Changes

Dove's only son, Gordon "Bubba" Dove, Jr. (June 7, 1986 &ndash; March 29, 2009),<ref name=ssdi>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi|title=Social Security Death Index|publisher=ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=July 12, 2011}}</ref> had helped his father in the operations of the family holdings. At the time of his death, he was the president of Blue Marlin Oilfield and Equipment Rentals, Inc.<ref name=dovejr>{{cite web|url=http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20090331/OBITS/903319940?tc=ar|title=Gordon Dove, Jr.|publisher=houmatoday.com|accessdate=November 12, 2019}}</ref> The younger Dove died at the age of twenty-two in a sport utility vehicle accident on Interstate 310 near Destrehan in St. Charles Parish. He was returning to Houma from a charity concert for [[Hurricane Katrina]] victims in [[New Orleans]]. Young Dove's vehicle careened across the highway, crashed into the right barrier, and overturned several times. His seat belt was not fastened. Partially thrown out the back window and pinned beneath the SUV, he died at the scene.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/dove.html|title=Son of Houma state representative dies in I-310 wreck|date=March 29, 2009|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=July 12, 2011}}</ref>

Dove's only son, Gordon "Bubba" Dove, Jr. (June 7, 1986 &ndash; March 29, 2009),<ref name=ssdi>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi|title=Social Security Death Index|publisher=ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=July 12, 2011}}</ref> had helped his father in the operations of the family holdings. At the time of his death, he was the president of Blue Marlin Oilfield and Equipment Rentals, Inc.<ref name=dovejr>{{cite web|url=http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20090331/OBITS/903319940?tc=ar|title=Gordon Dove, Jr.|publisher=houmatoday.com|accessdate=November 12, 2019}}</ref> The younger Dove died at the age of twenty-two in a sport utility vehicle accident on Interstate 310 near Destrehan in St. Charles Parish. He was returning to Houma from a charity concert for [[Hurricane Katrina]] victims in [[New Orleans]]. Young Dove's vehicle careened across the highway, crashed into the right barrier, and overturned several times. His seat belt was not fastened. Partially thrown out the back window and pinned beneath the SUV, he died at the scene.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/dove.html|title=Son of Houma state representative dies in I-310 wreck|date=March 29, 2009|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=July 12, 2011}}</ref>

==State legislature==

==State legislator==

In 2003, Dove won the seat vacated by unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Hunt Downer, the former state House Speaker in a runoff election by only five votes over fellow Republican Tom Watkins, a Houma attorney. Dove was unopposed for his second and third legislative terms in 2007 and 2011. His principal legislative issue has been to secure funding for the maintenance of Louisiana's barrier islands to protect from coastal erosion and as a defense against hurricanes.<ref name=mobilelgs>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/DoveGordon.html|title=Rep. Dove, Gordon (R)|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=July 12, 2011}}</ref>

In 2003, Dove won the seat vacated by unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Hunt Downer, the former state House Speaker in a runoff election by only five votes over fellow Republican Tom Watkins, a Houma attorney. Dove was unopposed for his second and third legislative terms in 2007 and 2011. His principal legislative issue has been to secure funding for the maintenance of Louisiana's barrier islands to protect from coastal erosion and as a defense against hurricanes.<ref name=mobilelgs>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/DoveGordon.html|title=Rep. Dove, Gordon (R)|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=July 12, 2011}}</ref>

Dove is a former chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee through which he worked to raise awareness of the importance of coastal passes and barrier islands. He supports the north-south corridor for hurricane evacuation and the funding of the hurricane protection system from Morganza to the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. Dove also supports the state charity hospital system by removing the [[Medicare]] and [[Medicaid]] caps placed on the hospitals.<ref name=mobilelgs/>

Dove is a former chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee through which he worked to raise awareness of the importance of coastal passes and barrier islands. He supports the north-south corridor for hurricane evacuation and the funding of the hurricane protection system from Morganza to the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. Dove also supports the state charity hospital system by removing the [[Medicare]] and [[Medicaid]] caps placed on the hospitals.<ref name=mobilelgs/>

In 2013, Dove spoke out against his own House Republican leadership, particularly majority leader [[Lance Harris]] of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], for failure to consult with individual members in crafting the $25 billion state budget. Dove said the construction budget was held hostage to bring wavering members in line: "They made deals ... without telling us anything. To do that to your fellow party members, they have no morals. And I hope you print that because I’ve got no use for those guys," Dove told the ''The Baton Rouge Advocate.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/6287118-125/jindal-to-gop-get-ready|author=Michelle Millhollon|title=Jindal to GOP: Get ready for battle|date=June 18, 2013|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=June 19, 2013}}</ref>

In 2013, Dove spoke out against his own House Republican leadership, particularly majority leader [[Lance Harris]] of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], for failure to consult with individual members in crafting the $25 billion state budget. Dove said the construction budget was held hostage to bring wavering members in line: "They made deals ... without telling us anything. To do that to your fellow party members, they have no morals. And I hope you print that because I’ve got no use for those guys," Dove told the ''The Baton Rouge Advocate.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/6287118-125/jindal-to-gop-get-ready|author=Michelle Millhollon|title=Jindal to GOP: Get ready for battle|date=June 18, 2013|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=June 19, 2013; no longer on-line}}</ref>

Term-limited, Dove was ineligible to seek a fourth term in the House in the primary held on October 24, 2015. He was succeeded in the position by his fellow Republican, Jerome Zeringue of Houma.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 2015.</ref>

Term-limited, Dove was ineligible to seek a fourth term in the House in the primary held on October 24, 2015. He was succeeded in the position by his fellow Republican, Jerome Zeringue of Houma.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 2015.</ref>