Dave L. Pearce
Encyclopedia
David L. "Dave" Pearce (September 8, 1904—May 28, 1984) was a Democrat
who served as the Louisiana
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry
from 1952–1956 and again from 1960-1976. Pearce, who was allied with anti-Long
elements in the state, was defeated in the Democratic primary after a single term as agriculture commissioner in 1956 by the Longite entomologist
Sidney McCrory (1891–1966) of Ascension Parish
. However, Pearce regained the post in 1960 and then lost it again in Louisiana's first-ever nonpartisan blanket primary in 1975 to a fellow Democrat, Gilbert L. "Gil" Dozier. He also failed in a 1979 campaign to regain the office.
Pearce was born in Claiborne Parish in north Louisiana to a farmer and a school teacher. He grew up on a farm and went to school in Pioneer
in West Carroll Parish
in the northeast corner of the state. As a young man, Pearce sold brushes and mops to the wives of farmers in West Carroll and East Carroll parishes. In 1928, he married the former Elizabeth Oldham (1907–1974) and had two daughters.
He represented conservative and mostly white West Carroll Parish in the Louisiana House of Representatives
from 1940-1948. In his second legislative term, which coincided with the first Jimmie Davis
gubernatorial
administration, he was chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. From his experience as the legislative point man on agriculture, Pearce decided thereafter to seek the agriculture commissioner's post.
The tall bespectacled Pearce wore a large white hat to depict himself as one of the "good guys." He "looked the part" of an agriculture commissioner and was particularly popular in rural areas of the state, specifically the northeast quadrant, because of his steadfast promotion of Louisiana agricultural products. His office also published newsletters and pamphlets with practical information useful to farmers and consumers.
, who was handily defeated by another former governor, Earl Kemp Long. In 1952, however, Pearce was elected agriculture commissioner on the successful gubernatorial ticket of the anti-Long Robert F. Kennon
of Minden
. William J. "Bill" Dodd, a veteran state officeholder and an astute observer of Louisiana
politics in the mid-twentieth century, said that Earl Long "hated" Pearce and put up the "egghead" McCrory to unseat Pearce in the 1956 primary. Dodd did not explain why Long "hated" Pearce, but McCrory did defeat Pearce that year.
In his Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics, Dodd (1909–1991) noted with humor how Long also became irritated with McCrory, who had been invited on Long's intraparty ticket "to harass and, we hoped, defeat Uncle Earl's old political enemy, Dave Pearce. All McCrory could talk about was pesticides and how to get rid of different kinds of crop-killing bugs. His main topic and claim to fame, which dominated all of his speeches, whether he was in cotton
country, forestry areas, or the city of New Orleans, was his eradicating the pink boll worms from Louisiana cotton
fields. Uncle Earl almost went crazy when had to listen to . . . McCrory kill enough pink boll worms to fill the Atlantic Ocean."
Pearce staged a comeback and defeated McCrory in the 1959 primary when anti-Long sentiment was running strongly in the state. McCrory in fact was eliminated from the runoff election as Pearce defeated George W. Shannon. McCrory ran again in 1963, but Pearce was renominated and unopposed in the general election
. Pearce also prevailed in 1967 and 1971, when he defeated fellow Democrat Earl R. Banks. He had no Republican
opposition during any of those elections. In the 1971 contest, Pearce's last successful one, he referred to himself in an advertisement as "Louisiana Top Salesman . . . Progressive, Experienced Administrator."
In 1970, Pearce got into a fistfight with State Senator
John G. Schwegmann
of Metairie
after Pearce and Governor McKeithen accused Schwegmann of short-weighing meats to his customers.
Pearce opposed the election of fellow Democrat Edwin Washington Edwards as governor in the February 1, 1972, general election
after Edwards unveiled a reform plan that would require appointment, instead of election, of the agriculture commissioner. Pearce said the political philosophy prevalent in Washington, D.C., where Edwards served in the U.S. House, "has wrecked us and taken all our liberties by people who are not elected." When Edwards' opponent, David C. Treen
, said that he would favor keeping Pearce's post elective, Pearce virtually endorsed the Republican nominee. The agriculture commissioner has through the years remained elected.
