank of Lafourche, American Bank and Trust Co. of Houma, Belair Corp., and Rollins International, Inc. He was a member of the nonpartisan Council for a Better Louisiana.[16]

^ ''Election Statistics, 1968'', Baton Rouge: Secretary of State  

^ ''Election Statistics, 1968'', Baton Rouge: Secretary of State  

^ http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/Facts/StbySt/LA.html {{dead link}}

^ http://web.archive.org/web/20060907070327/http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/Facts/StbySt/LA.html

^ ''[[Shreveport Journal]]'', February 7, 1968  

^ ''[[Shreveport Journal]]'', February 7, 1968