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Line 65: − + − + − + + + + + + + + + + + + − State Representative Arthur William "Art" Sour (1924-2000), of Shreveport, who served from 1972 to 1992, said that he always found his fellow Catholic Despot to be "a good Christian man and a man of principle" despite any political differences that the two may have had. Sour said Despot's death may bring the factions together. Sour lthen ost his seat to a Democrat, Melissa Flournoy, just nine months after Despot's death.+ + − James Quillen Wellborn (1927-2004), a mathematics teacher at Bossier High School and a chairman of the Bossier Parish Republican Party,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Wellborn&GSfn=James&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=130755666&df=all&|title=James Quillen Wellborn|publisher=findagrave.com|author=John Andrew Prime|date=June 2004|accessdate=January 27, 2015}}</ref> said that Despot singlehandedly forged an effective state and local organization when registrars would routinely discourage prospective voters from registering as Republicans. Until the implementation of the nonpartisan blanket primary, registrars constantly told voters that they "would not be able to vote" in most elections unless they registered as Democrats. − According to Wellborn, Despot also helped to organize a challenge to existing political boundaries in Bossier Parish and secured [[redistricting]] of the local districts despite opposition and harassment from the parish elites. Despot had a "knack for motivating people, though at times he could make people angry as well. He moved so fast he left a lot of sand in his wake. Some people just got it in their eyes," Wellborn said.<ref>Early in 1984, James Q. Wellborn filed suit to force a Democratic candidate for [[mayor]] of Bossier City, industrialist Donald E. "Don" Jones off the ballot on grounds that Jones did not meet residency requirements. The court, however, upheld Jones's residency, and he won a [[special election]] over Patricia Ball Anding (1935-2012), the widow of Mayor [[Marvin Anding]], who had died in office in 1983.</ref> − Prior to his death, Despot had curtailed much of his local activity because he preferred to concentrate on national and state politics. − The staunchly conservative Nungesser, who himself shocked his party when he endorsed [[Patrick J. Buchanan]] for the 1992 Republican nomination, said that Despot was "strong-willed, and had his own strong ideas, but he always had what was best for Louisiana at heart." Nungesser, who was in the catering business serving ships, was the only state chairman who did not support the first George Bush in the 1992 primaries.+
→Republicans access Despot's record
Fellow Republicans throughout the state mourned Despot's death. Then chairman [[William A. Nungesser|William Aicklen "Billy" Nungesser]] of Belle Chasse in Plaquemines Parish, aid that Despot's political savvy, his close relationship with President [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], and his ability to raise campaign funds would be missed by the state GOP.
Fellow Republicans throughout the state mourned Despot's death. Then chairman [[William A. Nungesser|William Aicklen "Billy" Nungesser]] of Belle Chasse in Plaquemines Parish, aid that Despot's political savvy, his close relationship with President [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], and his ability to raise campaign funds would be missed by the state GOP.
Then Caddo Republican Chairman Reginald Hargrove said that the party members "all owe him a debt of gratutide." According to Hargrove, Despot had encouraged local GOP factions to mend their differences in preparation for the 1991 state and parish elections and the 1992 national elections. "He had been telling people to go out and work with us," Hargrove added.
Then Caddo Republican Chairman Reginald Hargrove said that the party members "all owe him a debt of gratutide." According to Hargrove, Despot had encouraged local GOP factions to mend their differences in preparation for the 1991 state and parish elections and the 1992 national elections. "He had been telling people to go out and work with us," Hargrove added.
Despot's last political role was in 1987 as an advisor to Fourth Congressional District Republican chairman Ken Frazier in Frazier's unsuccessful bid for a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Frazier lost to the late Democrat Roy McArthur "Hoppy" Hopkins of Oil City in Cado Parish. "George was the old master. There have been differences within the party, but they had nothing to do with personal relationships. He's been a friend to everybody, and everybody will grieve for him," Frazier said.
Despot's last political role was in 1987 as an advisor to Fourth Congressional District Republican chairman Ken Frazier in Frazier's unsuccessful bid for a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Frazier lost to the late Democrat Roy McArthur "Hoppy" Hopkins of Oil City in Cado Parish. "George was the old master. There have been differences within the party, but they had nothing to do with personal relationships. He's been a friend to everybody, and everybody will grieve for him," Frazier said.
State Representative Arthur William "Art" Sour (1924-2000), of Shreveport, who served from 1972 to 1992, said that he always found his fellow Catholic Despot to be "a good Christian man and a man of principle" despite any political differences that the two may have had. Sour said Despot's death may bring the factions together. Sour lthen ost his seat to a Democrat, Melissa Flournoy, just nine months after Despot's death.
James Quillen Wellborn (1927-2004), a mathematics teacher at Bossier High School and a chairman of the Bossier Parish Republican Party,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Wellborn&GSfn=James&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=130755666&df=all&|title=James Quillen Wellborn|publisher=findagrave.com|author=John Andrew Prime|date=June 2004|accessdate=January 27, 2015}}</ref> said that Despot singlehandedly forged an effective state and local organization when registrars would routinely discourage prospective voters from registering as Republicans. Until the implementation of the nonpartisan blanket primary, registrars constantly told voters that they "would not be able to vote" in most elections unless they registered as Democrats.
According to Wellborn, Despot also helped to organize a challenge to existing political boundaries in Bossier Parish and secured [[redistricting]] of the local districts despite opposition and harassment from the parish elites. Despot had a "knack for motivating people, though at times he could make people angry as well. He moved so fast he left a lot of sand in his wake. Some people just got it in their eyes," Wellborn said.<ref>Early in 1984, James Q. Wellborn filed suit to force a Democratic candidate for [[mayor]] of Bossier City, industrialist Donald E. "Don" Jones off the ballot on grounds that Jones did not meet residency requirements. The court, however, upheld Jones's residency, and he won a [[special election]] over Patricia Ball Anding (1935-2012), the widow of Mayor [[Marvin Anding]], who had died in office in 1983.</ref>
Prior to his death, Despot had curtailed much of his local activity because he preferred to concentrate on national and state politics. The staunchly conservative Nungesser, who himself shocked his party when he endorsed [[Patrick J. Buchanan]] for the 1992 Republican nomination, said that Despot was "strong-willed, and had his own strong ideas, but he always had what was best for Louisiana at heart." Nungesser, who was in the catering business serving ships, was the only state chairman who did not support the first George Bush in the 1992 primaries.
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==Death and legacy==
==Death and legacy==