Changes

|preceded2=[[Earl Williamson]]

|preceded2=[[Earl Williamson]]

|succeeded2=[[James Whitfield Williamson]]

|succeeded2=[[James Whitfield Williamson]]

|spouse=(1) Joan Quinby Wilson (divorced)<br>

|spouse=(1) Joan Quinby Wilson (divorced)<br>

(2) Ann Beebe Wilson (divorced)

(2) Ann Beebe Wilson (divorced)

|occupation=[[Business]]man

|occupation=[[Business]]man

|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]-turned [[Republican Party|Republican]] (1978)

|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]-turned [[Republican Party|Republican]] (1978)

|footnotes='''Notes'''

|footnotes='''Notes'''

(1) A native of [[New Mexico]], Wilson moved to northern Caddo Parish, [[Louisiana]], with his family and embarked on a successful business career.<br>

(1) A native of [[New Mexico]], Wilson moved to northern Caddo Parish, [[Louisiana]], with his family and embarked on a successful business career.<br>

==1978 congressional primary==

==1978 congressional primary==

Wilson switched parties to run for Congress: "I have never voted for a Democrat for President, and the only way for the Republican Party to grow is for Democrats to switch over."[1] He quickly emerged as the leading Republican candidate in the new Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary format to choose a successor to retiring Democratic Representative [[Joe Waggonner]] of Plain Dealing. Wilson did not switch parties until after Waggonner declared that he would not seek reelection. The Republican leadership, under state chairman [[George Despot]] of Shreveport, considered endorsing either state Representatives Arthur W. "Art" Sour (1924-2000) of [[Shreveport]], or Bruce Lynn, or a younger prospect, Bossier City council member Chester J. "Buzz" Wojecki. The party finally decided in caucus to anoint Wilson as the candidate most electable in the historically Democratic district.  

Wilson switched parties to run for Congress: "I have never voted for a Democrat for President, and the only way for the Republican Party to grow is for Democrats to switch over."[1] He quickly emerged as the leading Republican candidate in the new Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary format to choose a successor to retiring Democratic Representative [[Joe Waggonner]] of Plain Dealing. Wilson did not switch parties until after Waggonner declared that he would not seek reelection. The Republican leadership, under state chairman [[George Despot]] of Shreveport, considered endorsing either state Representatives [[Art Sour|Arthur William "Art" Sour, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]], or Bruce Lynn, or a younger prospect, Bossier City council member Chester Anthony "Buzz" Wojecki, Jr. (1948-2024). The party finally decided in caucus to anoint Wilson as the candidate most electable in the historically Democratic district.  

Several leading Democrats entered the field, including banker/businessmanand later [[Governor]] [[Buddy Roemer]], state Representative Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach of Leesville, state Representative and former FBI agent [[Loy Weaver]] of Homer in Claiborne Parish, and [[Rogers M. Prestridge]], the municipal judge of Bossier City.  

Several leading Democrats entered the field, including banker/businessmanand later [[Governor]] [[Buddy Roemer]], state Representative [[Buddy Leach|Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach, Jr.]], of Leesville, state Representative and former FBI agent [[Loy Weaver]] of Homer in Claiborne Parish, and [[Rogers M. Prestridge]], the municipal judge of Bossier City.  

Primary campaigning centered on the "Big Four" in the race: Republican Wilson and Democrats Roemer, Leach, and Weaver, with Prestridge in a distant fifth position. Each candidate relied heavily on television to present his message, and each promised to continue the kind of constituent services provided for the previous seventeen years by Waggonner.

Primary campaigning centered on the "Big Four" in the race: Republican Wilson and Democrats Roemer, Leach, and Weaver, with Prestridge in a distant fifth position. Each candidate relied heavily on television to present his message, and each promised to continue the kind of constituent services provided for the previous seventeen years by Waggonner.

