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'''Robert Emmet Couhig, Jr.''', known as '''Rob Couhig''' (born April 20, 1949), is an [[attorney]], [[business]]man, entrepreneur, [[Republican Party|Republican]] political activist, and a former [[radio]] talk show host from his native [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]. His last political foray was into the 2010 [[mayor]]al election in New Orleans.​

'''Robert Emmet Couhig, Jr.''', known as '''Rob Couhig''' (born April 20, 1949), is an [[attorney]], [[business]]man, entrepreneur, [[Republican Party|Republican]] political activist, and a former [[radio]] talk show host from his native [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]. His last political foray was into the 2010 [[mayor]]al election in New Orleans.​

A former partner of the Adams and Reese law firm, Couhig now leads Couhig Partners. He has twice been a candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]]. A persistent Republican in a heavily [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] city, he was defeated in a race for mayor of New Orleans in the spring of 2006 by the incumbent, [[Ray Nagin]]. He is also known for bringing the minor league [[baseball]] team, the Zephyrs, to New Orleans.

A former partner of the Adams and Reese law firm, Couhig now leads Couhig Partners. He has twice been a candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]]. A persistent Republican in a heavily [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] city, he was defeated in a race for mayor of New Orleans in the spring of 2006 by the incumbent, [[Ray Nagin]]. He is also known for bringing the minor league [[baseball]] team, the Zephyrs, to New Orleans.<ref name=couhigpartners/>

==Background==

==Background==

Couhig matriculated at the [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] Jesuit High School in New Orleans. After moving to West Feliciana Parish, he graduated from St. Francisville High School in 1967 and procured a scholarship to study international [[economics]] at the [[Georgetown University]] Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service in [[Washington, D.C.]] He completed his [[Bachelor of Arts]] from Georgetown and then obtained his [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the [[Tulane University]] Law School in New Orleans.<ref name=couhigpartners>{{cite web|url=http://www.couhigpartners.com/OurTeam.aspx|title=Rob Couhig|publisher=couhigpartners.com|accessdate=May 31, 2014; no longer on-line}}</ref>

Couhig matriculated at the [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] Jesuit High School in New Orleans. After moving to West Feliciana Parish, he graduated from St. Francisville High School in 1967 and procured a scholarship to study international [[economics]] at the [[Georgetown University]] Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service in [[Washington, D.C.]] He completed his [[Bachelor of Arts]] from Georgetown and then obtained his [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the [[Tulane University]] Law School in New Orleans.<ref name=couhigpartners>{{cite web|url=http://www.couhigpartners.com/OurTeam.aspx|title=Rob Couhig|publisher=couhigpartners.com|accessdate=May 31, 2014; no longer on-line}}</ref>

Couhig married the former Susan Mullins of [[New York City]]. The couple has two sons, Robert E. Couhig, III, and Benjamin Couhig. Over time, Couhig said that the pressures of politics, business, and travel adversely affected his family life. He and Susan first separated and then divorced. After being single again for some fifteen years, Couhig in 2003 wed Michelle "Missy" Aleman.​

Couhig married the former Susan Mullins of [[New York City]]. The couple has two sons, Robert E. Couhig, III, and Benjamin Couhig. Over time, Couhig said that the pressures of politics, business, and travel adversely affected his family life. He and Susan first separated and then divorced. After being single again for some fifteen years, Couhig in 2003 wed Michelle "Missy" Aleman.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

==Law and business career==

==Law and business career==

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Couhig practiced law in the areas of antitrust, casualty and personal injury litigation, products liability, class-action litigation, and appellate matters. He was a partner in the firm Adams and Reese from 1975 until 2003. He was involved in the expansion of the firm into Baton Rouge, [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Jackson]],  [[Mississippi]], and Washington, D.C. ​Couhig was also the principal owner of Couhig-Southern Environmental of New Orleans, Inc., one of the largest Louisiana-owned pest and [[termite]] control companies. This was the company begun by his father, whom Couhig bought out before he himself sold in 2001 to a firm based in [[Lafayette]], Louisiana.

