Block, Upload, Automoderated users, edit, move, protect, rollback
57,799
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 32:
Line 32: − + − + − + − + +
→Background
==Background==
==Background==
A native of Decatur in Macon County in central [[Illinois]], Ater was the youngest of five children of Donald Edward Ater (1923–1974)<ref name=tmsociety>{{cite web|url=http://tmsociety.org/thomas/clement/aqwg506.htm|title=Donald Edward Ater|publisher=tmsociety.org|accessdate=December 23, 2009}}</ref> and the former Ruth LaVonne Chapman (December 16, 1920 – October 28, 2004), both Illinois natives. His four older siblings are Marcia Kay, Donald Willard, Lynette, and Edward William Ater.
A native of Decatur in Macon County in central [[Illinois]], Ater was the youngest of five children of Donald Edward Ater (1923–1974)<ref name=tmsociety>{{cite web|url=http://tmsociety.org/thomas/clement/aqwg506.htm|title=Donald Edward Ater|publisher=tmsociety.org|accessdate=December 23, 2009}}</ref> and the former Ruth LaVonne Chapman (December 16, 1920 – October 28, 2004), both Illinois natives. His four older siblings are Marcia Kay, Donald Willard, Lynette, and Edward William Ater.
Their mother Ruth Chapman attended Lindenwood College for Women in St. Charles, [[Missouri]]. The Aters married, farmed in the area about Cisco, Illinois, and owned International Harvester dealerships in Kankakee and Oreana, Illinois.
Their mother Ruth Chapman attended Lindenwood College for Women in St. Charles, [[Missouri]]. The Aters married, farmed in the area about Cisco, Illinois, and owned International Harvester dealerships in Kankakee and Oreana, Illinois.<ref name=ruthobit/>
In 1957, the Aters purchased the Coola Coosa Plantation near Tallulah, Louisiana, on Lake St. John, an oxbow lake on the [[Mississippi River]]. They founded and operated Ater Warehouse, Inc., and the Don Ater [[Chevrolet]] dealership in Ferriday. While the Aters resided in Tallulah in Madison Parish, Mrs. Ater became involved in the American National Cattlewomen's Organization, formerly the CowBelles. She was both Madison Parish and the statewide president of the organization. In 1975, as the national CowBelles president, she organized and chartered groups in thirteen states and spoke at state conventions in thirty-nine states. She headed the committee that wrote the history of the organization. Mrs. Ater was one of three women inducted into the Louisiana Spur Club for contributions to the [[cattle]] industry. After the death of her first husband, Donald Ater, Ruth married Fred Joseph Wedam (1916–1991) of Klamath Falls, [[Oregon]]. She lived with Fred in Oregon until after his death and then returned to Ferriday for her final years.<ref name=ruthobit>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lamadiso/obits/aterrlc.txt|title=Obituary of Ruth LaVonne Chapman Ater Wedam|publisher=rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=December 23, 2009}}</ref>
In 1957, the Aters purchased the Coola Coosa Plantation near Tallulah, Louisiana, on Lake St. John, an oxbow lake on the [[Mississippi River]]. They founded and operated Ater Warehouse, Inc., and the Don Ater [[Chevrolet]] dealership in Ferriday. While the Aters resided in Tallulah in Madison Parish, Mrs. Ater became involved in the American National Cattlewomen's Organization, formerly the CowBelles. She was both Madison Parish and the statewide president of the organization. In 1975, as the national CowBelles president, she organized and chartered groups in thirteen states and spoke at state conventions in thirty-nine states. She headed the committee that wrote the history of the organization. Mrs. Ater was one of three women inducted into the Louisiana Spur Club for contributions to the [[cattle]] industry. After the death of her first husband, Donald Ater, Ruth married Fred Joseph Wedam (1916–1991) of Klamath Falls, [[Oregon]]. She lived with Fred in Oregon until after his death and then returned to Ferriday for her final years.<ref name=ruthobit>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lamadiso/obits/aterrlc.txt|title=Obituary of Ruth LaVonne Chapman Ater Wedam|publisher=rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=December 23, 2009}}</ref>
Al Ater graduated in 1971 from the private Huntington High School in Ferriday, founded the previous year after the public schools were desegregated. Ferriday High School became nearly all-black in pupil registration. He attended [[Northwestern State University]] in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]].
Al Ater graduated in 1971 from the private Huntington High School in Ferriday, founded the previous year after the public schools were desegregated. Ferriday High School became nearly all-black in pupil registration. He attended [[Northwestern State University]] in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]].
==Public office==
==Public office==
First elected at the age of twenty-nine in the 1983 nonpartisan blanket primary, Ater filled the House seat vacated by William B. Atkins, a freshman Democrat from Jonesville in Catahoula Parish. Atkins had defeated Democratic state Senator [[Dan Richey]] of Ferriday. Ater was unopposed for a second term in 1987 but did not run in the primary held in October 1991. He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Bryant Hammett, an [[engineer]], also from Ferriday.
First elected at the age of twenty-nine in the 1983 nonpartisan blanket primary, Ater filled the House seat vacated by William B. Atkins, a freshman Democrat from Jonesville in Catahoula Parish. Atkins had defeated Democratic state Senator [[Dan Richey]] of Ferriday. Ater was unopposed for a second term in 1987 but did not run in the primary held in October 1991. He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Bryant Hammett, an [[engineer]], also from Ferriday.