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In 1975, in the first-ever nonpartisan blanket primary in Louisiana, Fowler easily defeated two fellow Democrats who sought the elections commissioner's position, Jerome A. Sauer, who again charged that Louisiana voting machines can easily be rigged, and Delores Burrell Vanison.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 3, 1975, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1975, in the first-ever nonpartisan blanket primary in Louisiana, Fowler easily defeated two fellow Democrats who sought the elections commissioner's position, Jerome A. Sauer, who again charged that Louisiana voting machines can easily be rigged, and Delores Burrell Vanison.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 3, 1975, p. 1.</ref>​

==Jerry Fowler succeeds his father==​

==Accesion of Jerry Fowler==

Under the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, the office of "custodian of voting machines" was renamed "elections commissioner." Fowler won a final term in the 1975 nonpartisan blanket primary, and then, in 1980, shortly after his death, the office reverted to his son. Jerry Fowler won the 1979 [[general election]] over the Republican [[John Henry Baker]] of Franklin Parish, whose somewhat unusual campaign called for the abolition of the election commissioner's position and the return of the duties to the secretary of state. Baker's proposal, defeated at the polls, was finally adopted a quarter of a century later in 2004. Baker drew the support of former state Representative and state Senator Robert Gambrell "Bob" Jones of Lake Charles, whose father both Long and Fowler had worked to defeat in 1948.

Under the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, the office of "custodian of voting machines" was renamed "elections commissioner." Fowler won a final term in the 1975 nonpartisan blanket primary, and then, in 1980, shortly after his death, the office reverted to his son. Jerry Fowler won the 1979 [[general election]] over the Republican [[John Henry Baker]] of Franklin Parish, whose somewhat unusual campaign called for the abolition of the election commissioner's position and the return of the duties to the secretary of state. Baker's proposal, defeated at the polls, was finally adopted a quarter of a century later in 2004. Baker drew the support of former state Representative and state Senator Robert Gambrell "Bob" Jones of Lake Charles, whose father both Long and Fowler had worked to defeat in 1948.

Fowler and his friend, former state Senator B. B. "Sixty" Rayburn, Sr., of Bogalusa in Washington Parish, were two Earl Long "cronies" who survived in office far beyond the Long gubernatorial terms, which closed in 1960. Rayburn recalled that he and Fowler "toured the state together with Earl Long in Long's comeback campaign for a third term in 1956. He was a very close, dear friend of mine. ... He was just a fine a man as I have ever known." Earl Long's nephew, then U.S. Senator [[Russell Long]], said that "few people can claim to have served their state harder, more faithfully, and for a longer period than Doug Fowler. As commissioner of elections, he was an exemplary state official who won reelection time after time."​

Fowler and his friend, former state Senator B. B. "Sixty" Rayburn, Sr., of Bogalusa in Washington Parish, were two Earl Long "cronies" who survived in office far beyond the Long gubernatorial terms, which closed in 1960. Rayburn recalled that he and Fowler "toured the state together with Earl Long in Long's comeback campaign for a third term in 1956. He was a very close, dear friend of mine. ... He was just a fine a man as I have ever known." Earl Long's nephew, then U.S. Senator [[Russell Long]], said that "few people can claim to have served their state harder, more faithfully, and for a longer period than Doug Fowler. As commissioner of elections, he was an exemplary state official who won reelection time after time."​

Jerry Fowler, meanwhile, later ran afoul of the law, was defeated for a sixth term in the 1999 primary, and served time in a federal prison in [[Texas]] for [[bribery]] and [[income tax evasion]]. Jerry Fowler's second wife, Mari Ann, disappeared one Christmas weekend when she went to visit her husband in prison, was never located, and has been declared legally dead.​

Jerry Fowler, meanwhile, later ran afoul of the law, was defeated for a sixth term in the 1999 primary, and served time in a federal prison in [[Texas]] for [[bribery]] and [[income tax]] evasion. Jerry Fowler's second wife, Mari Ann, disappeared one Christmas weekend when she went to visit her husband in prison, was never located, and has been declared legally dead.​

==Fowler's death==​

==Fowler's death==​

In 1999, Fowler was inducted posthumously into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield. In its obituary of Fowler, ''The Baton Rouge Advocate'' said that the former commissioner's favorite sport was not football but "politicking."​<ref>"Douglas Fowler succumbs at 73," ''The Baton Rouge Advocate,'' January 31, 1980.</ref>

In 1999, Fowler was inducted posthumously into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield. In its obituary of Fowler, ''The Baton Rouge Advocate'' said that the former commissioner's favorite sport was not football but "politicking."​<ref>"Douglas Fowler succumbs at 73," ''The Baton Rouge Advocate,'' January 31, 1980.</ref>

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==References==​

==References==

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​''The Shreveport Times'', January 31, 1980.​

​''The Shreveport Times'', January 31, 1980.​