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Dayton C. and Pat Brown​

Dayton C. and Pat Brown​

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'''Dewey Lee Fletcher, Jr.''', known as '''Lee Fletcher'''  (April 29, 1966 – September 30, 2009), was an [[United States|American]] political consultant and a [[talk radio]] host and blogger in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], [[Louisiana]]. In 2002, he was defeated by 974 votes in a race for the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Louisiana's 5th congressional district. A [[Republican Party|Republican]], Fletcher lost to the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Rodney Alexander]].

'''Dewey Lee Fletcher, Jr.''', known as '''Lee Fletcher'''  (April 29, 1966 – September 30, 2009), was an [[United States|American]] political consultant and a [[talk radio]] host and blogger in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], [[Louisiana]]. In 2002, he was defeated by 974 votes in a race for the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Louisiana's 5th congressional district. A [[Republican Party|Republican]], Fletcher lost to the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Rodney Alexander]].

Fletcher's advertising agency known as "The Fletcher Group" was cited by the American Advertising Federation for its successful statewide [[television]] campaigns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leefletcher.com/|title=The Fletcher Group|publisher=leefletcher.com|accessdate=October 3, 2009}}</ref> He also hosted a political talk program on 92.7 Fox FM radio in Monroe.​

Fletcher's advertising agency known as "The Fletcher Group" was cited by the American Advertising Federation for its successful statewide [[television]] campaigns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leefletcher.com/|title=The Fletcher Group|publisher=leefletcher.com|accessdate=October 3, 2009}}</ref> He also hosted a political talk program on 92.7 Fox FM radio in Monroe.​

 

In 2008, Fletcher's agency worked to elect Republican [[physician]] [[John Fleming]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] as the U.S. representative for Louisiana's 4th congressional district, vacated by the retirement of Republican Representative James Otis "Jim" McCrery of [[Shreveport]]. Fletcher served briefly as Fleming's chief of staff until sidelined by his fatal illness.<ref name=mns>"Former talk show host, political operative Lee Fletcher dies at 43, 'The Monroe-News-Star'' October 1, 2009.</ref>​

In 2008, Fletcher's agency worked to elect Republican [[physician]] [[John Fleming]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] as the U.S. representative for Louisiana's 4th congressional district, vacated by the retirement of Republican Representative James Otis "Jim" McCrery of [[Shreveport]]. Fletcher served briefly as Fleming's chief of staff until sidelined by his fatal illness.<ref name=mns>"Former talk show host, political operative Lee Fletcher dies at 43, 'The Monroe-News-Star'' October 1, 2009.</ref>​

==Background==

==Background==

 

Fletcher was born at E.A. Conway Medical Center in Monroe to Dewey Fletcher, Sr. (1943-2004),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Fletcher&GSfn=Dewey&GSmn=Lee&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=46403438&df=all&|title=Dewey Lee Fletcher, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=June 10, 2017}}</ref> and the former Patricia Gaye Brown (born August 1944), later Patricia Irby, of Monroe. He was reared at the 9B Ranch, a [[horse]] ranch and a [[cotton]] farm, in Oak Grove in [[rural]] West Carroll Parish in northeast Louisiana by his maternal grandparents, Dayton C. Brown (1913–1994)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi|title=Social Security Death Index|publisher=ssdi.rootsweb.com|accessdate=October 3, 2009}}</ref> and Pat Brown, who at the time of her grandson's death resided in West Monroe. Fletcher had ad two sisters, Nicki Hall of Tyler,  [[Texas]], and Ashley Simmons-Jones of West Monroe. He was a cousinof Louisiana 4th Judicial District Judge Wendell Manning of Monroe.​

