Louisiana has lost a legendary figure as former four-term governor Edwin Edwards passes away at the age of 93. Jeff Palermo has more…
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Advocate reporter Tyler Bridges remembers former Governor Edwin Edwards, who he says was the most important political figure in Louisiana since Huey P. Long…
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Former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards has died at the age of 93. Edwards served four terms as governor, but also eight years in prison after convicted on racketeering charges for corrupting the state’s riverboat gaming licensing process
After serving as a state senator and in the U-S House of Representatives, Edwards was elected as governor in 1971 and began the first of four terms in 1972. He took advantage of an oil boom in 1974 and changed the severance tax making Louisiana the most-cash-rich state in the nation according to his biographer Leo Honeycutt. Edwards told Jim Engster in 2011 that he always looked out for the working class…
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Edwards was released from prison in 2011 and always maintained his innocence. He certainly had his critics, as he was tried three times on federal charges. In his 2011 interview with Jim Engster, Edwards talked about his afterlife…
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Four-term former Governor Edwin Edwards has passed away at the age of 93. His biographer Leo Honeycutt says Edwards died peacefully this morning at his home in Gonzales with family and friends at his bedside. Honeycutt says last Monday Edwards placed himself in hospice care
Honeycutt says Edwin Edwards was lucid last week with his visitors at his home in Ascension Parish, but a couple of days ago he stopped eating. He says his last words were to his seven-year-old son, Eli…
Honeycutt wrote a best-selling biography on Edwin Edwards’s life that was released in 2009. He says during their book signing tour, Honeycutt was amazed at the amount of public support the Cajun Prince received…
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Former Democratic Governor Edwin Edwards’ legendary race against Republican former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke captivated the nation in 1991.
Advocate reporter Tyler Bridges covered “The Race from Hell” extensively. He says Edwards leaned into allegations of corruption against him with an unofficial campaign slogan of “vote for the crook, it’s Important”.
Edwards ultimately won that race 61 to 39 percent in the runoff after incumbent Governor Buddy Roemer took third place in the primary.
Bridges says Edwards was certainly a politician of his time whose brand of humor and lifestyle likely would not fly in today’s more political correctness conscious political environment.
Edwards was governor from 1972-1980, 1984-1988, and then 1992-1996.
Bridges says despite Edwards’ broad popularity it’s hard to make the case that he substantially improved the state given Louisiana still ranks at the bottom of most rankings. But, he did have that “it” factor…
Edwards’ last political campaign was in 2014 where he ran for the Baton Rouge-centric 6th District, ultimately losing to Republican Congressman Garret Graves.
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Memorial services have been set for Doyline Police Officer Billy Collins Junior who was fatally shot on Friday while responding to a service call. Visitation will be Thursday night at First Bossier Church in Bossier City and the funeral will be the next day. In Florida, 12-year-old Zechariah Cartledge ran one mile while carrying a Blue Line Flag in honor of Officer Collins
State Police says the suspect who shot Collins is in serious condition after suffering a gunshot wound. Collins was a Webster Parish deputy, but was working as a Doyline patrol officer when he died in the line of duty. Cartledge is impressed with Collins’s dedication to his community…
State Police say Collins and two Webster Parish deputies were responding to a call for service. Investigators say Carter was the first officer to arrive at the residence and immediately began to take gunfire from the suspect. Doyline Mayor Steven Birdwell says Collins was loved in the community…