(commonly called the runoff election in Louisiana) contest with Dozier, who therefore won the position outright. Allegations of bribery, perjury
, and extortion
in connection with his job duties worked to sink Pearce's career. A third candidate in the field was the outgoing State Representative
Lantz Womack
of Winnsboro
, who like Pearce was originally from West Carroll Parish.
In the 1979 nonpartisan blanket primary, Democratic agribusinessman Robert Fred "Bob" Odom
of Zachary
in East Baton Rouge Parish, who had worked in the Agriculture Department in three positions under Pearce and was fired thereafter by Dozier, defeated both Dozier and Pearce, who was making his last attempted comeback.
A young Bastrop
(Morehouse Parish
) farmer, Leland George Rawls, II (born 1950), a member of the Republican State Central Committee, also ran for the position in the 1979 primary. Rawls carried a hoe during the campaign as a reminder of his promise to "promote, protect, and advance the Agriculture Department." He finished far behind the three leading Democrats.
In the October 27, 1979, primary Odom led with 563,515 (45.9 percent) to Dozier's 382,486 (31.1 percent). Pearce polled 163,873 (13.4 percent), Rawls 67,021 (5.5 percent), and 50,045 votes (4 percent) went to another minor candidate, Joe Coco. In the general election held on December 8, 1979, Odom defeated Dozier, 853,578 (67.2 percent) to 415,714 (32.8 percent). The general election drew some 43,000 more voters in the agriculture commissioner's race than had the primary. Dozier's percent was practically unchanged from the primary to the general election.
A joint legislative committee looked into the matter, and, in the summer of 1973, an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury indicted Pearce on thirty-one charges, twenty-five for public payroll extortion, three for public bribery, one for felony theft, one for governmental ethics violation, and one for perjury. Later, he was accused with three more perjury offenses as well.
Pearce was convicted of two misdemeanors and was fined $300 for contempt of a legislative committee and $750 for violation of the Louisiana Code of Ethics.
Eighty-two convictions were eventually returned from indictments of former Agriculture Department employees.
Pearce pleaded guilty to the misdemeanors. Then East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Ossie Brown
in July 1975 dropped all remaining charges "in the spirit of justice and fairness" because a key witness had died and because Pearce's health was a concern.
Pearce also angered his party when he refused to endorse fellow Democrat Edwin Washington Edwards
in the 1972 general election against Republican David C. Treen
. He claimed that Edwards' "Washington philosophy has wrecked us and taken our liberties." Though he did not specifically endorse Treen, Pearce said that the Republican candidate's platform was closer to his views than were the positions of Edwards, who defeated Treen by a comfortable margin.
.
Odom was indicted by an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury in 2002 on 21 charges, including bribery, extortion
, and theft
. He was acquitted, ran again for a seventh term in the 2003 nonpartisan blanket primary, and was an easy winner.
(1946–2005), a Republican: "The Bob Odom that I've known is a good, straight man, and I'd be surprised if they find anything on him."
Another Republican, however, was appalled at Odom's troubles. State Senate President John Hainkel
(1938–2005) of New Orleans, said that Odom's troubles, coming after those of Pearce and Dozier, smear the state's reputation amid corporate board rooms across the country who might be considering locating plants in Louisiana.
Three other statewide elected Democratic officials were also convicted in recent years: former Elections Commissioner Jerry Fowler
, former Governor Edwards, and Insurance Commissioner James H. "Jim" Brown. Two previous insurance commissioners, Sherman Bernard and Doug Green, were also found guilty of corruption.
Hainkel declared that Odom's legal troubles were "very disappointing to me. . . [They don't] help us."
, the seat of West Carroll Parish. Despite his political upheavals, Pearce was a local favorite in West Carroll and surrounding parishes for many years.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
who served as the Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
from 1952–1956 and again from 1960-1976. Pearce, who was allied with anti-Long
Earl Long
Earl Kemp Long was an American politician and the 45th Governor of Louisiana for three non-consecutive terms. Long termed himself the "last of the red hot poppas" of politics, referring to his stump-speaking skills...
elements in the state, was defeated in the Democratic primary after a single term as agriculture commissioner in 1956 by the Longite entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
Sidney McCrory (1891–1966) of Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish, Louisiana
Ascension Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is the fastest growing parish in the state. Its population is 107,215 which is 39.9% greater than the 2000 census...
