Changes

(2) Springhill, Webster Parish, Louisiana​

(2) Springhill, Webster Parish, Louisiana​

| death_date=February 4, 2011 (aged 84)​

| death_date=February 4, 2011 (aged 84)​

| death_place =Springhill, Webster Parish​

| death_place =Springhill, Webster Parish​<br>

| resting_place=Springhill Cemetery​

| spouse= Bettye Elmore Frye (married 1945-2011, his death)​

Springhill Cemetery​

| children=Robert Randal Frye<br>​

| spouse=Bettye Elmore Frye (married 1945-2011, his death)<br>​

Robert Randal Frye<br>​

Bettye Rene Frye<br>​

Bettye Rene Frye<br>​

Deborah Jean Frye Ferachi<br>​

Deborah Jean Frye Ferachi<br>​

}}​

}}​

'''Robert Lafayette Frye''' (January 9, 1927 &ndash; February 4, 2011) was an [[educator]] and [[politician]] in his native [[Louisiana]].

'''Robert Lafayette Frye''' (January 9, 1927 &ndash; February 4, 2011) was an [[educator]] and [[politician]] in his native [[Louisiana]].

 

==Early years and education==​

==Background==​

​

​

Frye was born to Jennings Bryan Frye, Sr. (1896–1970), and the former Fannie Mae Coyle (1900–1994) in Shongaloo, south of Springhill in Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, where at the age of sixteen he graduated from Shongaloo High School. He enrolled at [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], from which he received in 1966 his [[Ph.D.]] in education. On October 6, 1945, Frye wed the former Bettye Elmore (also born 1927), and left for stateside service in the [[United States Army]] two months after the conclusion of [[World War II]].<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=robert-l-frye&pid=148361868|title=Robert L. Frye|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate'', February 6, 2011|accessdate=February 6, 2011}}</ref>​

Frye was born to Jennings Bryan Frye, Sr. (1896–1970), and the former Fannie Mae Coyle (1900–1994) in Shongaloo, south of Springhill in Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, where at the age of sixteen he graduated from Shongaloo High School. He enrolled at [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], from which he received in 1966 his [[Ph.D.]] in education. On October 6, 1945, Frye wed the former Bettye Elmore (also born 1927), and left for stateside service in the [[United States Army]] two months after the conclusion of [[World War II]].<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=robert-l-frye&pid=148361868|title=Robert L. Frye|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate'', February 6, 2011|accessdate=February 6, 2011}}</ref>​

His career began as a teacher/coach at Reeves High School in Reeves in Allen Parish in south Louisiana. He returned to Webster Parish as a school principal of three schools.

His career began as a teacher/coach at Reeves High School in Reeves in Allen Parish in south Louisiana. He returned to Webster Parish as a school principal of three schools.

<ref>''Minden Herald'', September 11, 1958, p. 1.</ref> He took sabbatical leave from Shongaloo High School in 1963 to work on his doctorate degree at LSU.<ref>"Strong Named Principal at Sibley High School", ''Minden Herald'', August 8, 1963, p. 1.</ref> Frye advanced to the Louisiana Department of Education in Baton Rouge as the state supervisor of high schools<ref>"Frye Is Republican Candidate for Education Superintendent," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 16, 1971, p. 8.</ref> and finally to the faculty at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, at which he also served from 1970 to 1990 on the elected Tangipahoa Parish School Board.<ref name=obit/>​

<ref>''Minden Herald'', September 11, 1958, p. 1.</ref> He took sabbatical leave from Shongaloo High School in 1963 to work on his doctorate degree at LSU.<ref>"Strong Named Principal at Sibley High School", ''Minden Herald'', August 8, 1963, p. 1.</ref> Frye advanced to the Louisiana Department of Education in Baton Rouge as the state supervisor of high schools<ref>"Frye Is Republican Candidate for Education Superintendent," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 16, 1971, p. 8.</ref> and finally to the faculty at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, at which he also served from 1970 to 1990 on the elected Tangipahoa Parish School Board.<ref name=obit/>​

 

==Campaign for state superintendent==​

==Campaign for state superintendent==​

​

​

​

​

After Michot unseated Dodd, Frye telephoned him to offer congratulations. A few weeks later, Frye alleged that Michot, along with a brother, was operating a bar in Lafayette. Frye also claimed that Michot had offered him a high level job in a new Michot education department if Frye would withdraw from the general election contest.<ref name=mph>"Frye Released Papers Say Michot Unethical", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 27, 1972, p. 1.</ref> Michot denied the charges<ref name=mph/> and easily prevailed, 662,597 votes (63.5 percent) to Frye's 380,896 (36.5 percent).<ref name=returns/> At the time Frye challenged Michot, the Republican Party in Louisiana numbered fewer than 38,000 registrants in the state; Frye henced polled ten times the votes of his voter base. He lost his native  Webster and Tangipahoa Parish, where he resided at the time of that campaign. Frye polled majorities in East Baton Rouge Parish and five north Louisiana parishes: Caddo, Ouachita, LaSalle, Lincoln and Winn, the former stronghold of the [[Huey Long|Long]] political political faction.<ref name=returns/><ref>Billy Hathorn, "The Republican Party in Louisiana, 1920-1980", ([[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Louisiana]]: [[Northwestern State University]], 1980), p. 203</ref>​

After Michot unseated Dodd, Frye telephoned him to offer congratulations. A few weeks later, Frye alleged that Michot, along with a brother, was operating a bar in Lafayette. Frye also claimed that Michot had offered him a high level job in a new Michot education department if Frye would withdraw from the general election contest.<ref name=mph>"Frye Released Papers Say Michot Unethical", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 27, 1972, p. 1.</ref> Michot denied the charges<ref name=mph/> and easily prevailed, 662,597 votes (63.5 percent) to Frye's 380,896 (36.5 percent).<ref name=returns/> At the time Frye challenged Michot, the Republican Party in Louisiana numbered fewer than 38,000 registrants in the state; Frye henced polled ten times the votes of his voter base. He lost his native  Webster and Tangipahoa Parish, where he resided at the time of that campaign. Frye polled majorities in East Baton Rouge Parish and five north Louisiana parishes: Caddo, Ouachita, LaSalle, Lincoln and Winn, the former stronghold of the [[Huey Long|Long]] political political faction.<ref name=returns/><ref>Billy Hathorn, "The Republican Party in Louisiana, 1920-1980", ([[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Louisiana]]: [[Northwestern State University]], 1980), p. 203</ref>​

 

==Death and family==​

==Death and family==​

​

​

​

​

Frye's obituary describes his "greatest pride as the children he knew and educated in schools and colleges." His service was held on February 7, 2011, at his home church, the First [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church of Springhill.

Frye's obituary describes his "greatest pride as the children he knew and educated in schools and colleges." His service was held on February 7, 2011, at his home church, the First [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church of Springhill.

Interment followed in Springhill Cemetery.<ref name=obit/>​​

Interment followed in Springhill Cemetery.<ref name=obit/>

 

==References==​

==References==

​{{reflist}}​

{{reflist}}

​

​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frye, Robert L.}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frye, Robert L.}}​