Allen Ellender died and he appointed his wife Elaine. Treen to become Louisiana’s 50th governor on May 9, 1972. In February 1972, he beat Republican David C. Jimmie Davis who had been the favorite to win. Bennett Johnston, Gillis Long, and former Gov. In the Democratic primary, Edwards defeated J. Edwards flew his own plane, hopscotching across the state three times faster than road-bound candidates. In December 1970, Edwards began a campaign for governor, challenging a field of 18 candidates by mid-1971. He also appointed Louisiana’s first black postmaster. Waggoner, and Speedy Long, and became one of a handful of southern congressmen to vote for the extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Thompson was killed in an accident in 1965, Edwards won a seat in Congress.Įdwards became part of Louisiana’s powerful delegation headed by Senators Russell Long and Allen Ellender, and Congressmen Hale Boggs, Otto Passman, Joe D. In 1964, Edwards challenged long-time state Sen. JFK announced for the Democratic nomination for president in 1960. Kennedy to festival-goers at the Crowley International Rice Festival. In 1959, he introduced young Massachusetts Sen. In 1954, he won his first election as a Crowley city councilman, serving on Louisiana’s first integrated city council. He brokered fairer deals with energy companies for the Cajuns, many of whom were illiterate. But Edwards made a name for himself by using his Cajun French to communicate with coastal French Acadians who had oil and gas lands. Moody, an accountant, who many times tried to get quick-thinking Edwin to go into business. There, the young attorney met lifelong friend B. He opened the Edwards Law Firm atop Gremillion’s Drug Store in Crowley in Acadia Parish because his sister, Audrey Edwards Isbell, told him there were more businesses in Crowley. They had four children, Anna, Victoria, Stephen and David. Edwards graduated LSU Law School four years later and married Elaine Schwartzenberg, a classmate at Marksville. He became a Navy pilot in California but as his squadron was about to deploy to the Pacific, Japan surrendered and World War II ended. He graduated Marksville High School in 1944 and began his life of public service at 17 when he joined the United States Navy. His father Clarence was a farmer and his mother Agnes was a midwife credited with nearly 2,000 births. He was 93 years old.Įdwards was born in the small community of Johnson seven miles outside Marksville in Avoyelles Parish. “He was certainly a lightning rod on many occasions but at the end of it I think on balance when you look at the public record and look back at historic records you’ll see that he actually did do a lot of good things for the state,” Honeycutt said.Louisiana’s 50th governor, Edwin Washington Edwards, was born on Aug. Congressman out of the 7th District, a Louisiana state senator, and as an Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.īut, the Gonzalez native's decades-long political career will be equally remembered for the near eight years he spent in federal prison on corruption charges. The lawyer turned elected official saw his political service begin in Crowley as a City Councilman in the 1950s and end as a four-term governor. He also served as a U.S. But, not before Edwards' casket will be taken by horse-drawn carriage and carried by a state police honor guard with the Southern University Marching Band leading the funeral procession to the Old State Capitol. Then, on Sunday, a private ceremony will be held at the Old State Capital as family and close friends pay their final respects. Donna and I send our deepest condolences to his wife, Trina, family and all who were blessed to call him a friend and ask everyone to join us in praying for God to comfort them during this difficult time." Our state has lost a giant, and we will miss him dearly. Edwin was a larger than life figure known for his wit and charm, but he will be equally remembered for being a compassionate leader who cared for the plight of all Louisianans. Edwards was a fervent supporter of civil rights and ensured that his administration was as diverse as Louisiana, a commitment I have also made as governor. House of Representatives and served as the state’s only four-term governor, leading Louisiana through pivotal years of growth including launching efforts to create the state’s current constitution. He represented Louisiana’s 7th congressional district in the U.S. At just 17, he joined the Navy during World War II, beginning a lifetime of service to his state and country. Current Governor John Bel Edwards had this to say about the former governor in a statement released following the "Cajun Prince's" passing:įew people have made such an indelible mark on our state as Governor Edwin Edwards.
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