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Gaudin graduated in 1948 from the parochial St. Joseph's Academy in New Roads. He then received his bachelor's degree from [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge in 1952. Thereafter, he entered the [[United States Army]] as a second lieutenant on an [[ROTC]] commission. He left the service in 1954 as a first lieutenant but remained a major in the Army Reserve for another decade thereafter. Gaudin graduated from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU with a [[Juris Doctor]]ate in 1958.<ref name=obit/>

Gaudin graduated in 1948 from the parochial St. Joseph's Academy in New Roads. He then received his bachelor's degree from [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge in 1952. Thereafter, he entered the [[United States Army]] as a second lieutenant on an [[ROTC]] commission. He left the service in 1954 as a first lieutenant but remained a major in the Army Reserve for another decade thereafter. Gaudin graduated from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU with a [[Juris Doctor]]ate in 1958.<ref name=obit/>

==Six legislative election victories==

==Legislative service==

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Gaudin won a 1967 [[special election]] created by the resignation of Democratic lawmaker Luther F. Cole, who became a [[judge]]. He defeated Democrat Richard E. Cheek, 9,856 votes (50.3 percent) to 9,730 (49.7 percent) in a [[special election]] for the one-year unexpired term. In his first year in the legislature, Gaudin served with three other Republicans, Morley Alvin Hudson (1917-2001) and Taylor W. O'Hearn (1907-1997), both of [[Shreveport]] and [[Roderick Miller]] of [[Lafayette]], all of whom are deceased. Gaudin was defeated for a four-year term in 1968, with Richard Cheek claiming victory after defeat the previous year. O'Hearn was also defeated; Hudson did not seek reelection, and Miller lost in a bid for the Louisiana State Senate. Gaudin rebounded in 1972 to win the first of five consecutive terms. From 1970 to 1972, there was only one Republican in the 105-member Louisiana House, the New Orleans attorney James Sutterfield, who won a special election to fill the vacancy created by the election of Nat G. Kiefer to the state Senate.​

Gaudin won a 1967 [[special election]] created by the resignation of Democratic lawmaker Luther F. Cole, who became a [[judge]]. He defeated Democrat Richard E. Cheek, 9,856 votes (50.3 percent) to 9,730 (49.7 percent) in a [[special election]] for the one-year unexpired term. In his first year in the legislature, Gaudin served with three other Republicans, Morley Alvin Hudson (1917-2001) and Taylor W. O'Hearn (1907-1997), both of [[Shreveport]] and [[Roderick Miller]] of [[Lafayette]], all of whom are deceased. Gaudin was defeated for a four-year term in 1968, with Richard Cheek claiming victory after defeat the previous year. O'Hearn was also defeated; Hudson did not seek reelection, and Miller lost in a bid for the Louisiana State Senate. Gaudin rebounded in 1972 to win the first of five consecutive terms. From 1970 to 1972, there was only one Republican in the 105-member Louisiana House, the New Orleans attorney James Sutterfield, who won a special election to fill the vacancy created by the election of Nat G. Kiefer to the state Senate.​

In his last election for the District 69 seat, which then encompassed the Jefferson Street area and Tara subdivision, in 1987, Gaudin polled 48 percent in the primary and was forced into a [[general election]] (often called the "runoff" in Louisiana) with the Democrat Marilyn Barfield. He then won by a comfortable margin, 7,370 (58 percent) to 5,441 (42 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 21, 1987.</ref> Gaudin did not run again in the 1991 primary, but his seat remained in Republican hands with the general election victory of [[Chuck McMains]],<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref> who later left the legislature and ran unsuccessfully for the [[United States Senate]] in the 1996 primary. District 69 was dismembered by the legislature after Gaudin announced that he would not seek reelection. A portion of the base of the district was moved into District 68.​

In his last election for the District 69 seat, which then encompassed the Jefferson Street area and Tara subdivision, in 1987, Gaudin polled 48 percent in the primary and was forced into a [[general election]] (often called the "runoff" in Louisiana) with the Democrat Marilyn Barfield. He then won by a comfortable margin, 7,370 (58 percent) to 5,441 (42 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 21, 1987.</ref> Gaudin did not run again in the 1991 primary, but his seat remained in Republican hands with the general election victory of [[Chuck McMains]],<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref> who later left the legislature and ran unsuccessfully for the [[United States Senate]] in the 1996 primary. District 69 was dismembered by the legislature after Gaudin announced that he would not seek reelection. A portion of the base of the district was moved into District 68.​

