| Edgar Franklin “Ed” Foreman, Jr. | |
 | |
U.S. Representative for New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District
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| In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | At-large: E. S. "Johnny" Walker |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Harold Lowell Runnels |
U.S. Representative for Texas' 16th Congressional District
| |
| In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1965 | |
| Preceded by | J. T. Rutherford |
| Succeeded by | Richard C. White |
| Born | December 22, 1933 Portales, Roosevelt County New Mexico, USA |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Lynn Southard Foreman (married 1955) |
| Children | Preston Kirk Foreman Rebecca Lynn Foreman Parents: |
| Residence | Dallas, Texas |
| Alma mater | Eastern New Mexico University
New Mexico State University |
| Occupation | Civil engineer Businessman Motivational speaker |
| Religion | United Methodist |
Military Service
| |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1956–1957 |
Edgar Franklin Foreman, Jr. (born December 22, 1933), known as Ed Foreman, is a motivational speaker in Dallas, Texas,[1] who served one term in the United States House of Representatives for Texas' 16th congressional district from 1963 to 1965 and again a single term from 1969 to 1971 in New Mexico's 2nd congressional district, then newly established.[2]
Background
Foreman was born on a sweet potato and peanut farm near Portales in Roosevelt County in southeastern New Mexico to Edgar Foreman, Sr., and the former Lillian Childress.[3]
From 1952 to 1953, Foreman attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, then known as Eastern New Mexico College. He transferred to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, at which he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. From 1953 to 1956, Foreman was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company. From 1956 to 1957, he served in the United States Navy. He headed Foreman Brine Sales and Service in Odessa, Texas, from 1956 to 1962. He was formerly the president of Valley Transit Mix, the Atlas Land Company, and Foreman Oil, Inc.[3]
Political career
Representing West Texas, 1963–1965
In 1962, while he resided in Odessa, Foreman was elected to Congress from the 16th District in West Texas,[3] which stretched from El Paso to the Permian Basin. His victory is attributed to the incumbent Democratic Representative J. T. Rutherford (1921–2006) having been linked with the Billie Sol Estes scandal. In that same election, the Democrat John Bowden Connally (who later became a Republican), was elected governor of Texas over the Republican oilfield equipment executive Jack M. Cox (1921–1990).[4]
Earlier in 1963, Foreman became embroiled in a public dispute with Democratic U.S. Representative Henry B. González, the namesake of the convention center in his native San Antonio. After Foreman called him "a communist" and a "pinko" on the House floor, González confronted him.[5] Later in 1968, González punched a restaurant patron in the face when the man called the representative "a communist."[6] González was acquitted of assault after the owner of the establishment dropped charges.
Foreman was defeated by Democrat Richard C. White when he sought re-election in 1964,[7] a year in which President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texan, was romping to reelection over Republican U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona, and the Republicans suffered massive losses throughout the nation.
Representing southern New Mexico, 1969–1971
In 1968 while residing in Las Cruces, Foreman ran for Congress in the southern district of New Mexico[3] and upset the two-term Democrat E. S. Johnny Walker (1911–2000) of Albuquerque.[8] Richard Nixon won New Mexico's electoral votes that year over Hubert Humphrey, and that Republican momentum helped Foreman to get elected. Foreman was unseated after a single term in 1970 by Democrat Harold Lowell Runnels (1928–1980) in a heavily Democrat year nationally.[9]
Appointment to two federal jobs
After losing a House seat for the second time in six years, Foreman in 1971 was appointed assistant secretary of the interior in the Nixon administration and the following year, 1972, he was appointed to a position at the United States Department of Transportation, at which he stayed until 1977.
Motivational speaker
Foreman's motivational speaking is in the genre of Norman Vincent Peale, his personal mentor. Among his topics are "How to Make Every Day a Terrific Day!," "Making Quality Performance a Lifestyle," and "Acquiring The Basic Habit Patterns of Winners."[10]
Foreman's message as a motivational speaker is one of health, wealth, and happiness. He caters primarily to business leaders. He is credited to the phrase, "I'm alive, I'm alert, and I feel great!"[10]
Ties to television pitchman Kevin Trudeau
Foreman is an associate of Kevin Mark Trudeau (born 1963), a businessman known for his fraudulent infomercials. During Trudeau's sentencing to ten years imprisonment for fraud, Foreman repeatedly interrupted the court proceedings to announce to the judge that he's a former U.S. Representative. After being told to stop interrupting, Foreman was physically removed from the courtroom and arrested,[11] later cited with a $175 ticket.[12]
Philanthropy and personal life
On August 26, 1955, Foreman married the former Barbara Lynn Southard, and the couple has two children, Preston Kirk Foreman and Rebecca Lynn Foreman. In 1960, he was named the "Outstanding Young Man of Odessa." In 1962, he was named one of five "Outstanding Young Men of Texas." He was active in the Midcontinent Oil and Gas Association. Foreman is United Methodist. He is also affiliated with the Masonic lodge, the Shriners, and Rotary International.[3]
Early in 2006, Foreman and his brother, Harold "Chub" Foreman, also an NMSU graduate in engineering, donated $1.5 million to the School of Engineering at their alma mater.[13]
References
- ↑ Life Is for Laughing, Loving, and Living. Retrieved on March 25, 2020.
- ↑ Prior to 1968, U.S. Representatives in New Mexico were elected at-large statewide, rather than in individual districts.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Edgar Franklin Foreman," Who's Who in America with World Notables, Vol, 56 (1970–1971), (Chicago, Illinois: Marquis Who's Who, 1970), p. 747.
- ↑ TX Governor. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ↑ González, Henry Barbosa (1916–2000). Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ↑ Russell, Jan Jarboe (October 1992). The Eternal Challenger. Texas Monthly. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ↑ TX District 16. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ↑ NM District 02. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ↑ NM District 02. Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ed Foreman Shares His Terrific Message with the Global Information Network. Ed Foreman's website. Retrieved on March 25, 2020.
- ↑ Jason Meisner (March 17, 2014). TV pitchman Kevin Trudeau sentenced to 10 years in prison. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on March 25, 2020.
- ↑ Nicholson, Eric (March 18, 2014). Dallasite and Former Congressman Ed Foreman Really Loves Convicted Fraudster Kevin Trudeau. Dallas Observer. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ↑ Foreman gift. New Mexico State University (January 2006; material no longer accessible).