Changes

|preceded2=[[Earl Williamson]]

|preceded2=[[Earl Williamson]]

|succeeded2=[[James Whitfield Williamson]]

|succeeded2=[[James Whitfield Williamson]]

|spouse=(1) Joan Quinby Wilson (divorced)<br>

|spouse=(1) Joan Quinby Wilson (divorced)<br>

(2) Ann Beebe Wilson (divorced)

(2) Ann Beebe Wilson (divorced)

==1978 congressional primary==

==1978 congressional primary==

Wilson switched parties to run for Congress: "I have never voted for a Democrat for President, and the only way for the Republican Party to grow is for Democrats to switch over."[1] He quickly emerged as the leading Republican candidate in the new Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary format to choose a successor to retiring Democratic Representative [[Joe Waggonner]] of Plain Dealing. Wilson did not switch parties until after Waggonner declared that he would not seek reelection. The Republican leadership, under state chairman [[George Despot]] of Shreveport, considered endorsing either state Representatives Arthur W. "Art" Sour (1924-2000) of [[Shreveport]], or Bruce Lynn, or a younger prospect, Bossier City council member Chester J. "Buzz" Wojecki. The party finally decided in caucus to anoint Wilson as the candidate most electable in the historically Democratic district.  

Wilson switched parties to run for Congress: "I have never voted for a Democrat for President, and the only way for the Republican Party to grow is for Democrats to switch over."[1] He quickly emerged as the leading Republican candidate in the new Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary format to choose a successor to retiring Democratic Representative [[Joe Waggonner]] of Plain Dealing. Wilson did not switch parties until after Waggonner declared that he would not seek reelection. The Republican leadership, under state chairman [[George Despot]] of Shreveport, considered endorsing either state Representatives [[Art Sour|Arthur William "Art" Sour, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]], or Bruce Lynn, or a younger prospect, Bossier City council member Chester Anthony "Buzz" Wojecki, Jr. (1948-2024). The party finally decided in caucus to anoint Wilson as the candidate most electable in the historically Democratic district.  

Several leading Democrats entered the field, including banker/businessmanand later [[Governor]] [[Buddy Roemer]], state Representative Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach of Leesville, state Representative and former FBI agent [[Loy Weaver]] of Homer in Claiborne Parish, and [[Rogers M. Prestridge]], the municipal judge of Bossier City.  

Several leading Democrats entered the field, including banker/businessmanand later [[Governor]] [[Buddy Roemer]], state Representative [[Buddy Leach|Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach, Jr.]], of Leesville, state Representative and former FBI agent [[Loy Weaver]] of Homer in Claiborne Parish, and [[Rogers M. Prestridge]], the municipal judge of Bossier City.  

Primary campaigning centered on the "Big Four" in the race: Republican Wilson and Democrats Roemer, Leach, and Weaver, with Prestridge in a distant fifth position. Each candidate relied heavily on television to present his message, and each promised to continue the kind of constituent services provided for the previous seventeen years by Waggonner.

Primary campaigning centered on the "Big Four" in the race: Republican Wilson and Democrats Roemer, Leach, and Weaver, with Prestridge in a distant fifth position. Each candidate relied heavily on television to present his message, and each promised to continue the kind of constituent services provided for the previous seventeen years by Waggonner.

   

   

Representative Waggonner said that he would remain neutral, but shortly before the primary he criticized Roemer's suggestion that the Red River navigation program might have to be scaled down or delayed as a means to fight excessive government spending and inflation. Political observers regarded Waggonner's criticism of Roemer as a factor in Roemer's failure to obtain a general election berth. For years, the Louisiana delegation, particularly Waggonner and Democratic U.S. Senators [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], and [[Russell Long]], had worked to make the river navigable from Shreveport through Alexandria and south to Simmesport, on the Avoyelles and Pointe Coupee parish border.  

Representative Waggonner said that he would remain neutral, but shortly before the primary he criticized Roemer's suggestion that the Red River navigation program might have to be scaled down or delayed as a means to fight excessive government spending and inflation. Political observers regarded Waggonner's criticism of Roemer as a factor in Roemer's failure to obtain a general election berth. For years, the Louisiana delegation, particularly Waggonner and Democratic U.S. Senators [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], and [[Russell Long]], had worked to make the river navigable from Shreveport through Alexandria and south to Simmesport, on the Avoyelles and Pointe Coupee parish border.  

Wilson had the enthusiastic support of the national and state Republican organizations. Four recognized Republican names appeared on his behalf, including former President [[Gerald Ford]], former Governor [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]], former Texas Governor and former Treasury Secretary [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], and former Texas U.S. Representative [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], later the 41st U.S. President. He also won the backing of his state House Democratic colleague, Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995), of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]].