Fletcher was born at E.A. Conway Medical Center in Monroe to Dewey Fletcher, Sr. (1943-2004),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Fletcher&GSfn=Dewey&GSmn=Lee&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=46403438&df=all&|title=Dewey Lee Fletcher, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=June 10, 2017}}</ref> and the former Patricia Gaye Brown (born August 1944), later Patricia Irby, of Monroe. He was reared at the 9B Ranch, a [[horse]] ranch and a [[cotton]] farm, in Oak Grove in [[rural]] West Carroll Parish in northeast Louisiana by his maternal grandparents, Dayton C. Brown (1913–1994)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi|title=Social Security Death Index|publisher=ssdi.rootsweb.com|accessdate=October 3, 2009}}</ref> and Pat Brown, who at the time of her grandson's death resided in West Monroe. Fletcher had ad two sisters, Nicki Hall of Tyler,  [[Texas]], and Ashley Simmons-Jones of West Monroe. He was a cousinof Louisiana 4th Judicial District Judge Wendell Manning of Monroe.​

In 1984, Fletcher graduated from Oak Grove High School. In August 1989, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] A member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, he was the Louisiana Tech student body president in 1988 and a devotee of Louisiana Tech athletics.<ref name=obit>Obituary of Dewey Lee Fletcher, Jr., ''The Monroe News-Star,'' Retrieved October 3, 2009.</ref>  Eleven years later, he obtained a [[Master of Business Administration]] degree from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]].​

In 1984, Fletcher graduated from Oak Grove High School. In August 1989, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] A member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, he was the Louisiana Tech student body president in 1988 and a devotee of Louisiana Tech athletics.<ref name=obit>Obituary of Dewey Lee Fletcher, Jr., ''The Monroe News-Star,'' Retrieved October 3, 2009.</ref>  Eleven years later, he obtained a [[Master of Business Administration]] degree from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]].​

 

==Political activities==

==Political activities==

 

As a youth, Fletcher campaigned for the election of [[Ronald W. Reagan]] for [[U.S. President]]. He worked in the [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] administration and in the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]. He was a graduate and former faculty member of the [[Republican National Committee]] Campaign Management College and its Leadership Institute Campaign School in Arlington, [[Virginia]].<ref name=obit/>

As a youth, Fletcher campaigned for the election of [[Ronald W. Reagan]] for [[U.S. President]]. He worked in the [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] administration and in the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]. He was a graduate and former faculty member of the [[Republican National Committee]] Campaign Management College and its Leadership Institute Campaign School in Arlington, [[Virginia]].<ref name=obit/>

In 2007, Fletcher devoted himself to electing more Republicans to office and served as the northeast Louisiana consultant for the successful gubernatorial candidate, [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref name=obit/> He also urged voters in the 32nd state Senate district to elect Neil Riser, the Republican businessman from Columbia, who defeated a Democrat for the seat vacated by term-limited incumbent Noble Ellington of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish. Riser beat the Democrat former State Representative Bryant Hammett of Ferriday in Concordia Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lanewslink.com/print.php?article=2740|title=Endorsement: Neil Riser Is Heads And Shoulders Better Than Bryant Hammett|publisher=lanewslink.com|accessdate=October 3, 2009}}</ref> and vacates the seat in 2020.​ Fletcher's firm worked in eight campaigns and was successful in seven. The one loss occurred when the Fletcher-backed candidate advanced to the general election but then withdrew. Though self-described as a "Ronald Reagan Republican," Fletcher was a consultant for the Democratic [[African American]] [[mayor]] of Monroe, Jamie Mayo, in the latter's re-election campaign in February 2008. Mayo told a friend that his hiring of Fletcher "made the difference between winning and losing."<ref name=obit/>​

In 2007, Fletcher devoted himself to electing more Republicans to office and served as the northeast Louisiana consultant for the successful gubernatorial candidate, [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref name=obit/> He also urged voters in the 32nd state Senate district to elect Neil Riser, the Republican businessman from Columbia, who defeated a Democrat for the seat vacated by term-limited incumbent Noble Ellington of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish. Riser beat the Democrat former State Representative Bryant Hammett of Ferriday in Concordia Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lanewslink.com/print.php?article=2740|title=Endorsement: Neil Riser Is Heads And Shoulders Better Than Bryant Hammett|publisher=lanewslink.com|accessdate=October 3, 2009}}</ref> and vacates the seat in 2020.​ Fletcher's firm worked in eight campaigns and was successful in seven. The one loss occurred when the Fletcher-backed candidate advanced to the general election but then withdrew. Though self-described as a "Ronald Reagan Republican," Fletcher was a consultant for the Democratic [[African American]] [[mayor]] of Monroe, Jamie Mayo, in the latter's re-election campaign in February 2008. Mayo told a friend that his hiring of Fletcher "made the difference between winning and losing."<ref name=obit/>​