   

   

Representative Waggonner said that he would remain neutral, but shortly before the primary he criticized Roemer's suggestion that the Red River navigation program might have to be scaled down or delayed as a means to fight excessive government spending and inflation. Political observers regarded Waggonner's criticism of Roemer as a factor in Roemer's failure to obtain a general election berth. For years, the Louisiana delegation, particularly Waggonner and Democratic U.S. Senators [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], and [[Russell Long]], had worked to make the river navigable from Shreveport through Alexandria and south to Simmesport, on the Avoyelles and Pointe Coupee parish border.  

Representative Waggonner said that he would remain neutral, but shortly before the primary he criticized Roemer's suggestion that the Red River navigation program might have to be scaled down or delayed as a means to fight excessive government spending and inflation. Political observers regarded Waggonner's criticism of Roemer as a factor in Roemer's failure to obtain a general election berth. For years, the Louisiana delegation, particularly Waggonner and Democratic U.S. Senators [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], and [[Russell Long]], had worked to make the river navigable from Shreveport through Alexandria and south to Simmesport, on the Avoyelles and Pointe Coupee parish border.  

Wilson had the enthusiastic support of the national and state Republican organizations. Four recognized Republican names appeared on his behalf, including former President [[Gerald Ford]], former Governor [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]], former Texas Governor and former Treasury Secretary [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], and former Texas U.S. Representative [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], later the 41st U.S. President. He also won the backing of his state House Democratic colleague, Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995), of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]].

Wilson had the enthusiastic support of the national and state Republican organizations. Four recognized Republican names appeared on his behalf, including former President [[Gerald Ford]], former Governor [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]], former Texas Governor and former Treasury Secretary [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], and former Texas U.S. Representative [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], later the 41st U.S. President. He also won the backing of his state House Democratic colleague, [[R. Harmon Drew, Sr.|Richard Harmon Drew, Sr.]], of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]].

   

   

Leach, who carried the support of influential State Representative [[Walter O. Bigby]], a Vernon Parish native who relocated to Bossier Parish. [2] led in the primary with 35,010 votes (26.9 percent). Wilson trailed by .1 percent, with 34,841 ballots (26.8 percent). Roemer finished third with 33,302 votes (25.6 percent). Roemer hence lost a general election berth by some 1,500 votes. Weaver, who had the backing of ''The Shreveport Times'' and former Caddo Parish Sheriff [[James M. Goslin]], finished fourth with 17,396 votes (13.4 percent). The other candidates, including Judge Prestridge, trailed far behind.[3]

Leach, who carried the support of influential State Representative [[Walter O. Bigby]], a Vernon Parish native who relocated to Bossier Parish. [2] led in the primary with 35,010 votes (26.9 percent). Wilson trailed by .1 percent, with 34,841 ballots (26.8 percent). Roemer finished third with 33,302 votes (25.6 percent). Roemer hence lost a general election berth by some 1,500 votes. Weaver, who had the backing of ''The Shreveport Times'' and former Caddo Parish Sheriff [[James M. Goslin]], finished fourth with 17,396 votes (13.4 percent). The other candidates, including Judge Prestridge, trailed far behind.[3]

==Leach v. Wilson==

==Leach v. Wilson==

The general election promised from the start to be a closely contested event. Wilson was clearly the "business" candidate, and Leach was the choice of "moderates," including [[African Americans]] and [[organized labor]]. Blacks then comprised 31 percent of voters in the 4th congressional district and were expected to be decisive in the outcome of the race, the first competitive one since the initial election of Waggonner in 1961 over the Republican [[Charlton Lyons]]. Ironically, Leach's later congressional voting record was clearly on the "conservative" side, like that of his predecessor Waggonner, not on the "moderate" side as most observers had anticipated.  

The general election promised from the start to be a closely contested event. Wilson was clearly the "business" candidate, and Leach was the choice of "moderates," including [[African Americans]] and [[organized labor]]. Blacks then comprised 31 percent of voters in the 4th congressional district and were expected to be decisive in the outcome of the race, the first competitive one since the initial election of Waggonner in 1961 over the Republican [[Charlton Lyons]]. Ironically, Leach's later congressional voting record was clearly on the "conservative" side, like that of his predecessor Waggonner, not on the "moderate" side as most observers had anticipated.  

