Changes

|term_start=1959​

|term_start=1959​

|term_end=December 31, 1979​

|term_end=December 31, 1979​

|preceded=Drayton Rogers Boucher​

|preceded=[[Drayton Boucher]]​

|succeeded=[[Jerry Fowler|Jerry Marston Fowler]] ​

|succeeded=[[Jerry Fowler|Jerry Marston Fowler]] ​

|office2=[[Mayor]] of Coushatta in Red River Parish, Louisiana​

|office2=[[Mayor]] of Coushatta in Red River Parish, Louisiana​

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.​

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.​

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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. (1911-1990), 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."​

==Custodian of voting machines==

==Custodian of voting machines==

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Fowler was appointed by Long as the director of the state Board of Registration, a position earlier held by Long confidant Drayton Rogers Boucher of Springhill, a former member of the state Senate from Bossier and Webster parishes. Fowler's title was changed to "custodian" in 1959, and he ran for the position in the 1959-1960 Democratic primaries. Fowler said that he deserved the appointment because "I worked hard enough for it, and no one deserved it more," and he "beat the bushes" for Long in the 1947-1948 gubernatorial cycle. That year Long defeated his old intraparty rival, former Governor [[Sam Houston Jones]] of [[Lake Charles]]. Fowler, meanwhile, defeated a number of opponents in a close Democratic primary race in 1959.​

Fowler was appointed by Long as the director of the state Board of Registration, a position earlier held by Long confidant Drayton Rogers Boucher of Springhill, a former member of the state Senate from Bossier and Webster parishes. Fowler's title was changed to "custodian" in 1959, and he ran for the position in the 1959-1960 Democratic primaries. Fowler said that he deserved the appointment because "I worked hard enough for it, and no one deserved it more," and he "beat the bushes" for Long in the 1947-1948 gubernatorial cycle. That year Long defeated his old intra-party rival, former Governor [[Sam Houston Jones]] of [[Lake Charles]]. Fowler, meanwhile, defeated a number of opponents in a close Democratic primary race in 1959.​

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, Sr. (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>  

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, Sr. (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>