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}}'''Robert Fulton "Bob" Odom, Jr.''' (July 20, 1935 – May 17, 2014), was the longest-serving Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in the U.S. state of Louisiana. A Democrat, he held his position from 1980 to 2008 through six gubernatorial administrations.

}}'''Robert Fulton "Bob" Odom Jr.''' (July 20, 1935 – May 17, 2014), was the longest-serving Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in the U.S. state of Louisiana. A Democrat, he held his position from 1980 to 2008 through six gubernatorial administrations.

Later in the private sector, Odom operated a consulting company to work with farmers on a statewide and national basis. He offered input on farm legislation before the United States Congress. He and his family resided in Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish, where he died at the age of seventy-eight. [1]

Later in the private sector, Odom operated a consulting company to work with farmers on a statewide and national basis. He offered input on farm legislation before the United States Congress. He and his family resided in Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish, where he died at the age of seventy-eight. [1]

==Background==

==Background==

The son of Robert Odom, Sr., and the former Mary Traylor, Odom was reared up on a cotton and dairy farm of some one thousand acres in Haynesville, a small town in rural Claiborne Parish near the [[Arkansas]] state line.[2] He owned a 600-acre (2.4 km2) farm in Claiborne Parish.

The son of Robert Odom Sr., and the former Mary Traylor, Odom was reared up on a cotton and dairy farm of some one thousand acres in Haynesville, a small town in rural Claiborne Parish near the [[Arkansas]] state line.[2] He owned a 600-acre (2.4 km2) farm in Claiborne Parish.

Odom procured a Bachelor of Science degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond east of [[Baton Rouge]]. In 1960, he was first employed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, also called the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Immigration at that time. Prior to his election as commissioner, Odom became the chief of the pesticide division, executive assistant to then Commissioner Dave L. Pearce and director of technical services.[2]

Odom procured a Bachelor of Science degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond east of [[Baton Rouge]]. In 1960, he was first employed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, also called the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Immigration at that time. Prior to his election as commissioner, Odom became the chief of the pesticide division, executive assistant to then Commissioner Dave L. Pearce and director of technical services.[2]

==Political life==

==Political life==

Odom first ran as a reformer for Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in 1979 and easily unseated fellow Democrat Gil Dozier. This was the same general election in which Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Representative [[David C. Treen]] of Louisiana's 3rd congressional district narrowly defeated the Democrat, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[Louis Lambert|Louis J. Lambert, Jr.]]  A Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner, Leland George Rawls (born August 9, 1950), a farmer from Bastrop, assistant treasurer of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee, and a Treen supporter, used a gimmick to attract attention. Rawls carried a hoe during his campaign appearances and promised to "promote, protect, and advance the Agriculture Department." He polled only 67,000 votes statewide.[6]

Odom first ran as a reformer for Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in 1979 and easily unseated fellow Democrat Gil Dozier. This was the same general election in which Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Representative [[David C. Treen]] of Louisiana's 3rd congressional district narrowly defeated the Democrat, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[Louis Lambert|Louis J. Lambert Jr.]]  A Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner, Leland George Rawls (born August 9, 1950), a farmer from Bastrop, assistant treasurer of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee, and a Treen supporter, used a gimmick to attract attention. Rawls carried a hoe during his campaign appearances and promised to "promote, protect, and advance the Agriculture Department." He polled only 67,000 votes statewide.[6]

Odom took office on March 10, 1980. Thereafter, he rarely attracted serious opposition and consolidated his hold on the department. He won re-election in 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003. In the 1991 contest, he defeated Republican Don Johnson and fellow Democrat [[Jack Keahey]] of Columbia, thereafter a member and president of the Tensas Basin Levee District. Odom was hence one of the longest-serving elected officials in Louisiana.

Odom took office on March 10, 1980. Thereafter, he rarely attracted serious opposition and consolidated his hold on the department. He won re-election in 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003. In the 1991 contest, he defeated Republican Don Johnson and fellow Democrat [[Jack Keahey]] of Columbia, thereafter a member and president of the Tensas Basin Levee District. Odom was hence one of the longest-serving elected officials in Louisiana.