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'''Paul Lee Foshee, Sr.''' (born November 12, 1932), is a retired crop duster from [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Louisiana]], who served as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] nonconsecutively in both houses of his state's legislature during the 1960s and 1970s.​

'''Paul Lee Foshee, Sr.''' (born November 12, 1932 &ndash; November 8, 2020), was a retired crop duster from [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Louisiana]], who served as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] nonconsecutively in both houses of his state's legislature during the 1960s and 1970s.​<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.blanchardstdenisfuneralhome.com/obituary/paul-foshee-sr#:~:text=passed away November 8, 2020 at his home.,George W. Foshee and Mamie Lee Smith Foshee.|titleObituary of Paul Lee Foshee, Sr. of Natchitoches, Louisiana (1932-2020)|publisher=blanchardstdenisfuneralhome.com|accessdate=February 7, 2021}}</ref>

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==Background==

==Background==

Foshee is descended from an old-line Natchitoches family, which first came to the Cane River area in 1690 from [[Paris]], [[France]].<ref name=statement>Statement of Paul Foshee, Sr., [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Louisiana]], September 24, 2009.</ref> His parents, who married in 1928, were George Washington Foshee (1893–1973), a veteran of [[World War I]] and a [[sawmill]] operator in Natchitoches, and the former Mamie Lee Smith (1906–1991). Foshee was reared in the [[Baptist]] Church. In 1950, he graduated from Natchitoches High School (renamed Natchitoches Central High School after [[Segregation|desegregation]]), and in 1961, he completed studies for a bachelor's degree in social science at [[Northwestern State University]] in Natchitoches.<ref name=statement/>​

Foshee is descended from an old-line Natchitoches family, which first came to the Cane River area in 1690 from [[Paris]], [[France]].<ref name=statement>Statement of Paul Foshee, Sr., [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Louisiana]], September 24, 2009.</ref> His parents, who married in 1928, were George Washington Foshee (1893–1973), a veteran of [[World War I]] and a [[sawmill]] operator in Natchitoches, and the former Mamie Lee Smith (1906–1991). Foshee was reared in the [[Southern Baptist]] Church. In 1950, he graduated from Natchitoches High School (renamed Natchitoches Central High School after [[Segregation|desegregation]]), and in 1961, he completed studies for a bachelor's degree in social science at [[Northwestern State University]] in Natchitoches.<ref name=obit/>​

Foshee has been married and [[divorce]]d six times. From his first marriage to the former Charlene Addington, the daughter of Charles Garland Addington and the former Wanda Vera Smiddy (1916–1975), he had four children. Paul Foshee, Jr. (born 1951), operates Foshee Dusting Company in Natchitoches, the business that Foshee founded in 1952. Foshee, Sr., retired from flying in 1998.<ref>National Agricultural Aviation Association listing, agaviationlorg, September 23, 2009, inforrmation no longer available.</ref>​

Foshee was married and [[divorce]]d six times. From his first marriage to the former Charlene Addington, the daughter of Charles Garland Addington and the former Wanda Vera Smiddy (1916–1975), he had four children. Paul Foshee, Jr. (born 1951), operates Foshee Dusting Company in Natchitoches, the business that Foshee founded in 1952. Foshee, Sr., retired from flying in 1998.<ref>National Agricultural Aviation Association listing, agaviationlorg, September 23, 2009, inforrmation no longer available on-line.</ref>​

From the first marriage, Foshee also has a daughter, Fran Lea Foshee Poole, and the late son, George Foshee. A fourth child from the first marriage, Christie Cheryl Foshee, died at birth; no dates are marked on her gravestone in Fern Park Cemetery in Natchitoches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lanatchi/fernpark.htm|title=Fern Park Cemetery, Natchitoches, Louisiana|publisher=rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=February 4, 2021}}</ref> From the second marriage to the former Venita Ann Higgs, since deceased, Foshee had a third son, Lane Chase Foshee (1970–1999). He had no children from his subsequent marriages to the former Martha Martinez, Joyce Wall, Karen Cook, and Katherine Joan Phares.<ref name=statement/>​

From the first marriage, Foshee also has a daughter, Fran Lea Foshee Poole, and the late son, George Foshee. A fourth child from the first marriage, Christie Cheryl Foshee, died at birth; no dates are marked on her gravestone at Fern Park Cemetery in Natchitoches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lanatchi/fernpark.htm|title=Fern Park Cemetery, Natchitoches, Louisiana|publisher=rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=February 4, 2021}}</ref> From the second marriage to the former Venita Ann Higgs, since deceased, Foshee had a third son, Lane Chase Foshee (1970–1999). He had no children from his subsequent marriages to the former Martha Martinez, Joyce Wall, Karen Cook, and Katherine Joan Phares.<ref name=statement/>​

