Block, Upload, Automoderated users, edit, move, protect, rollback
57,799
edits
Changes
no edit summary
Fowler was a native of Coushatta, of which he was briefly the [[mayor]] from January 2 to June 12, 1953. "Mutt" Fowler succeeded his brother as mayor. Fowler was thrice elected a the Red River Parish clerk of court, 1940, 1944, and 1948.
Fowler was a native of Coushatta, of which he was briefly the [[mayor]] from January 2 to June 12, 1953. "Mutt" Fowler succeeded his brother as mayor. Fowler was thrice elected a the Red River Parish clerk of court, 1940, 1944, and 1948.
==Fowler runs for state auditor==
==Running for state auditor, 1952==
In 1952, Fowler ran unsuccessfully for state auditor on the intra-party [[Governor|gubernatorial]] ticket headed by [[U.S. Representative]] Thomas Hale Boggs, Sr., of New Orleans.<ref>''Minden Press,'' December 28, 1951, p. 1.</ref> The incumbent L. B. Baynard in turn lost the runoff election to [[Allison Kolb]], the choice of the successful candidate for governor, [[Robert F. Kennon]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]].
In 1952, Fowler ran unsuccessfully for state auditor on the intra-party [[Governor|gubernatorial]] ticket headed by [[U.S. Representative]] Thomas Hale Boggs, Sr., of New Orleans.<ref>''Minden Press,'' December 28, 1951, p. 1.</ref> The incumbent L. B. Baynard in turn lost the runoff election to [[Allison Kolb]], the choice of the successful candidate for governor, [[Robert F. Kennon]] of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]].
In 1956, Fowler, a particular favorite of Earl Long's wife, Blanche Revere Long, ran again for state auditor but was defeated in the primary by [[Bill Dodd]], who had served as lieutenant governor under Earl Long from 1948 to 1952. Also in that race was the incumbent Allison Kolb, who would later defect to the [[Republican Party|Republican Party]] and run unsuccessfully for state treasurer on February 6, 1968. The Long faction was divided over whether to back Fowler or Dodd for auditor.
In 1956, Fowler, a particular favorite of Earl Long's wife, Blanche Revere Long, ran again for state auditor but was defeated in the primary by [[Bill Dodd]], who had served as lieutenant governor under Earl Long from 1948 to 1952. Also in that race was the incumbent [[Allison Kolb]], who in 1967 defected to the [[Republican Party]] and ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer on February 6, 1968. The Long faction was divided over whether to back Fowler or Dodd for auditor.
Thereafter, Long rewarded Fowler for his loyalty to the Long faction and named him the third appointed "custodian of voting machines." The legislature created the unusual position—the only in the nation—at Long's request as a result of a bitter dispute that the governor was having with Secretary of State Wade Omer Martin, Jr., whose office then handled elections duties. A political commentator, Alan Ehrenhalt, years later dubbed the "custodianship" as the "most ridiculous elective office in the history of state government."
Thereafter, Long rewarded Fowler for his loyalty to the Long faction and named him the third appointed "custodian of voting machines." The legislature created the unusual position—the only in the nation—at Long's request as a result of a bitter dispute that the governor was having with Secretary of State Wade Omer Martin, Jr., whose office then handled elections duties. A political commentator, Alan Ehrenhalt, years later dubbed the "custodianship" as the "most ridiculous elective office in the history of state government."
In the Democratic runoff election held on January 9, 1960, Fowler defeated David Wallace Chennault, Sr. (1923–1980), a native of [[El Paso]], [[Texas]], then living in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]].<ref name=ssdi>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi|title=Social Security Death Index|publisher=ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref><ref>''Minden Press'', January 11, 1960</ref> Chennault was the sixth of eight children of [[General]] [[Claire Chennault]] of the [[World War II]] [[Flying Tigers]] and first wife, Nell Thompson Chennault (1893-1977, whom Chennault [[divorce]]d. Chennault ran on the losing intraparty ticket headed by deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison (1912-1964), the mayor of New Orleans who ran unsuccessfully for the second of three times in a bid to become governor of Louisiana. Fowler ran on the rival ticket headed by former Governor [[Jimmie Davis]], who staged a comeback for a second term in the office.<ref>"Chep Morrison and Ticket Here Monday", ''Minden Herald,'' September 17, 1959, p. 1.</ref> David Chennault died at the age of fifty-six in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], Texas, but he still listed a Monroe address with the [[Social Security Administration]] at the time of his passing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/e/b/Brenda-M-Hebert/GENE6-0004.html|title=Ancestors of Claire Lee Chennault|publisher=familytreemaker.genealogy.com|accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref>
In the Democratic runoff election held on January 9, 1960, Fowler defeated David Wallace Chennault, Sr. (1923–1980), a native of [[El Paso]], [[Texas]], then living in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]].<ref name=ssdi>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi|title=Social Security Death Index|publisher=ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref><ref>''Minden Press'', January 11, 1960</ref> Chennault was the sixth of eight children of [[General]] [[Claire Chennault]] of the [[World War II]] [[Flying Tigers]] and first wife, Nell Thompson Chennault (1893-1977, whom Chennault [[divorce]]d. Chennault ran on the losing intraparty ticket headed by deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison (1912-1964), the mayor of New Orleans who ran unsuccessfully for the second of three times in a bid to become governor of Louisiana. Fowler ran on the rival ticket headed by former Governor [[Jimmie Davis]], who staged a comeback for a second term in the office.<ref>"Chep Morrison and Ticket Here Monday", ''Minden Herald,'' September 17, 1959, p. 1.</ref> David Chennault died at the age of fifty-six in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], Texas, but he still listed a Monroe address with the [[Social Security Administration]] at the time of his passing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/e/b/Brenda-M-Hebert/GENE6-0004.html|title=Ancestors of Claire Lee Chennault|publisher=familytreemaker.genealogy.com|accessdate=June 6, 2010}}</ref>
In the [[general election]] held on April 19, 1960, Fowler overwhelmed '''William C. Porter''' (1910-1977),<ref name=ssdi/> a Republican railroad claims agent from [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], 86.8 percent to 13.2 percent. Porter had been an alternate delegate to the 1956 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]], [[California]].
In the [[general election]] held on April 19, 1960, Fowler overwhelmed '''William C. Porter''' (1910-1977),<ref name=ssdi/> a Republican railroad claims agent from [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], 86.8 percent to 13.2 percent. Porter had been an alternate delegate to the 1956 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[San Francisco]],
[[California]].
In 1963-1964, Fowler defeated Raymond Laborde, the mayor of [[Marksville, Louisiana|Marksville]], the seat of Avoyelles Parish, and later a state representative from 1972 to 1992, and commissioner of administration in the fourth and final term of Edwin Edwards. An Edwards boyhood friend, Laborde ran on the intra-party ticket headed by Chep Morrison. Laborde argued unsuccessfully at the time for the abolition of Fowler's office. All of the Morrison candidates were defeated.
In 1963-1964, Fowler defeated Raymond Laborde, the mayor of [[Marksville, Louisiana|Marksville]], the seat of Avoyelles Parish, and later a state representative from 1972 to 1992, and commissioner of administration in the fourth and final term of Edwin Edwards. An Edwards boyhood friend, Laborde ran on the intra-party ticket headed by Chep Morrison. Laborde argued unsuccessfully at the time for the abolition of Fowler's office. All of the Morrison candidates were defeated.