. However, Pearce regained the post in 1960 and then lost it again in Louisiana's first-ever nonpartisan blanket primary in 1975 to a fellow Democrat, Gilbert L. "Gil" Dozier. He also failed in a 1979 campaign to regain the office.
Pearce was born in Claiborne Parish in north Louisiana to a farmer and a school teacher. He grew up on a farm and went to school in Pioneer
Pioneer, Louisiana
Pioneer is a village in West Carroll Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 171 at the 2000 census.Former Louisiana Agriculture Commissoner Dave L...
in West Carroll Parish
West Carroll Parish, Louisiana
West Carroll Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Oak Grove and as of 2000, the population was 12,314.-History:...
in the northeast corner of the state. As a young man, Pearce sold brushes and mops to the wives of farmers in West Carroll and East Carroll parishes. In 1928, he married the former Elizabeth Oldham (1907–1974) and had two daughters.
He represented conservative and mostly white West Carroll Parish in the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
from 1940-1948. In his second legislative term, which coincided with the first Jimmie Davis
Jimmie Davis
James Houston Davis , better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana...
gubernatorial
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
administration, he was chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. From his experience as the legislative point man on agriculture, Pearce decided thereafter to seek the agriculture commissioner's post.
Scope of the agriculture commissioner
The agriculture commissioner's office, officially the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, regulates the growing, harvesting, inspection, and sale of crops and livestock. It also inspects the calibration of the pumps at gasoline stations and scales in grocery stores. The department ascertains that automatic price-readers in stores match up with the posted prices on products. Agriculture commissioners in other states perform these same essential functions as well.The tall bespectacled Pearce wore a large white hat to depict himself as one of the "good guys." He "looked the part" of an agriculture commissioner and was particularly popular in rural areas of the state, specifically the northeast quadrant, because of his steadfast promotion of Louisiana agricultural products. His office also published newsletters and pamphlets with practical information useful to farmers and consumers.
Earl Long fields McCrory against Pearce
Pearce first ran for agricultural commissioner in 1948 on the intraparty ticket of former Governor Sam Houston Jones of Lake CharlesLake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
, who was handily defeated by another former governor, Earl Kemp Long. In 1952, however, Pearce was elected agriculture commissioner on the successful gubernatorial ticket of the anti-Long Robert F. Kennon
Robert F. Kennon
Robert Floyd Kennon, Sr., known as Bob Kennon , was the 48th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1952-1956. He failed to win a second non-consecutive term in the 1963 Democratic primary....
of Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
. William J. "Bill" Dodd, a veteran state officeholder and an astute observer of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
politics in the mid-twentieth century, said that Earl Long "hated" Pearce and put up the "egghead" McCrory to unseat Pearce in the 1956 primary. Dodd did not explain why Long "hated" Pearce, but McCrory did defeat Pearce that year.
In his Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics, Dodd (1909–1991) noted with humor how Long also became irritated with McCrory, who had been invited on Long's intraparty ticket "to harass and, we hoped, defeat Uncle Earl's old political enemy, Dave Pearce. All McCrory could talk about was pesticides and how to get rid of different kinds of crop-killing bugs. His main topic and claim to fame, which dominated all of his speeches, whether he was in cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
country, forestry areas, or the city of New Orleans, was his eradicating the pink boll worms from Louisiana cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
fields. Uncle Earl almost went crazy when had to listen to . . . McCrory kill enough pink boll worms to fill the Atlantic Ocean."
Pearce staged a comeback and defeated McCrory in the 1959 primary when anti-Long sentiment was running strongly in the state. McCrory in fact was eliminated from the runoff election as Pearce defeated George W. Shannon. McCrory ran again in 1963, but Pearce was renominated and unopposed in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
. Pearce also prevailed in 1967 and 1971, when he defeated fellow Democrat Earl R. Banks. He had no Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
opposition during any of those elections. In the 1971 contest, Pearce's last successful one, he referred to himself in an advertisement as "Louisiana Top Salesman . . . Progressive, Experienced Administrator."
