Edwin Edwards

Edwin Washington Edwards (August 7, 1927 – July 12, 2021) was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. He served as the U.S. Representative from 1965 to 1972 and as the 50th Governor of Louisiana for four terms (1972–1980, 1984–1988 and 1992–1996), twice as many elected terms as any other Louisiana chief executive.

Political career
He served a total of sixteen years in office, the sixth-longest serving gubernatorial tenure in post-Constitutional U.S. history at 5,784 days. He was a colorful, powerful and legendary figure in Louisiana politics. Edwards, who has been dubbed the "very last of the line of New Deal Southern Democrats", was long dogged by charges of corruption.

Conviction and imprisonment
In 2001, he was found guilty of racketeering charges and sentenced to ten years in Federal prison. Edwards began serving his sentence in October 2002 in Fort Worth, Texas, and was later transferred to the federal facility in Oakdale, Louisiana. Edwards was released from federal prison in January 2011, after serving eight years.

Without a pardon, Edwards remains ineligible to seek the governorship until 15 years have passed from the end of his sentence. In 2013, Edwards co-starred, alongside his third wife Trina, in an A&E reality show, The Governor's Wife based on their life together. In 2014, Edwards ran in the 2014 election to represent  in the United States House of Representatives. He placed first in the jungle primary, but was crushed by nearly 25 points in the runoff election.

Personal life
Edwards was born in Marksville, Louisiana. He studied at Louisiana State University. Edwards was married to Elaine Schwartzenburg from 1949 until they divorced in 1989. Then he was married to Candace Picou from 1994 until they divorced in 2004. Then he married his current wife, Trina Grimes Scott in 2011. Edwards has four children with Elaine and one with Trina.

In 2015, Edwards was hospitalized for pneumonia. On December 13, 2016, Edwards was hospitalized under stable condition again for pneumonia in Baton Rouge.

Edwards was sent to hospice care for pain in his lungs in Gonzales, Louisiana on July 6, 2021.Edwin Edwards in hospice care at Louisiana home He died six days later on July 12 at the age of 93.Former La. Governor Edwin Edwards has died at 93 The cause of death was respiratory failure caused by pneumonia.Edwin Edwards, Louisiana populist who served 4 terms as governor and 8 years in prison, dies at 93

References

Other websites

Edwards' greatest quotes
New York Magazine profile
Larry King interview


Category:1927 births
Category:2021 deaths
Category:Deaths from pneumonia
Category:American judges
Category:American Roman Catholics
Category:Governors of Louisiana
Category:United States representatives from Louisiana
Category:Democratic Party (United States) politicians
Category:Deaths from respiratory failure
Category:Lawyers from Louisiana