Couhig practiced law in the areas of antitrust, casualty and personal injury litigation, products liability, class-action litigation, and appellate matters. He was a partner in the firm Adams and Reese from 1975 until 2003. He was involved in the expansion of the firm into Baton Rouge, [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Jackson]],  [[Mississippi]], and Washington, D.C. ​Couhig was also the principal owner of Couhig-Southern Environmental of New Orleans, Inc., one of the largest Louisiana-owned pest and [[termite]] control companies. This was the company begun by his father, whom Couhig bought out before he himself sold in 2001 to a firm based in [[Lafayette]], Louisiana.<ref name=couhigpartners/>

Though continuing to practice law, Couhig left Adams and Reese on the day after Labor Day 2003. With two other attorneys, he started Couhig Partners in September 2003 as a firm that works with entrepreneurs. As of 2006, the firm had more than twenty lawyers, a consulting group, and an office in Baton Rouge headed by former state Attorney General Richard Ieyoub. Couhig is also the managing partner of Couhig Investments, LLC which invests in small businesses in Louisiana.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

Though continuing to practice law, Couhig left Adams and Reese on the day after Labor Day 2003. With two other attorneys, he started Couhig Partners in September 2003 as a firm that works with entrepreneurs. As of 2006, the firm had more than twenty lawyers, a consulting group, and an office in Baton Rouge headed by former state Attorney General Richard Ieyoub. Couhig is also the managing partner of Couhig Investments, LLC which invests in small businesses in Louisiana.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

Couhig also developed an interest in [[soccer]]. In November 1997, he purchased from Donnie Pate the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers, a team founded four years earlier. Couhig renamed the team the New Orleans Storm and relocated it from Tad Gormley Stadium  to Zephyr Field.<ref>"Gamblers become Storm, relocate to Zephyr Field," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' November 21, 1997.</ref> On February 11, 2000, Couhig sold his New Orleans Zephyrs baseball team to Donald Beaver. Two weeks later, he confirmed the suspension of operations of the Storm soccer team pending a move to another stadium.<ref>"Storm suspends operations for now," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' February 26, 2000.</ref> Couhig said that he probably lost $1 million on the team.​

Couhig also developed an interest in [[soccer]]. In November 1997, he purchased from Donnie Pate the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers, a team founded four years earlier. Couhig renamed the team the New Orleans Storm and relocated it from Tad Gormley Stadium  to Zephyr Field.<ref>"Gamblers become Storm, relocate to Zephyr Field," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' November 21, 1997.</ref> On February 11, 2000, Couhig sold his New Orleans Zephyrs baseball team to Donald Beaver. Two weeks later, he confirmed the suspension of operations of the Storm soccer team pending a move to another stadium.<ref>"Storm suspends operations for now," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' February 26, 2000.</ref> Couhig said that he probably lost $1 million on the team.​

Couhig sold his pest-control company in 2001 and enrolled in the executive MBA course at Tulane in 2002.​

Couhig sold his pest-control company in 2001 and enrolled in the executive MBA course at Tulane in 2002.​<ref name=couhigpartners/>

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Couhig has been active in Louisiana politics since 1971, when at twenty-two, he served as the campaign manager<ref name=couhigpartners/> in the election of his half-brother, Sam A. LeBlanc, III, to the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref name=couhigsrobit/> Couhig also managed LeBlanc's re-election campaign in 1975. A Democrat, LeBlanc left the legislature in 1980, when he was succeeded in House District 86 (Orleans and Jefferson parishes) by the Republican Terry W. Gee. Sam LeBlanc resides in St. Francisville with his wife, Noelle E. LeBlanc (born May 1942), a ballerina and a one-time secretary of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism. Couhig's mother, Marcelle, was first married to Sam A. LeBlanc, Jr., by whom she also bore a daughter, Marcelle L. Hickey (born August 1940) of New Orleans, Rob Couhig's half-sister.<ref name=couhigsrobit/>Then living in Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish, Marcelle married the senior Robert Couhig, after the death in World War II of her first husband, Samuel LeBlanc, II.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessgenealogy.com/louisiana/louisiana-ww2-nmcg-casualty-list-l-surnames.htm|title=Louisiana WW2 NMCG Casualty List – L Surnames|publisher=accessgenealogy.com|accessdate=May 31, 2014}}</ref>From Marcelle's second marriage were born three more sons and another daughter.<ref name=couhigsrobit/>

