EDWIN EDWARDS DIES - Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards has died. According to a statement released by a family spokesman the former Governor died Monday morning of respiratory problems, which had him in and out of the hospital over the past year. He leaves behind a political legacy that will no doubt be remembered for many years to come.
Former state representative Republican Wayne Waddell of Shreveport served in the Louisiana House from 1998 until 2010. Although on opposite political parties, Waddell and Edwin Edwards became friends. Waddell’s wife Susan passed along his message concerning the former Governor’s passing.
"It is with profound sorrow that we mourn the passing of our dear friend, Edwin's enthusiasm, leadership, and humor inspired us all," Mrs. Waddell said.
Known for his charisma and quick wit, Edwin Edwards dominated Louisiana politics for three decades and served four terms as governor but his tenure was overshadowed. In 2001 He was convicted of corruption in a riverboat licensing scheme. He concluded 8 years of a 10 year federal prison sentence and left prison in 2011 at age 83, but his flamboyant character was still intact. He soon married his third wife, Trina, a prison pen-pal 50 years his junior and together had a son who is now 7 years old. After prison Edwin Edwards landed a short-lived reality TV series AND at 87 unsuccessfully ran for Congress. In a 2014 interview on CNN, Edwin Edwards spoke about his congressional bid and the critics who focused on his federal conviction.
"People say we'll they're all crooks anyhow, you might as weel send an experienced one," Edwards quipped. "Nobody's ever charged me or accused me of taking money from the taxpayers, it has nothing to do with my career as a public official, nothing!"
On Sunday July 4th, Edwin Edwards was taken by ambulance to the emergency room after complaining about pain in his right lung. Doctors advised he be placed under hospice care, which he was at his home in Gonzalez, outside Baton Rouge. He insisted on letting the media know that the move was more about healthcare convenience and not a sign of impending death. But he succumbed to his health issues yesterday morning. Former Governor Edwin Edwards known by the nicknames “Fast Eddy”, the “Cajun Prince” and “Silver Fox” was 93.
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