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[[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>​

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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>​

 

==The Fowler dynasty==​

==The Fowler dynasty==​

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Fowler worked for his brother, John R. Fowler (1912-1990), in the latter's drug store in Coushatta but subsequently in 1956 became an [[insurance agent]]. He turned over the insurance firm in 1982 to his son, H. M. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. (born December 6, 1943). He delivered papers for ''The Shreveport Times'' and was the Red River Parish agent for the Shreveport Production Credit Association.<ref name=obit/> Fowler in 1953 became mayor of Coushatta to succeed his brother, Douglas, and served for nineteen years. In the 1971-1972 election cycle, which brought [[Edwin Edwards]] to the governorship, he was elected to the legislature, in which he remained for fourteen years. In his last election in 1983, he defeated two intra-party rivals, "Dickie" Alexander and Ray Dyess. Fowler resigned from the House on April 1, 1986, to become executive director of the Sabine River  Authority, a port commission on the Louisiana-[[Texas]] border governed by an 11-member board based in Many in Sabine Parish in western Louisiana.​

Fowler worked for his brother, John R. Fowler (1912-1990), in the latter's drug store in Coushatta but subsequently in 1956 became an [[insurance agent]]. He turned over the insurance firm in 1982 to his son, H. M. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. (born December 6, 1943). He delivered papers for ''The Shreveport Times'' and was the Red River Parish agent for the Shreveport Production Credit Association.<ref name=obit/> Fowler in 1953 became mayor of Coushatta to succeed his brother, Douglas, and served for nineteen years. In the 1971-1972 election cycle, which brought [[Edwin Edwards]] to the governorship, he was elected to the legislature, in which he remained for fourteen years. In his last election in 1983, he defeated two intra-party rivals, "Dickie" Alexander and Ray Dyess. Fowler resigned from the House on April 1, 1986, to become executive director of the Sabine River  Authority, a port commission on the Louisiana-[[Texas]] border governed by an 11-member board based in Many in Sabine Parish in western Louisiana.​

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==Fowler's troubles with Sabine Authority==​

==Troubles with Sabine River Authority==​

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Within two years, the Authority dismissed Fowler from his position amid allegations of hiring friends and relatives, including his son. He was accused of spending the limited funds of the Authority on questionable undertakings, rather than access roads and boat lanes. He was also accused of circumventing state bid laws. The Authority announced on March 10, 1989, that Fowler's two-year contract would not be renewed and that he would be replaced by William Kratz, a then 66-year-old university [[mathematics]] instructor. Fowler's salary continued through March 31, 1989, when his three-year contract lapsed. Robert Gentry, then chairman of the Sabine River Authority's committee which screened the applications for general manager, said that Fowler had lost the confidence of the board. Katherine Fowler became so irate over the developments that she declared the allegations against her husband "all lies."<ref name=newspapers/>​

Within two years, the Authority dismissed Fowler from his position amid allegations of hiring friends and relatives, including his son. He was accused of spending the limited funds of the Authority on questionable undertakings, rather than access roads and boat lanes. He was also accused of circumventing state bid laws. The Authority announced on March 10, 1989, that Fowler's two-year contract would not be renewed and that he would be replaced by William Kratz, a then 66-year-old university [[mathematics]] instructor. Fowler's salary continued through March 31, 1989, when his three-year contract lapsed. Robert Gentry, then chairman of the Sabine River Authority's committee which screened the applications for general manager, said that Fowler had lost the confidence of the board. Katherine Fowler became so irate over the developments that she declared the allegations against her husband "all lies."<ref name=newspapers/>​

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==Personal life==

==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 &ndash; 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 &ndash; September 30, 2007). Their daughter was Katherine Ann "Kathy" Fowler (March 29, 1946 &ndash; 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 namesake 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==