Foshee holds [[Patent]] 5033695, July 23, 1991, on the Aileron counterbalance mount bracket used on the Brumann crop dusting plane. The device operates similarly to power steering in automobiles. The patent expired in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5033695/claims.html|title=US Patent 5033695 - Aileron counterbalance mount bracket|publisher=patentstorm.us/patents|accessdate=September 29, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

Foshee held [[Patent]] 5033695, July 23, 1991, on the Aileron counterbalance mount bracket used on the Brumann crop dusting plane. The device operates similarly to power steering in automobiles. The patent expired in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5033695/claims.html|title=US Patent 5033695 - Aileron counterbalance mount bracket|publisher=patentstorm.us/patents|accessdate=September 29, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

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==Political life==

==Political life==

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From 1960 to 1964, beginning at the age of twenty-seven, Foshee served a single four-year term as a state representative for Natchitoches Parish. With former Representative [[Curtis Boozman]], he was elected in a two-member district in which the [[incumbent]]s, [[Monnie T. Cheves]], and E. H. Hayes, were unseated in the 1959-1960 election cycle. Hayes was a former [[agriculture]] teacher at Natchitoches High School;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Natchitoches Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representative|date=May 21, 2019|accessdate=October 21, 2009}}</ref>​ Cheves, a professor at Northwestern State University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.natchitocheshighschool1960.org/class_profile.cfm?member_id=2431454|title=In Memoriam: Monnie T. Cheves|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|page=D3|date=August 17, 1988|accessdate=September 9, 2014; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

From 1960 to 1964, beginning at the age of twenty-seven, Foshee served a single four-year term as a state representative for Natchitoches Parish. With former Representative [[Curtis Boozman]], he was elected in a two-member district in which the [[incumbent]]s, [[Monnie T. Cheves]], and E. H. Hayes, were unseated in the 1959-1960 election cycle. Hayes was a former [[agriculture]] teacher at Natchitoches High School;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024 (Natchitoches Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representative|accessdate=February 7, 2021}}</ref><ref>Monnie T. Cheves obituary, ''The Alexandria Town Talk,'' August 17, 1988,''page=D3|date=August 17, 1988|accessdate=September 9, 2014; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

Eight years later, Foshee was elected to a single term in the state Senate when he unseated 20-year Democratic Senator [[Sylvan Friedman]], a pro-[[Earl Long|Long]] [[farmer]], [[cattle]]man, and large landowner from Natchez in south Natchitoches Parish (not to be confused with Natchez, [[Mississippi]]). After securing the pivotal Democratic nomination, Foshee then handily defeated in the [[general election]] held on February 1, 1972, the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Bob Reese]], a businessman who later became chairman of the Natchitoches Parish Board of Election Supervisors and served on the Republican State Central Committee from 1968 to 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.longdistancevoter.org/files/voter_forms/Louisiana_registrar_of_voters.pdf|title=Louisiana Parish Election Officials List|publisher=longdistancevoter.org|accessdate=September 26, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref> Reese had earlier run for the Louisiana House from Jackson Parish,  having been defeated by future Speaker [[E. L. "Bubba" Henry]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, February 6, 1968.</ref>​

Eight years later, Foshee was elected to a single term in the state Senate when he unseated 20-year Democratic Senator [[Sylvan Friedman]], a pro-[[Earl Long|Long]] [[farmer]], [[cattle]]man, and large landowner from Natchez in south Natchitoches Parish (not to be confused with Natchez, [[Mississippi]]). After securing the pivotal Democratic nomination, Foshee then handily defeated in the [[general election]] held on February 1, 1972, the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Bob Reese]], a businessman who later became chairman of the Natchitoches Parish Board of Election Supervisors and served on the Republican State Central Committee from 1968 to 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.longdistancevoter.org/files/voter_forms/Louisiana_registrar_of_voters.pdf|title=Louisiana Parish Election Officials List|publisher=longdistancevoter.org|accessdate=September 26, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref> Reese had earlier run for the Louisiana House from Jackson Parish,  having been defeated by future Speaker [[E. L. "Bubba" Henry]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, February 6, 1968.</ref>​