While Wilson was seen as "conservative," he tried to avoid racial polarization. He pointed out that he had sent his children to a [[Segregation|desegregated]] public school in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Wilson made campaign fodder of Leach's support of numerous state tax increases, but that issue may have increased Leach's favorability ratings among public sector employees, who believe that they benefit from tax hikes.  

While Wilson was seen as "conservative," he tried to avoid racial polarization. He pointed out that he had sent his children to a [[Segregation|desegregated]] public school in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Wilson made campaign fodder of Leach's support of numerous state tax increases, but that issue may have increased Leach's favorability ratings among public sector employees, who believe that they benefit from tax hikes.  

==Running again in 1980==

==Running again in 1980==

Rebuffed by Congress, Wilson announced on April 30, 1980, Statehood Day in Louisiana, that he would challenge Leach in the 1980 nonpartisan blanket primary. A ''Shreveport Journal'' showed Wilson with a slim lead at the time in a potential re-run of a race against Leach. There was, however, a large bloc of uncommitted voters. Wilson said that he expected to raise and spend $500,000 for the second race because national Republicans had again targeted the 4th district as one of thirty-five in the nation where the GOP stood a chance of winning a Democratic seat.  

Rebuffed by Congress, Wilson announced on April 30, 1980, Statehood Day in Louisiana, that he would challenge Leach in the 1980 nonpartisan blanket primary. A ''Shreveport Journal'' showed Wilson with a slim lead at the time in a potential re-run of a race against Leach. There was, however, a large bloc of uncommitted voters. Wilson said that he expected to raise and spend $500,000 for the second race because national Republicans had again targeted the 4th district as one of thirty-five in the nation where the GOP stood a chance of winning a Democratic seat.  

Wilson said in his announcement for the 1980 race that he had gone "as far as we could in the Congress with the vote-fraud problems. I think it's now to be left up to the voters of the Fourth District to decide if there was voter fraud in the election. That will happen this fall. ... The Democrats have allowed convicted felons to serve in Congress. The Democrats wouldn't pay any attention to our forty names of bought votes. Then on top of that, Brilab [a congressional scandal]. That makes me think that people are fed up with that kind of thing in Congress."  

Wilson said in his announcement for the 1980 race that he had gone "as far as we could in the Congress with the vote-fraud problems. I think it's now to be left up to the voters of the 4th District to decide if there was voter fraud in the election. That will happen this fall. ... The Democrats have allowed convicted felons to serve in Congress. The Democrats wouldn't pay any attention to our forty names of bought votes. Then on top of that, Brilab [a congressional scandal]. That makes me think that people are fed up with that kind of thing in Congress."  

In addition to Wilson and Leach, Roemer also ran again in 1980. So did State Representative [[Forrest Dunn]] of Shreveport, a furniture store owner known for fiscal conservatism and frank expression of ideas who had supported President Ford over [[Georgia]]'s [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976. Dunn's entry was believed to have attracted the same kinds of voters who might have otherwise preferred the Republican Wilson.  

In addition to Wilson and Leach, Roemer also ran again in 1980. So did State Representative [[Forrest Dunn]] of Shreveport, a furniture store owner known for fiscal conservatism and frank expression of ideas who had supported President Ford over [[Georgia]]'s [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976. Dunn's entry was believed to have attracted the same kinds of voters who might have otherwise preferred the Republican Wilson.  

