Changes

Passman faced few election challenges over the years. In 1970, with 47,172 votes, he easily defeated two challengers, Monroe attorney Paul H. Kidd and State Representative David Ivy Patten of Catahoula Parish, who received 15,391 and 13,855, respectively. In 1972, Patten again challenged Passman, as did State Senator Charles M. Brown of Tallulah in Madison Parish. Passman prevailed that year too with 67,176 votes, to Brown's 34,314 and Patten's 9,299.<ref>''Louisiana Almanac,'' 2006.</ref>​

Passman faced few election challenges over the years. In 1970, with 47,172 votes, he easily defeated two challengers, Monroe attorney Paul H. Kidd and State Representative David Ivy Patten of Catahoula Parish, who received 15,391 and 13,855, respectively. In 1972, Patten again challenged Passman, as did State Senator Charles M. Brown of Tallulah in Madison Parish. Passman prevailed that year too with 67,176 votes, to Brown's 34,314 and Patten's 9,299.<ref>''Louisiana Almanac,'' 2006.</ref>​

 

In 1976, after thirty years in Congress, Passman faced an unexpected challenger who seemed unlikely to pose a serious problem for his renomination. Jerry Huckaby, a native of Jackson Parish and a 1959 graduate of [[Minden (Louisiana) High School|Minden High School]] in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish, which was outside the 5th congressional district, had no previous political experience but had been a dairy farmer in Bienville Parish. As an ally of Georgia's [[Jimmy Carter]], who was running strongly in Louisiana at the time, Huckaby upset Passman in the Democratic primary, largely because of charges of influence peddling that had engulfed the congressman in his last term in office but which had not yet led to indictment.<ref>"Louisiana History, p. 342.</ref>​

In 1976, after thirty years in Congress, Passman faced an unexpected challenger who seemed unlikely to pose a serious problem for his renomination. Jerry Huckaby, a native of Jackson Parish and a 1959 graduate of [[Minden (Louisiana) High School|Minden High School]] in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish, which was outside the 5th congressional district, had no previous political experience but had been a dairy farmer in Bienville Parish. As an ally of Georgia's [[Jimmy Carter]], who was running strongly in Louisiana at the time, Huckaby upset Passman in the Democratic primary, largely because of charges of influence peddling that had engulfed the congressman in his last term in office but which had not yet led to indictment.<ref>"Louisiana History, p. 342.</ref>​

 

Passman was so incensed over his primary defeat that he "threatened" to endorse Republican congressional nominee [[Frank Spooner]], a Monroe oilman who challenged Huckaby in the general election. However, the endorsement never materialized. Years later, Huckaby said that Passman never spoke to him after the 1976 primary. Huckaby went on to defeat Spooner and to hold the seat until 1993, having been defeated in 1992 as a result of [[reapportionment]] by [[Moderate Republican]] James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III.<ref>"Louisiana History, p. 343.</ref>​

Passman was so incensed over his primary defeat that he "threatened" to endorse Republican congressional nominee [[Frank Spooner]], a Monroe oilman who challenged Huckaby in the general election. However, the endorsement never materialized. Years later, Huckaby said that Passman never spoke to him after the 1976 primary. Huckaby went on to defeat Spooner and to hold the seat until 1993, having been defeated in 1992 as a result of [[reapportionment]] by [[Moderate Republican]] James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III.<ref>"Louisiana History, p. 343.</ref>​

 

Passman's Monroe friend Garland Shell said that the loss of the congressional seat was the turning point in his life. "When the old gentleman was defeated, that was it. He's been inactive since."<ref>"Louisiana History, p. 343.</ref>

Passman's Monroe friend Garland Shell said that the loss of the congressional seat was the turning point in his life. "When the old gentleman was defeated, that was it. He's been inactive since."<ref>"Louisiana History, p. 343.</ref>

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Passman was a [[Southern Baptist]]. He once served as grand master of the Louisiana Masonic lodge. He was also a member of the American Legion]. A tall, lanky, ectomorphic man who wore dark-rimmed eyeglasses. Passman was twice married. In 1931, he wed the former Willie Lenora Bateman (1900–1984). After Willie's death, he quickly moved out of their home and sold it. In the latter part of 1985, he married his secretary, Martha.<ref name=obit>"Passman Victim of Heart Attack," ''The Monroe News-Star,'' August 14, 1988, p. 1.</ref>​

Passman was a [[Southern Baptist]]. He once served as grand master of the Louisiana Masonic lodge. He was also a member of the American Legion]. A tall, lanky, ectomorphic man who wore dark-rimmed eyeglasses. Passman was twice married. In 1931, he wed the former Willie Lenora Bateman (1900–1984). After Willie's death, he quickly moved out of their home and sold it. In the latter part of 1985, he married his secretary, Martha.<ref name=obit>"Passman Victim of Heart Attack," ''The Monroe News-Star,'' August 14, 1988, p. 1.</ref>​

 

He died of an apparent heart attack]in Monroe. Services were held in the First Baptist Church in downtown Monroe. He and Willie are interred at Mulhearn Memorial Park in Monroe.<ref name=obit/> His congressional papers, minus some of the sensitive Tongsun Park material removed by his staff, are in the archives of the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]].<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 343-344.</ref>​

He died of an apparent heart attack]in Monroe. Services were held in the First Baptist Church in downtown Monroe. He and Willie are interred at Mulhearn Memorial Park in Monroe.<ref name=obit/> His congressional papers, minus some of the sensitive Tongsun Park material removed by his staff, are in the archives of the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]].<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 343-344.</ref>​