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→Five elections as mayor
In 1944, Fant was appointed as Shreveport's public utilities commissioner by newly inaugurated [[Governor]] [[Jimmie Davis]], who had been the Shreveport public safety commissioner from 1938 to 1942, and like Fant, a man steeped in the activities of the [[Southern Baptist]] denomination. Fant succeeded commissioner James Reilly, who accepted a position with the State of Louisiana.
In 1944, Fant was appointed as Shreveport's public utilities commissioner by newly inaugurated [[Governor]] [[Jimmie Davis]], who had been the Shreveport public safety commissioner from 1938 to 1942, and like Fant, a man steeped in the activities of the [[Southern Baptist]] denomination. Fant succeeded commissioner James Reilly, who accepted a position with the State of Louisiana.
In 1946, Fant did not seek a full term as utilities commissioner but instead ran for mayor, under the city's then commission form of [[government]]. Sam Caldwell, the incumbent mayor, had run unsuccessfully against Davis for governor in 1944. Fant was elected to a four-year term and reelected in 1950.
In 1946, Fant did not seek a full term as utilities commissioner but instead ran for mayor, under the city's then commission form of [[government]]. Sam Caldwell, the incumbent mayor, had run unsuccessfully against Davis for governor in 1944. Fant was elected to a four-year term and reelected in 1950.
In the 1952 gubernatorial race, Fant supported Judge [[Robert F. Kennon]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], who prevailed over another jurist, Carlos Gustave Spaht, Sr. of Baton Rouge.<ref>"Over 400 attend Bob Kennon rally Tuesday," ''Minden Herald,'' February 8, 1952, p. 1.</ref>
In the 1952 gubernatorial race, Fant supported the successful candidate, Judge [[Robert F. Kennon]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], who prevailed over another jurist, Carlos Gustave Spaht, Sr. (1906-2001) of Baton Rouge.<ref>"Over 400 attend Bob Kennon rally Tuesday," ''Minden Herald,'' February 8, 1952, p. 1.</ref>\
Fant did not seek a third term in 1954, and the position went to his fellow Democrat [[James C. Gardner]]. From 1954 to 1958, he was the president and general manager of the insurance agency, Fant, Chase, and Kline.
Fant did not seek a third term in 1954, and the position went to his fellow Democrat [[James C. Gardner]]. From 1954 to 1958, he was the president and general manager of the insurance agency, Fant, Chase, and Kline.
In 1958, Fant decided to seek a return to the mayoral position. By a wide margin in the Democratic [[primary]], he unseated Gardner, who was closely identified with more "progressive" politics. Fant pledged to lead Shreveport to greater heights in the 1960s than had already been accomplished. Fant won again in 1962, and he was unopposed for his fifth, and as it turned out final, term in 1966.
In 1958, Fant decided to seek a return to the mayoral position. By a wide margin in the Democratic [[primary]], he unseated Gardner, who was closely identified with more "progressive" politics. Fant pledged to lead Shreveport to greater heights in the 1960s than had already been accomplished. Fant won again in 1962, and he was unopposed for his fifth, and as it turned out final, term in 1966.
[[Republican Party|Republicans]] began to gain strength in Shreveport in the middle 1960s, but no Republican challenged Fant in any of his elections. A group of Republicans tried to convince then GOP State Chairman [[Charlton Lyons]], to challenge Fant in 1966. Lyons politely declined to wage a mayoral campaign, after having lost races for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in 1961 to [[Joe Waggonner]] and for governor in 1964 to [[John J. McKeithen]]. Fant did not seek a sixth term in 1970, in part because of health considerations. He was succeeded by the outgoing public utilities commissioner [[Calhoun Allen]]. George W. D'Artois continued as public safety commissioner, a post to which he was elected in 1962, in the new Allen administration; Donald Edgar Hathaway, later the Caddo Parish sheriff, was elected public works commissioner in 1970.
[[Republican Party|Republicans]] began to gain strength in Shreveport in the middle 1960s, but no Republican challenged Fant in any of his elections. A group of Republicans tried to convince then GOP State Chairman [[Charlton Lyons]], to challenge Fant in 1966. Lyons politely declined to wage a mayoral campaign, after having lost races for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in 1961 to [[Joe Waggonner]] and for governor in 1964 to [[John J. McKeithen]]. Fant did not seek a sixth term in 1970, in part because of health considerations. He was succeeded by the outgoing public utilities commissioner [[Calhoun Allen]]. George W. D'Artois continued as public safety commissioner, a post to which he was elected in 1962, in the new Allen administration; Donald Edgar Hathaway, later the Caddo Parish sheriff, was elected public works commissioner in 1970.
The long-term public works commissioner, [[H. Lane Mitchell]], whose service began in 1934 and paralleled most of Fant's tenure, had resigned in December 1968, amid what developed as an embarrassing theft scandal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/19711060246So2d814_1915.xml/STATE%20v.%20MITCHELL|title=''State v. Mitchell''|date=May 3, 1971|publisher=leagle.com|accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref>
The long-term public works commissioner, [[H. Lane Mitchell]], whose service began in 1934 and paralleled most of Fant's tenure, had resigned in December 1968, amid what developed as an embarrassing theft scandal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/19711060246So2d814_1915.xml/STATE%20v.%20MITCHELL|title=''State v. Mitchell''|date=May 3, 1971|publisher=leagle.com|accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref>
Fant had been considered a potential candidate for governor or lieutenant governor, but he ran for no other office than Shreveport mayor. He served in several state appointive positions, including the Louisiana Tax Commission, the Board of Institutions, and the Overton-Red River Waterway Planning Commission.
Fant had been considered a potential candidate for governor or lieutenant governor, but he ran for no other office than Shreveport mayor. He served in several state appointive positions, including the Louisiana Tax Commission, the Board of Institutions, and the Overton-Red River Waterway Planning Commission.
Fant is interred at Forest Park East Cemetery in Shreveport. Mrs. Fant, who died in 2009 a month before her 100th birthday, is buried instead at Oakdale Cemetery in DeLand, Florida, where her older son lives. She had also lived in her later years in DeLand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Fant&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=11&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=41&GRid=41118253&df=all&|title=Margaret Fant|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref>
Fant is interred at Forest Park East Cemetery in Shreveport. Mrs. Fant, who died in 2009 a month before her 100th birthday, is buried instead at Oakdale Cemetery in DeLand, Florida, where her older son lives. She had also lived in her later years in DeLand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Fant&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=11&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=41&GRid=41118253&df=all&|title=Margaret Fant|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref>
==References==
==References==
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