Douglas Fowler

Who was Douglas Fowler?

Wiley Douglas Fowler, Sr., known as Doug Fowler, was a politician from rural Red River Parish in northwestern Louisiana, a loyal supporter of Governor Earl Kemp Long, and his state's chief elections officer from 1959, until declining health forced his retirement, effective December 31, 1979. Fowler laid the groundwork for a small-scale family political dynasty in Louisiana. Jerry Marston Fowler succeeded his father as elections commissioner and served until a scandal caused his own defeat, effective in 2000. And one of Fowler's two brothers, Hendrix Marion "Mutt" Fowler, Sr., went into local politics, served in the Louisiana House of Representatives for fourteen years and ended his public career, also amid a scandal, as the executive director of the Sabine River Authority in Many.

Fowler was a native of Coushatta, the seat of government of Red River Parish. He was elected three times as the parish clerk of court: 1940, 1944, and 1948. He was mayor of Coushatta from 1952 to 1954. "Mutt" Fowler also later served as mayor of their community.