| Robert Fulton "Bob" Odom | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry | |
| In office March 10, 1980 – January 14, 2008 |
|
| Preceded by | Gilbert L. "Gil" Dozier |
| Succeeded by | Michael Gene "Mike" Strain |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 20, 1935 Haynesville, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Millie Randolph Odom |
| Occupation | Farmer; Consultant |
| Religion | Baptist |
Robert Fulton "Bob" Odom (born July 20, 1935) 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 legislation before the United States Congress. He resides with his family in Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish.[1]
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Odom grew up on a cotton and dairy farm of some one thousand acres in Haynesville, a small town in rural Claiborne Parish near the Arkansas state line. He still owns a 600-acre (2.4 km2) farm in Claiborne Parish.
Odom procured a Bachelor of Science degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond east of Baton Rouge. In 1960, he was first employed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Prior to his election as commissioner, Odom became the chief of the pesticide division, executive assistant to Commissioner Dave L. Pearce, and director of technical services.
Odom served in the United States Marines and was stationed as a company commander in Okinawa, Japan. He graduated from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and is a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. He serves on various boards and commissions, such as the Louisiana Cattleman's Association, East Baton Rouge Parish and Louisiana Farm Bureau, the World Trade Center of New Orleans, and Louisiana Environmental Health Association.
Odom is married to the former Millie Randolph. They have two children, Robb and Ashley, and four grandchildren. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Zachary. In his leisure, Odom enjoys hunting, fishing and woodworking.[2]
Odom first ran as a reformer for Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in 1979 and easily unseated fellow Democrat Gilbert L. "Gil" Dozier (born 1934). This was the same general election in which Republican gubernatorial candidate David C. Treen narrowly defeated Democrat Louis J. Lambert, Jr., of Baton Rouge. Odom took office in 1980. Thereafter, Odom rarely attracted serious opposition, as he consolidated his hold on the agriculture department. He won re-election in 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003. In the 1991 contest, he defeated Republican Don Johnson and fellow Democrat Jack Keahey of Columbia, thereafter a member and president of the Tensas Basin Levee District. Odom is hence one of the longest-serving elected officials in Louisiana.
In the past several years, however, Odom encountered much controversy in a series of personal allegations which erupted in connection with his duties as commissioner.[3] Odom has fought criminal corruption charges since August 2002, when he was indicted on twenty-one counts, including bribery and money laundering. A state judge dismissed all remaining charges in 2007, but prosecutors have appealed that ruling and asked that the case be reinstated. Odom even quarreled with Governor Kathleen Blanco and state Treasurer John Neely Kennedy, a Democrat-turned-Republican who was unopposed in the 2007 primary.[4] Like Odom, Dozier was also engulfed in scandal.[5] So was Dozier's predecessor, fellow Democrat Dave Pearce, who served from 1952–1956, and again from 1960-1976. Ironically, Odom had been a key aide to Pearce, and both were born in Claiborne Parish. Pearce ran unsuccessfully in the 1979 primary against both Dozier and Odom.[6]
Odom ran for an eight consecutive four-year term in 2007. His most serious rival was Republican Michael G. Strain, a veterinarian, a dairy farmer and an outgoing member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from St. Tammany Parish in the New Orleans suburbs.
In the October 20, jungle primary, Odom led Strain, 505,466 (41 percent) to 494,726 (40 percent). Two other candidates, Republicans Wayne Carter, a conservative member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro council from Odom's own Zachary, and Don Johnson, a farmer from Transylvania in East Carroll Parish, trailed with 152,872 (13 percent) and 69,469 (6 percent), respectively. The total Republican vote hence totaled 59 percent. Perennial candidate Johnson had also run against Odom in 1987, 1991, 1995 and 2003.[3][7]
Odom attributed his weaker-than-usual showing to the failure of many African American voters, who had backed him in the past by large margins, to cast ballots in the primary.
Less than a week later, Odom announced that he would not contest the general election. Therefore, Strain was declared the winner of the election and will assume office on January 12, 2008.[4][8]
Odom has won a plethora of awards in agriculture. In 1970, United States Secretary of Agriculture Clifford M. Hardin cited Odom for "outstanding service" to agriculture. In 1976, the Louisiana State Legislature by concurrent resolution commended Odom for his services to the department. In 1982, he was awarded the designation of "Honorary American Farmer" by the Future Farmers of America. In 1995, the year of his fourth-term reelection, Odom was named "Outstanding Agriculture Commissioner of the Year" by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, which represents nearly six hundred biotechnology companies and academic institutions. In 1996, Odom received the "Man of the Year" award from Progressive Farmer magazine.[2]
When Odom announced his exit from the general election campaign, Ray Young, a farmer and agriculture consultant from Wisner in Franklin Parish in northeastern Louisiana, introduced him by saying, "Bob Odom is the best Agriculture and Forestry commissioner Louisiana has ever had."[1]
Odom's supporters held a retirement celebration in Baton Rouge in his honor on November 29, 2007. Interested persons were urged to contribute to the "Bob Odom Retirement Fund". Odom had a campaign debt at the time of approximately $125,000.[9] Conservative radio talk show host Moon Griffon of Monroe told listeners on November 21, that Odom will receive a retirement check of some $85,000 per year from the State of Louisiana.[10]
In 2008, Odom was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.[11]
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 1987
Threshold > 50%
First ballot, October 24, 1987
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bob Odom | Democratic | 993,869 (73%) | Elected |
| Don Johnson | Republican | 190,502 (14%) | Defeated |
| Others | n/a | 168,301 (13%) | Defeated |
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 1991
Threshold > 50%
First ballot, October 19, 1991
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bob Odom | Democratic | 824,167 (60%) | Elected |
| Don Johnson | Republican | 199,688 (15%) | Defeated |
| Others | n/a | 353,078 (25%) | Defeated |
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 1995
Threshold > 50%
First ballot, October 21, 1995
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bob Odom | Democratic | 980,909 (74%) | Elected |
| Don Johnson | Republican | 272,349 (21%) | Defeated |
| Buster Fresina | Democratic | 71,829 (5%) | Defeated |
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 1999
Threshold > 50%
First ballot, October 23, 1999
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bob Odom | Democratic | Unopposed | Elected |
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 2003
Threshold > 50%
First ballot, October 4, 2003
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bob Odom | Democratic | 822,682 (66%) | Elected |
| Don Johnson | Republican | 430,856 (34%) | Defeated |
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 2007
Threshold > 50%
First ballot, October 20, 2007
| Candidate | Affiliation | Support | Outcome |
| Bob Odom | Democratic | 505,504 (41%) | Runoff |
| Mike Strain | Republican | 494,760 (40%) | Runoff |
| Wayne Carter | Republican | 152,893 (13%) | Defeated |
| Don Johnson | Republican | 69,470 (6%) | Defeated |
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gilbert L. "Gil" Dozier (D) |
Commissioner of Agriculture & Forestry
Robert Fulton "Bob" Odom (D) |
Succeeded by Michael Gene Strain (R) |