Despite his success in legislative races, Gaudin narrowly failed in a bid for a judgeship of the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge. In an election held on December 8, 1990, Gaudin received 16,944 votes (48.7 percent) compared to his Democrat opponent, Linda Holliday, who finished successfully with 17,857 votes (51.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, December 8, 1990.</ref>​

Despite his success in legislative races, Gaudin narrowly failed in a bid for a judgeship of the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge. In an election held on December 8, 1990, Gaudin received 16,944 votes (48.7 percent) compared to his Democrat opponent, Linda Holliday, who finished successfully with 17,857 votes (51.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, December 8, 1990.</ref>​

==Medical marijuana bill==

===Medical marijuana bill===

In his last legislative session, Gaudin attempted to revive Louisiana's medical [[marijuana]] law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20021125162636/http://www.mpp.org/LA/news_2000.html|title=The Best Medicine?|publisher=Gambit Weekly via Marijuana Policy Project|date=November 5, 2002|first=Eileen Loh Harrist|quote=In 1991, another lawmaker took a stab at reviving Louisiana's medical-marijuana law. Rep. Clark Gaudin, R-Baton Rouge, introduced the bill after a young man rolled into Gaudin's office in his wheelchair to talk to the lawmaker about his reliance on pot.|accessdate=March 24, 2020}}</ref>

In his last legislative session, Gaudin attempted to revive Louisiana's medical [[marijuana]] law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20021125162636/http://www.mpp.org/LA/news_2000.html|title=The Best Medicine?|publisher=Gambit Weekly via Marijuana Policy Project|date=November 5, 2002|first=Eileen Loh Harrist|quote=In 1991, another lawmaker took a stab at reviving Louisiana's medical-marijuana law. Rep. Clark Gaudin, R-Baton Rouge, introduced the bill after a young man rolled into Gaudin's office in his wheelchair to talk to the lawmaker about his reliance on pot.|accessdate=March 24, 2020}}</ref>

==Right-to-work legislation==

===Right-to-work legislation===

Gaudin was among a  handful of Louisiana legislators who supported a state [[right-to-work]] law in his 1967-1968 term. By 1976, after his reelection, the legislature passed right-to-work on the theory that it would encourage economic growth by allowing workers the choice of whether they should join a union. Gaudin accused opponents of the legislation of taking cues from labor officials such as the popular [[AFL-CIO]] president [[Victor Bussie]] of Baton Rouge.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 14, 1976, p. 1.</ref>Louisiana was the last traditional southern state to adopt such legislation. In gaining passage, Gaudin worked with Representative [[Bruce Lynn]], a fellow Republican and a banker from northern Caddo Parish. Lynn was elected to succeed another right-to-work supporter, Democrat (later Republican) [[Jimmy Wilson]] of Vivian. Other leading right-to-work advocates were Representative Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995), of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] and John Joseph Hainkel of New Orleans.

Gaudin was among a  handful of Louisiana legislators who supported a state [[right-to-work]] law in his 1967-1968 term. By 1976, after his reelection, the legislature passed right-to-work on the theory that it would encourage economic growth by allowing workers the choice of whether they should join a union. Gaudin accused opponents of the legislation of taking cues from labor officials such as the popular [[AFL-CIO]] president [[Victor Bussie]] of Baton Rouge.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 14, 1976, p. 1.</ref>Louisiana was the last traditional southern state to adopt such legislation. In gaining passage, Gaudin worked with Representative [[Bruce Lynn]], a fellow Republican and a banker from northern Caddo Parish. Lynn was elected to succeed another right-to-work supporter, Democrat (later Republican) [[Jimmy Wilson]] of Vivian. Other leading right-to-work advocates were Representative Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995), of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] and John Joseph Hainkel of New Orleans.

==Death and legacy==

==Death and legacy==

[[Category:Politicians]]​

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[[Category:United States Army]]

[[Category:United States Army]]