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Tharpe also developed a close friendship with [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.]], whom Tharpe supported in the 1995 jungle primary before Foster began to emerge as the leading candidate. The Episcopalian Foster invited Tharpe to lead the [[prayer]] at Foster's [[inauguration]] ceremony. The Tharpes stayed overnight in the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge, and he delivered a [[Bible]] study at a prayer breakfast. Foster later invited the pastor to join him on a duck hunting trip in South Louisiana. Tharpe presented Foster with an honorary degree from LBU. Earlier, Tharpe had accorded such honors to former Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]].<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 91-92, 112-113.</ref>

Tharpe also developed a close friendship with [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.]], whom Tharpe supported in the 1995 jungle primary before Foster began to emerge as the leading candidate. The Episcopalian Foster invited Tharpe to lead the [[prayer]] at Foster's [[inauguration]] ceremony. The Tharpes stayed overnight in the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge, and he delivered a [[Bible]] study at a prayer breakfast. Foster later invited the pastor to join him on a duck hunting trip in South Louisiana. Tharpe presented Foster with an honorary degree from LBU. Earlier, Tharpe had accorded such honors to former Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]].<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 91-92, 112-113.</ref>

Others listed as "Friends of the Ministry" are the late [[Jerry Falwell]] of [[Liberty University]] in Lynchburg, [[Virginia]], [[Lee Roberson]], the founder of Tennessee Temple University, Falwell mentor [[B.R. Lakin]], and [[R.G. Lee]] of [[Bellevue Baptist Church]] in Memphis, Tennessee. Two [[Western (genre)|Western]] [[film]] stars, Lash La Rue (1917-1996) and [[Dale Robertson]], best known for his old [[television series]] ''Tales of Wells Fargo'', are also mentioned in Tharpe's memoirs. Tharpe declared "Lash La Rue" day at Baptist Tabernacle and baptized the Louisiana-born actor, who had already declared his belief in Jesus Christ.<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 74-76, 86-87, 115</ref> Missionary Baptist policy restricts formal pulpit speaker to members of that denomination, but Tharpe said that he felt he should offer access to any traditional believer in the Gospel regardless of denominational ties.<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 53-54</ref>

Others listed as "Friends of the Ministry" are the late [[Jerry Falwell]] of [[Liberty University]] in Lynchburg, [[Virginia]], [[Lee Roberson]], the founder of Tennessee Temple University, Falwell mentor [[B.R. Lakin]], and [[R.G. Lee]] of [[Bellevue Baptist Church]] in Memphis, Tennessee. Two [[Western (genre)|Western]] [[film]] stars, Lash La Rue (1917-1996) and [[Dale Robertson]], best known for his old television series ''Tales of Wells Fargo'', are also mentioned in Tharpe's memoirs. Tharpe declared "Lash La Rue" day at Baptist Tabernacle and baptized the Louisiana-born actor, who had already declared his belief in Jesus Christ.<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 74-76, 86-87, 115</ref> Missionary Baptist policy restricts formal pulpit speaker to members of that denomination, but Tharpe said that he felt he should offer access to any traditional believer in the Gospel regardless of denominational ties.<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 53-54</ref>

==Death and legacy==

==Death and legacy==