Changes

In the state House, Friedman and Numa T. Delouche (1888-1965), a [[Roman Catholic]] from Cloutierville, filled the Natchitoches Parish seats vacated in 1944 by John O. Williams and Arthur C. Watson, an [[attorney]] and bank director who later was chairman of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee. In Friedman’s second House term, which began in 1948, Delouche was replaced  by Roy Sanders (1904-1976), the principal of Readhimer High School in the Chestnut community north of Black Lake and a leader in the push for adult education in the legislature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=120981934&PIpi=98708898|title=Roy Sanders|publisher=''Winn Parish Enterprise News-American'' retrieved from Findagrave.com|location=Winnfield, Louisiana|date=December 29, 1976|accessdate=September 9, 2014}}</ref> When Friedman won election to the Senate, the Friedman and Sanders House seats were taken by two other Democrats, Curtis Boozman (1898-1979).<ref name=ssdi/> and Monnie Tom Cheves (1902-1988), a member of the [[Northwestern State University]] faculty.<ref name=lahouse>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Natchitoches Parish)|publisher=Louisana House of Representatives|accessdate=September 10, 2014}}</ref>

In the state House, Friedman and Numa T. Delouche (1888-1965), a [[Roman Catholic]] from Cloutierville, filled the Natchitoches Parish seats vacated in 1944 by John O. Williams and Arthur C. Watson, an [[attorney]] and bank director who later was chairman of the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee. In Friedman’s second House term, which began in 1948, Delouche was replaced  by Roy Sanders (1904-1976), the principal of Readhimer High School in the Chestnut community north of Black Lake and a leader in the push for adult education in the legislature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=120981934&PIpi=98708898|title=Roy Sanders|publisher=''Winn Parish Enterprise News-American'' retrieved from Findagrave.com|location=Winnfield, Louisiana|date=December 29, 1976|accessdate=September 9, 2014}}</ref> When Friedman won election to the Senate, the Friedman and Sanders House seats were taken by two other Democrats, Curtis Boozman (1898-1979).<ref name=ssdi/> and Monnie Tom Cheves (1902-1988), a member of the [[Northwestern State University]] faculty.<ref name=lahouse>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Natchitoches Parish)|publisher=Louisana House of Representatives|accessdate=September 10, 2014}}</ref>

As a senator, Friedman served with four governors: [[Robert F. Kennon]], [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], [[Jimmie Davis]], and [[John J. McKeithen]]. During his lengthy career, he was a member of the legislative budget committee. He also served on committees on [[higher education]], finance, and judiciary.<ref name=lapol/> Friedman unseated the 28-year-old one-term state Senator Lloyd F. Wheat (born 1923) of Coushatta in Red River Parish in the Democratic primary. At various times, in addition to Natchitoches Parish, he represented Red River, [[Winn Parish, Louisiana|Winn]], [[Grant Parish, Louisiana|Grant]], and a portion of [[Rapides Parish, Louisiana|Rapides]] parishes.<ref name=nsu/>

As a senator, Friedman served with four governors: [[Robert F. Kennon]], [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], [[Jimmie Davis]], and [[John J. McKeithen]]. During his lengthy career, he was a member of the legislative budget committee. He also served on committees on [[higher education]], finance, and judiciary.<ref name=lapol/> Friedman unseated the 28-year-old one-term state Senator Lloyd F. Wheat (born 1923) of Coushatta in Red River Parish in the Democratic primary. At various times, in addition to Natchitoches Parish, he represented Red River, Winn, Grant, and a portion of Rapides parishes.<ref name=nsu/>

In 1963, then freshman state Representative [[Paul Foshee]] did not seek reelection but instead unsuccessfully challenged Friedman for the Senate seat. In his last term from 1968 to 1972, Friedman and [[Cecil R. Blair]], an [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] businessman, represented a since disbanded two-member multi-parish district, which included Grant Parish. Friedman served a term as Senate President Pro Tempore, in which capacity he was the acting governor] if the chief executive and the lieutenant governor were both simultaneously out of state. The position made him third in succession to the governorship.<ref name=nsu/>

In 1963, then freshman state Representative [[Paul Foshee]] did not seek reelection but instead unsuccessfully challenged Friedman for the Senate seat. In his last term from 1968 to 1972, Friedman and [[Cecil R. Blair]], an [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] businessman, represented a since disbanded two-member multi-parish district, which included Grant Parish. Friedman served a term as Senate President Pro Tempore, in which capacity he was the acting governor if the chief executive and the lieutenant governor were both simultaneously out of state. The position made him third in succession to the governorship.<ref name=nsu/>

A personal friend of Earl Long, Friedman frequently dined with the governor, eating cornbread, greens, sweet potatoes, and drinking buttermilk in the old Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge. During Long's tenure, Friedman had a room reserved at the mansion and was a late night "political talking companion."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepineywoods.com/BlancoHall.htm|title=Blanco heads list for [2006] Hall of Fame induction|author=James Ronald Skains|publisher=The Piney Woods. com|accessdate=September 18, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref>

A personal friend of Earl Long, Friedman frequently dined with the governor, eating cornbread, greens, sweet potatoes, and drinking buttermilk in the old Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge. During Long's tenure, Friedman had a room reserved at the mansion and was a late night "political talking companion."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepineywoods.com/BlancoHall.htm|title=Blanco heads list for [2006] Hall of Fame induction|author=James Ronald Skains|publisher=The Piney Woods. com|accessdate=September 18, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref>

Friedman lost his bid for a sixth term in the 1971-1972 election cycle, having been eliminated as the third-place candidate in the primary. Former Representative Paul Foshee then defeated state Senator Willard L. Rambo of Georgetown in Grant Parish, Louisiana, in the runoff election. Foshee then prevailed against [[Bob Reese]], a [[Republican Party|Republican]] opponent in the general election held on February 1, 1972. In 1975, Foshee was unseated by Donald Gene Kelly, a Natchitoches attorney and horse breeder, who held the seat until 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/EAHSenatorList1880ForwardJan2012.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana State Senate, 1880-Present|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=November 12, 2019}}</ref>

Friedman lost his bid for a sixth term in the 1971-1972 election cycle, having been eliminated as the third-place candidate in the primary. Former Representative Paul Foshee then defeated state Senator Willard L. Rambo of Georgetown in Grant Parish in the runoff election. Foshee then prevailed against [[Bob Reese]], a [[Republican Party|Republican]] opponent in the general election held on February 1, 1972. In 1975, Foshee was unseated by Donald Gene Kelly, a Natchitoches Democratic attorney and horse breeder, who held the seat until 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/EAHSenatorList1880ForwardJan2012.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana State Senate, 1880-Present|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=November 12, 2019}}</ref>

Friedman was a member of the Southern Regional Education Board. He was a former "Man of the Year" of the Natchitoches Parish [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref name=nsu/> In 1988, [[Northwestern State University]] renamed its student center in Friedman’s honor.<ref name=lapol/> As a senator, Friedman had been instrumental in obtaining the student center, as well as Prather Coliseum and several campus residential halls and classroom buildings.<ref name=nsu/>

Friedman was a member of the Southern Regional Education Board. He was a former "Man of the Year" of the Natchitoches Parish [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref name=nsu/> In 1988, [[Northwestern State University]] renamed its student center in Friedman’s honor.<ref name=lapol/> As a senator, Friedman had been instrumental in obtaining the student center, as well as Prather Coliseum and several campus residential halls and classroom buildings.<ref name=nsu/>