Couhig has been active in Louisiana politics since 1971, when at twenty-two, he served as the campaign manager<ref name=couhigpartners/> in the election of his half-brother, Sam A. LeBlanc, III, to the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref name=couhigsrobit/> Couhig also managed LeBlanc's re-election campaign in 1975. A Democrat, LeBlanc left the legislature in 1980, when he was succeeded in House District 86 (Orleans and Jefferson parishes) by the Republican Terry W. Gee. Sam LeBlanc resides in St. Francisville with his wife, Noelle E. LeBlanc (born May 1942), a ballerina and a one-time secretary of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism. Couhig's mother, Marcelle, was first married to Sam A. LeBlanc, Jr., by whom she also bore a daughter, Marcelle L. Hickey (born August 1940) of New Orleans, Rob Couhig's half-sister.<ref name=couhigsrobit/>Then living in Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish, Marcelle married the senior Robert Couhig, after the death in World War II of her first husband, Samuel LeBlanc, II.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessgenealogy.com/louisiana/louisiana-ww2-nmcg-casualty-list-l-surnames.htm|title=Louisiana WW2 NMCG Casualty List – L Surnames|publisher=accessgenealogy.com|accessdate=May 31, 2014}}</ref>From Marcelle's second marriage were born three more sons and another daughter.<ref name=couhigsrobit/>

Rob Couhig's brother, Kevin H. Couhig (born October 15, 1951), the CEO of Source Capital Corp., was elected in 2013 as the first parish president of West Feliciana Parish. He defeated fellow Republican Tom McVea, the former District 62 state representative and a one-time police juror, to claim the new position. Under the new West Feliciana Parish charter, four single-member council districts and one at-large council member superseded the former seven police jurors, whose offices were phased out of existence. Kevin Couhig is an advocate of what he calls "smart growth" so that economic development will expand with the parish maintaining its scenic beauty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/7593402-125/couhig-leading-among-early-voters|author=Steven Ward|title=​Couhig becomes first West Feliciana Parish president|date=November 18, 2013|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=May 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>Rob Couhig's sister, Owen Couhig Kemp (born May 1950), lives in St. Francisville. Another brother, Mark Couhig (born c. 1953) and wife Linda, resided at the time of their father's death in Sequim in Clallam County in western [[Washington]].</ref>​

Rob Couhig's brother, Kevin H. Couhig (born October 15, 1951), the CEO of Source Capital Corp., was elected in 2013 as the first parish president of West Feliciana Parish. He defeated fellow Republican Thomas Houston McVea, the former District 62 state representative and a one-time police juror, to claim the new position. Under the new West Feliciana Parish charter, four single-member council districts and one at-large council member superseded the former seven police jurors, whose offices were phased out of existence. Kevin Couhig is an advocate of what he calls "smart growth" so that economic development will expand with the parish maintaining its scenic beauty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/7593402-125/couhig-leading-among-early-voters|author=Steven Ward|title=​Couhig becomes first West Feliciana Parish president|date=November 18, 2013|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=May 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>Rob Couhig's sister, Owen Couhig Kemp (born May 1950), lives in St. Francisville. Another brother, Mark Couhig (born c. 1953) and wife Linda, resided at the time of their father's death in Sequim in Clallam County in western [[Washington]].</ref>​

In 1976, Couhig changed his registration to the Republican Party. In 1977, he became the campaign coordinator for Republican [[Bob Livingston]], who for the second time sought to represent Louisiana's 1st congressional district in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Livingston had lost in the 1976 general election to Democrat Richard Alvin Tonry. When Tonry was forced to resign because of campaign finance violations in 1977, Livingston won the seat in a [[special election]], with Couhig's backing, and served until 1999.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​

In 1976, Couhig changed his registration to the Republican Party. In 1977, he became the campaign coordinator for Republican [[Bob Livingston]], who for the second time sought to represent Louisiana's 1st congressional district in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Livingston had lost in the 1976 general election to Democrat Richard Alvin Tonry. When Tonry was forced to resign because of campaign finance violations in 1977, Livingston won the seat in a [[special election]], with Couhig's backing, and served until 1999.<ref name=couhigpartners/>​