Another entry was the moderate-to-liberal and highly ambitious Democratic state Senator Foster Lonnie Campbell, Jr., of Bossier Parish, a former educator who had succeeded the conservative Harold Montgomery in the District 36 Senate seat in 1976. Near the end of the first phase of the campaign, Campbell had questioned Roemer's commitment to the Second Amendment.[4]

Another entry was the moderate-to-liberal and highly ambitious Democratic state Senator Foster Lonnie Campbell, Jr., of Bossier Parish, a former educator who had succeeded the conservative [[Harold Montgomery]] in the District 36 Senate seat in 1976. Near the end of the first phase of the campaign, Campbell had questioned Roemer's commitment to the Second Amendment.[4]

Former state Senator [[C. Kay Carter, Jr.]], a Democrat who served Caddo Parish from 1972 to 1976, threw his hat into the ring as well.  

Former state Senator [[C. Kay Carter, Jr.]], a Democrat who served Caddo Parish from 1972 to 1976, threw his hat into the ring as well.  

==The "sore loser" phenomenon==

==The "sore loser" phenomenon==

Ultimately, however, Roemer defeated Leach in an all-Democratic [[general election]] under Louisiana law, held simultaneously with the Reagan-Carter presidential race. Wilson, despite the vote-buying allegations that had ruined his chances in 1978, hence failed to gain a spot in the general election.  

Ultimately, however, Roemer defeated Leach in an all-Democratic [[general election]] under Louisiana law, held simultaneously with the Reagan-Carter presidential race. Wilson, despite the vote-buying allegations that had ruined his chances in 1978, hence failed to gain a spot in the general election.  

Wilson's defeat was no anomaly. He was mistaken if he thought that voters would reward him in 1980 on the basis of his having been the victim of election theft in 1978. In other situations too, voters have rejected candidates who were defeated by questionable means in previous elections. Some see them as "sore losers". Other voters may not want to be reminded of past election chicanery. Still other voters oppose the candidate for reasons of their own, both personal and policy-related.  

Wilson's defeat was no anomaly. He was mistaken if he thought that voters would reward him in 1980 on the basis of his having been the victim of election theft in 1978. In other situations too, voters have rejected candidates who were defeated by questionable means in previous elections. Some see them as "sore losers". Other voters may not want to be reminded of past election chicanery. Still other voters oppose the candidate for reasons of their own, both personal and policy-related.

 

==Wilson's untimely death==

==Wilson's untimely death==

Wilson's congressional defeats ended his political career. He was twice divorced. Soon his health broke, and he died of [[cancer]]. Survivors included four children from his first marriage to the former Joan "Joannie" Quinby (born February 3, 1934) of Vivian: two sons, Hamilton Paul Wilson, II (namesake of his grandfather), and James Michael Wilson, both then of Vivian, and two daughters, Amanda Wilson Murry of Vivian and Melissa Wilson Brown, then of [[Washington, D.C.]]; his mother Lola Wilson; three sisters, Jean Brown, Mimi Cochran, and Peggy Wilson, and four grandchildren. Wilson's second wife was the former Shreveport newswoman Ann Beebe.  

Wilson's congressional defeats ended his political career. He was twice divorced. Soon his health broke, and he died of [[cancer]]. Survivors included four children from his first marriage to the former Joan "Joannie" Quinby (born February 3, 1934) of Vivian: two sons, Hamilton Paul Wilson, II (namesake of his grandfather), and James Michael Wilson, both then of Vivian, and two daughters, Amanda Wilson Murry of Vivian and Melissa Wilson Brown, then of [[Washington, D.C.]]; his mother Lola Wilson; three sisters, Jean Brown, Mimi Cochran, and Peggy Wilson, and four grandchildren. Wilson's second wife was the former Shreveport newswoman Ann Beebe.  

Services were held in the Vivian [[United Methodist]] Church. Wilson was cremated.

Services were held in the Vivian [[United Methodist]] Church. Wilson was cremated.

==References==

==References==

1. "Republicans meet executives," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 14, 1978, p. 1.<br>

1. "Republicans meet executives," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' April 14, 1978, p. 1.<br>

2. ''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' November 8, 1978, p. 4A.<br>

2. ''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' November 8, 1978, p. 4A.<br>