​In 2008, Fletcher developed and launched an all new talk FM format station named KBYO-FM or 92.7 Fox FM and hosted his own daily show, ''Townhall Show'', on this regional talk station.<ref>TownHallShow.com, December 31, 2008, no longer on-line.</ref> He had also substituted at times for [[Moon Griffon]].<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]]'', radio talk show program then based in Monroe, Louisiana, October 1, 2009.</ref>​

In 2008, Fletcher developed and launched an all new talk FM format station named KBYO-FM or 92.7 Fox FM and hosted his own daily show, ''Townhall Show'', on this regional talk station.<ref>TownHallShow.com, December 31, 2008, no longer on-line.</ref> He had also substituted at times for [[Moon Griffon]].<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]]'', radio talk show program then based in Monroe, Louisiana, October 1, 2009.</ref>​

==Last days==

==Last days==

 

In February 2009, less than two months into his tenure as Representative John Fleming's chief of staff, Fletcher was stricken with [[cancer]]. He underwent treatment in Ruston and Monroe as well as the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]. A sarcoma in his back metastasized.<ref>T. Scott Boatright, "Fletcher dies at age 43," ''Ruston Daily Leader,'' [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], Louisiana, October 1, 2009.</ref> He died at the age of forty-three at St. Francis Hospital in Monroe, with his grandmother at his side.<ref name=obit/>​

In February 2009, less than two months into his tenure as Representative John Fleming's chief of staff, Fletcher was stricken with [[cancer]]. He underwent treatment in Ruston and Monroe as well as the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]. A sarcoma in his back metastasized.<ref>T. Scott Boatright, "Fletcher dies at age 43," ''Ruston Daily Leader,'' [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], Louisiana, October 1, 2009.</ref> He died at the age of forty-three at St. Francis Hospital in Monroe, with his grandmother at his side.<ref name=obit/>​

 

Services were held on October 5, 2009, at the First Church of God in Oak Grove, with the Reverend Mark Foster, a [[Pentecostal]] pastor from West Monroe officiating, assisted by the Reverends Paul Ninemire, a Church of God minister from Oak Grove, and Dennis Anger, pastor of the Cypress Street Church of God in West Monroe. Interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers included former U.S. Representative John Cooksey, political consultant Roy Fletcher (no relation), newspaper publisher Sam Hanna, Jr., of ''The Ouachita Citizen'', and Judge Wendell Manning. Honorary pallbearers were U.S. Representatives John Fleming and Rodney Alexander and state Senators Michael Arthur "Mike" Walsworth and Neil Riser, and Fletcher's Sigma Nu fraternity brothers.<ref name=obit/>​

Services were held on October 5, 2009, at the First Church of God in Oak Grove, with the Reverend Mark Foster, a [[Pentecostal]] pastor from West Monroe officiating, assisted by the Reverends Paul Ninemire, a Church of God minister from Oak Grove, and Dennis Anger, pastor of the Cypress Street Church of God in West Monroe. Interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers included former U.S. Representative John Cooksey, political consultant Roy Fletcher (no relation), newspaper publisher Sam Hanna, Jr., of ''The Ouachita Citizen'', and Judge Wendell Manning. Honorary pallbearers were U.S. Representatives John Fleming and Rodney Alexander and state Senators Michael Arthur "Mike" Walsworth and Neil Riser, and Fletcher's Sigma Nu fraternity brothers.<ref name=obit/>​

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Louisiana People]]

[[Category:Louisiana People]]