In 1970, Pearce got into a fistfight with State Senator
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
John G. Schwegmann
John G. Schwegmann
John Gerald Schwegmann, Jr., was a pioneer in the development of the modern supermarket. He owned eighteen stores in the Greater New Orleans area, based from Metairie, a large unincorporated city in Jefferson Parish...
of Metairie
Metairie, Louisiana
Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
after Pearce and Governor McKeithen accused Schwegmann of short-weighing meats to his customers.
Pearce opposed the election of fellow Democrat Edwin Washington Edwards as governor in the February 1, 1972, general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
after Edwards unveiled a reform plan that would require appointment, instead of election, of the agriculture commissioner. Pearce said the political philosophy prevalent in Washington, D.C., where Edwards served in the U.S. House, "has wrecked us and taken all our liberties by people who are not elected." When Edwards' opponent, David C. Treen
David C. Treen
David Conner "Dave" Treen, Sr. , was an American attorney and politician from Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana – the first Republican Governor of the U.S. state of Louisiana since Reconstruction. He was the first Republican in modern times to have served in the U.S...
, said that he would favor keeping Pearce's post elective, Pearce virtually endorsed the Republican nominee. The agriculture commissioner has through the years remained elected.
Pearce's defeats in 1975 and 1979
In 1975, Pearce was unseated in the nonpartisan blanket primary by Gil Dozier (born 1934) of Baton Rouge. Dozier led the balloting with 42 percent. Pearce trailed with 30 percent and decided not to pursue a general electionGeneral election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
(commonly called the runoff election in Louisiana) contest with Dozier, who therefore won the position outright. Allegations of bribery, perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
, and extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
in connection with his job duties worked to sink Pearce's career. A third candidate in the field was the outgoing State Representative
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
Lantz Womack
Lantz Womack
Lantz Womack was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives who served mostly Franklin Parish, from 1958, when he won a special election caused by the death of a freshman member, until his retirement in 1976...
of Winnsboro
Winnsboro, Louisiana
Winnsboro is a city in and the parish seat of Franklin Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of July 2009, the estimated city population was 4,377...
, who like Pearce was originally from West Carroll Parish.
In the 1979 nonpartisan blanket primary, Democratic agribusinessman Robert Fred "Bob" Odom
Bob Odom
Robert Fulton "Bob" Odom is the former Democratic Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in the U.S. state of Louisiana, who served from 1980-2008. Now in the private sector, Odom operates a consulting company to work with farmers on a statewide and national basis. He offers input on farm...
of Zachary
Zachary, Louisiana
Zachary is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States, in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 11,275 at the 2000 census.-History:...
in East Baton Rouge Parish, who had worked in the Agriculture Department in three positions under Pearce and was fired thereafter by Dozier, defeated both Dozier and Pearce, who was making his last attempted comeback.
A young Bastrop
Bastrop, Louisiana
Bastrop is a city in and the parish seat of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,988 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Bastrop, Louisiana Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Monroe-Bastrop, Louisiana Combined...
(Morehouse Parish
Morehouse Parish, Louisiana
Morehouse Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Bastrop. In 2000, the parish population was 31,021....
) farmer, Leland George Rawls, II (born 1950), a member of the Republican State Central Committee, also ran for the position in the 1979 primary. Rawls carried a hoe during the campaign as a reminder of his promise to "promote, protect, and advance the Agriculture Department." He finished far behind the three leading Democrats.
In the October 27, 1979, primary Odom led with 563,515 (45.9 percent) to Dozier's 382,486 (31.1 percent). Pearce polled 163,873 (13.4 percent), Rawls 67,021 (5.5 percent), and 50,045 votes (4 percent) went to another minor candidate, Joe Coco. In the general election held on December 8, 1979, Odom defeated Dozier, 853,578 (67.2 percent) to 415,714 (32.8 percent). The general election drew some 43,000 more voters in the agriculture commissioner's race than had the primary. Dozier's percent was practically unchanged from the primary to the general election.
The undoing of Dave Pearce
Pearce's political decline actually began in 1972, with the disclosure that the state Market Commission had granted $330,000 in state loans to Winnfield Minerals, Inc., which went broke without repaying any of the funds. Pearce's son-in-law was a stockholder in the company.A joint legislative committee looked into the matter, and, in the summer of 1973, an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury indicted Pearce on thirty-one charges, twenty-five for public payroll extortion, three for public bribery, one for felony theft, one for governmental ethics violation, and one for perjury. Later, he was accused with three more perjury offenses as well.
