Changes

|term_start=May 1972​

|term_start=May 1972​

|term_end=April 1, 1986​

|term_end=April 1, 1986​

|preceded=At-large members<br>​

|preceded=At-large members:​

Joe Henry Cooper<br>​

Joe Henry Cooper<br>​

John S. Pickett, Jr.​

John S. Pickett, Jr.​

[[Jerry Fowler]] (nephew)​

[[Jerry Fowler]] (nephew)​

|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]] ​

|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]] ​

|occupation=[[Insurance agent]], [[Politician]] ​<br>

|occupation=[[Insurance]] agent, [[Politician]]​<br>

[[United States Army]] in [[World War II]]

[[United States Army]] in [[World War II]]

|alma_mater=Martin High School in Red River Parish<br>​

|alma_mater=Martin High School in Red River Parish<br>​

}}​

}}​

'''Hendrix Marion Fowler, Sr.''', known as '''Mutt Fowler''' (February 13, 1918 &ndash; September 16, 2014), was a [[politician]] and [[business]]man who served from 1953 to 1972 as [[mayor]] of the small town of Coushatta in Red River Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]], as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972 to 1986, and later as the executive director of the [[Sabine River (Texas–Louisiana)|Sabine River]] Authority.​

'''Hendrix Marion Fowler, Sr.''', known as '''Mutt Fowler''' (February 13, 1918 &ndash; September 16, 2014), was a [[politician]] and [[business]]man who served from 1953 to 1972 as [[mayor]] of the small town of Coushatta in [[rural]] Red River Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]], as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972 to 1986, and later as the executive director of the [[Sabine River (Texas–Louisiana)|Sabine River]] Authority.​

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Fowler's public career ended in [[indictment]] and a [[plea bargain]] for the circumvention of state bid laws and dissatisfaction over his having allocated scarce public monies on low-priority projects. He served forty-five days in the Sabine Parish Jail. Fowler was the third member of a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] political dynasty that also included two Louisiana state elections commissioners, the second of whom was indicted, convicted, and imprisoned for [[bribery]] and [[income tax evasion]].<ref name=newspapers>''The Shreveport Times,'' March 8, 1986; March 10, 31, 1989; May 22, 1990; October 15, 1992.</ref>​

Fowler's public career ended in [[indictment]] and a [[plea bargain]] for the circumvention of state bid laws and dissatisfaction over his having allocated scarce public monies on low-priority projects. He served forty-five days in the Sabine Parish Jail. Fowler was the third member of a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] political dynasty that also included two Louisiana state elections commissioners, the second of whom was indicted, convicted, and imprisoned for [[bribery]] and [[income tax evasion]].<ref name=newspapers>''The Shreveport Times,'' March 8, 1986; March 10, 31, 1989; May 22, 1990; October 15, 1992.</ref>​

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==The Fowler political dynasty==​

==The Fowler dynasty==​

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Fowler was born to Angus Jesse Fowler and the former Zula Fair in the Holly Springs community near Coushatta,<ref name=obit/> forty miles south of [[Shreveport]]. He had two brothers and two sisters. His older brother, [[Douglas Fowler]], was elected three times as the Red River Parish clerk of court (1940–1952) and later served two years as Coushatta's mayor from 1952 to 1954. Douglas Fowler was elected as "custodian of voting machines" in the 1959-1960 Louisiana state election cycle and served until December 31, 1979, when ill health forced him to retire. His title had been changed under a new state constitution to "elections commissioner" effective with his last term, which began in 1976.​

Fowler was born to Angus Jesse Fowler and the former Zula Fair in the Holly Springs community near Coushatta,<ref name=obit/> forty miles south of [[Shreveport]]. He had two brothers and two sisters. His older brother, [[Douglas Fowler]], was elected three times as the Red River Parish clerk of court (1940–1952) and later served two years as Coushatta's mayor from 1952 to 1954. Douglas Fowler was elected as "custodian of voting machines" in the 1959-1960 Louisiana state election cycle and served until December 31, 1979, when ill health forced him to retire. His title had been changed under a new state constitution to "elections commissioner" effective with his last term, which began in 1976.​

In March 1991, Fowler pleaded not guilty to the charges. In mid-October 1992, however, he made a plea bargain with the state in exchange for the dropping of the single charge against his son. He faced a maximum $1,000 fine, six months imprisonment, and $5,000 in reimbursement to the Sabine River Authority. Ultimately, Fowler served ninety days, with two years probation, $2,500 in [[restitution]], and one thousand hours of community service. The ninety days was cut in half because of labor performed while incarcerated.<ref name=newspapers/>​

In March 1991, Fowler pleaded not guilty to the charges. In mid-October 1992, however, he made a plea bargain with the state in exchange for the dropping of the single charge against his son. He faced a maximum $1,000 fine, six months imprisonment, and $5,000 in reimbursement to the Sabine River Authority. Ultimately, Fowler served ninety days, with two years probation, $2,500 in [[restitution]], and one thousand hours of community service. The ninety days was cut in half because of labor performed while incarcerated.<ref name=newspapers/>​

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==Personal life and death==​

==Personal life==

Fowler was a member of the Coushatta First [[United Methodist]] Church. He was married for sixty-six years to the former Katherine Posey (March 25, 1917 – September 30, 2007). Their daughter was Katherine Ann "Kathy" Fowler (March 29, 1946 – April 24, 2006).<ref name=obit/>​

Fowler was a member of the Coushatta First [[United Methodist]] Church. He was married for sixty-six years to the former Katherine Posey (March 25, 1917 – September 30, 2007). Their daughter was Katherine Ann "Kathy" Fowler (March 29, 1946 – April 24, 2006).<ref name=obit/>​

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Fowler died in September 2014 at the age of ninety-six. Except for his grandson, H. M. Fowler III (who is buried at Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Red River Parish), the family is interred at Springville Cemetery just off U.S. Highway 71 in Coushatta.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=hm-fowler-mutt&pid=172500923&fhid=10234|title=H. M. "Mutt" Fowler|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=September 20, 2014}}</ref>​

Fowler died in September 2014 at the age of ninety-six. Except for his grandson, H. M. Fowler III (who is buried at Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Red River Parish), the family is interred at Springville Cemetery just off U.S. Highway 71 in Coushatta.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=hm-fowler-mutt&pid=172500923&fhid=10234|title=H. M. "Mutt" Fowler|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=September 20, 2014}}</ref>​

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==References==​

==References==

{{reflist}}​

{{reflist}}

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fowler, H. M.}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fowler, H. M.}}​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​