Wilson had the enthusiastic support of the national and state Republican organizations. Four recognized Republican names appeared on his behalf, including former President [[Gerald Ford]], former Governor [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]], former Texas Governor and former Treasury Secretary [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], and former Texas U.S. Representative [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], later the 41st U.S. President. He also won the backing of his state House Democratic colleague, [[R. Harmon Drew, Sr.|Richard Harmon Drew, Sr.]], of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]].

   

   

Leach, who carried the support of influential State Representative [[Walter O. Bigby]], a Vernon Parish native who relocated to Bossier Parish. [2] led in the primary with 35,010 votes (26.9 percent). Wilson trailed by .1 percent, with 34,841 ballots (26.8 percent). Roemer finished third with 33,302 votes (25.6 percent). Roemer hence lost a general election berth by some 1,500 votes. Weaver, who had the backing of ''The Shreveport Times'' and former Caddo Parish Sheriff [[James M. Goslin]], finished fourth with 17,396 votes (13.4 percent). The other candidates, including Judge Prestridge, trailed far behind.[3]

Leach, who carried the support of influential State Representative [[Walter O. Bigby]], a Vernon Parish native who relocated to Bossier Parish. [2] led in the primary with 35,010 votes (26.9 percent). Wilson trailed by .1 percent, with 34,841 ballots (26.8 percent). Roemer finished third with 33,302 votes (25.6 percent). Roemer hence lost a general election berth by some 1,500 votes. Weaver, who had the backing of ''The Shreveport Times'' and former Caddo Parish Sheriff [[James M. Goslin]], finished fourth with 17,396 votes (13.4 percent). The other candidates, including Judge Prestridge, trailed far behind.[3]

==The "sore loser" phenomenon==

==The "sore loser" phenomenon==

Ultimately, however, Roemer defeated Leach in an all-Democratic [[general election]] under Louisiana law, held simultaneously with the Reagan-Carter presidential race. Wilson, despite the vote-buying allegations that had ruined his chances in 1978, hence failed to gain a spot in the general election.  

Ultimately, however, Roemer defeated Leach in an all-Democratic [[general election]] under Louisiana law, held simultaneously with the Reagan-Carter presidential race. Wilson, despite the vote-buying allegations that had ruined his chances in 1978, hence failed to gain a spot in the general election.  

Wilson's defeat was no anomaly. He was mistaken if he thought that voters would reward him in 1980 on the basis of his having been the victim of election theft in 1978. In other situations too, voters have rejected candidates who were defeated by questionable means in previous elections. Some see them as "sore losers". Other voters may not want to be reminded of past election chicanery. Still other voters oppose the candidate for reasons of their own, both personal and policy-related.  

Wilson's defeat was no anomaly. He was mistaken if he thought that voters would reward him in 1980 on the basis of his having been the victim of election theft in 1978. In other situations too, voters have rejected candidates who were defeated by questionable means in previous elections. Some see them as "sore losers". Other voters may not want to be reminded of past election chicanery. Still other voters oppose the candidate for reasons of their own, both personal and policy-related.

 

==Wilson's untimely death==

==Wilson's untimely death==

Wilson's congressional defeats ended his political career. He was twice divorced. Soon his health broke, and he died of [[cancer]]. Survivors included four children from his first marriage to the former Joan "Joannie" Quinby (born February 3, 1934) of Vivian: two sons, Hamilton Paul Wilson, II (namesake of his grandfather), and James Michael Wilson, both then of Vivian, and two daughters, Amanda Wilson Murry of Vivian and Melissa Wilson Brown, then of [[Washington, D.C.]]; his mother Lola Wilson; three sisters, Jean Brown, Mimi Cochran, and Peggy Wilson, and four grandchildren. Wilson's second wife was the former Shreveport newswoman Ann Beebe.  

Wilson's congressional defeats ended his political career. He was twice divorced. Soon his health broke, and he died of [[cancer]]. Survivors included four children from his first marriage to the former Joan "Joannie" Quinby (born February 3, 1934) of Vivian: two sons, Hamilton Paul Wilson, II (namesake of his grandfather), and James Michael Wilson, both then of Vivian, and two daughters, Amanda Wilson Murry of Vivian and Melissa Wilson Brown, then of [[Washington, D.C.]]; his mother Lola Wilson; three sisters, Jean Brown, Mimi Cochran, and Peggy Wilson, and four grandchildren. Wilson's second wife was the former Shreveport newswoman Ann Beebe.  

Services were held in the Vivian [[United Methodist]] Church. Wilson was cremated.

Services were held in the Vivian [[United Methodist]] Church. Wilson was cremated.