Pearce was convicted of two misdemeanors and was fined $300 for contempt of a legislative committee and $750 for violation of the Louisiana Code of Ethics.
Eighty-two convictions were eventually returned from indictments of former Agriculture Department employees.
Pearce pleaded guilty to the misdemeanors. Then East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Ossie Brown
Ossie Brown
Ossie B. Brown was a Baton Rouge Democrat who served two six-year terms as district attorney of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, from 1972—1984. In 1970, he successfully defended United States Army Sergeant David Mitchell in the My Lai Massacre cases...
in July 1975 dropped all remaining charges "in the spirit of justice and fairness" because a key witness had died and because Pearce's health was a concern.
Pearce also angered his party when he refused to endorse fellow Democrat Edwin Washington Edwards
Edwin Edwards
Edwin Washington Edwards served as the Governor of Louisiana for four terms , twice as many terms as any other Louisiana chief executive has served. Edwards was also Louisiana's first Roman Catholic governor in the 20th century...
in the 1972 general election against Republican David C. Treen
David C. Treen
David Conner "Dave" Treen, Sr. , was an American attorney and politician from Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana – the first Republican Governor of the U.S. state of Louisiana since Reconstruction. He was the first Republican in modern times to have served in the U.S...
. He claimed that Edwards' "Washington philosophy has wrecked us and taken our liberties." Though he did not specifically endorse Treen, Pearce said that the Republican candidate's platform was closer to his views than were the positions of Edwards, who defeated Treen by a comfortable margin.
Further scandals against Dozier and Odom
In the fall of 1980, Dozier was convicted by a federal jury on three counts of extortion and one of racketeering and was sentenced to eighteen years in prison. He served only four; his sentence was commuted by U.S. President Ronald W. ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
Odom was indicted by an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury in 2002 on 21 charges, including bribery, extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
, and theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
. He was acquitted, ran again for a seventh term in the 2003 nonpartisan blanket primary, and was an easy winner.
The legacy of corruption in Louisiana
After his legal troubles surfaced, Odom drew a quick defender in then Secretary of State W. Fox McKeithenW. Fox McKeithen
Walter Fox McKeithen served five terms as Secretary of State of Louisiana between 1988 and 2005. He is best remembered for merging the state's election divisions into one department and for the promotion of historical preservation.-Son of a governor:He was born Walter Fox McKeithen in Columbia in...
(1946–2005), a Republican: "The Bob Odom that I've known is a good, straight man, and I'd be surprised if they find anything on him."
Another Republican, however, was appalled at Odom's troubles. State Senate President John Hainkel
John Hainkel
John Joseph Hainkel, Jr., was a gregarious, ruffled, and raspy-voiced legislator from New Orleans who died in office after thirty-seven years of service...
(1938–2005) of New Orleans, said that Odom's troubles, coming after those of Pearce and Dozier, smear the state's reputation amid corporate board rooms across the country who might be considering locating plants in Louisiana.
Three other statewide elected Democratic officials were also convicted in recent years: former Elections Commissioner Jerry Fowler
Jerry Fowler
Jerry Marston Fowler was a Baton Rouge businessman who served as Louisiana's state Elections Commissioner from 1980 until his defeat in the 1999 jungle primary. He was part of the Fowler family Democratic political dynasty...
, former Governor Edwards, and Insurance Commissioner James H. "Jim" Brown. Two previous insurance commissioners, Sherman Bernard and Doug Green, were also found guilty of corruption.
Hainkel declared that Odom's legal troubles were "very disappointing to me. . . [They don't] help us."
Dave Pearce Gospel Sing
Pearce is remembered through the Dave L. Pearce Memorial Gospel Sing, which is held in his honor every March in Oak GroveOak Grove, Louisiana
Oak Grove is a town in, and the parish seat of, West Carroll Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,174 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Oak Grove is located at ....
, the seat of West Carroll Parish. Despite his political upheavals, Pearce was a local favorite in West Carroll and surrounding parishes for many years.