Chris Faser, Jr.
| Christian "Chris" Faser, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana State Representative for East Baton Rouge Parish | |
|
In office 1968–1972 | |
| Preceded by |
Six-member delegation: |
| Succeeded by |
Nine-member delegation: |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
May 28, 1917 |
| Died |
January 18, 2004 (aged 86) Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Resting place | Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Mausoleum in Baton Rouge |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
(1) Maritza "Biz" Faser |
| Children |
Christian Faser, III |
| Parents | Chris and Pearl Wrenn Faser |
| Residence | (2) Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Religion | United Methodist Church |
Christian Faser, Jr., known as Chris Faser, Jr., though technically Chris Faser, III (May 28, 1917 – January 17, 2004), was a Democrat who served in both the Mississippi and the Louisiana House of Representatives, best known as a confidant of Louisiana Governor Jimmie Davis.
Background
Faser was born in Monroe in Ouachita Parish in northeastern Louisiana, one of three children of Chris Faser, Sr. (1884-1955),[1][2] a plane crash victim, and the former Pearl Wrenn (1887-1958), a native of Bolivar County, Mississippi. The senior Fasers relocated in 1940 from Monroe to Winona in Montgomery County in north central Mississippi, where they operated a pharmacy business.[3]
Political life
In 1942, Chris Faser, Jr., at the age of twenty-five was a staff member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission in Baton Rouge, when singer-politician Jimmie Davis, then of Shreveport, joined the commission as one of the then three (since five) elected members. Davis soon left the PSC to run successfully for governor. Faser became a confidant of the Davis campaign, which pushed to victory in a Democratic runoff election over the Covington lawyer Lewis L. Morgan. He then became Governor Davis's chief of staff. By c. 1950, with Davis out of office, Faser had relocated to Winona to join his parents in management of the pharmacy. During this time, he was elected to the Mississippi legislature. In 1959, after the deaths of both of Faser's parents, Davis convinced Faser to return to Baton Rouge to manage Davis's second successful campaign for governor[4] in which the musician-politician defeated rivals DeLesseps Story Morrison, William M. Rainach, Bill Dodd, James A. Noe, and Francis Grevemberg.
In 1968, Faser was elected to one of seven seats for East Baton Rouge Parish in the Louisiana House. Though he served for only one term,[5] he was the floor leader for Davis's successor as governor, Democrat John McKeithen.[4] Upon leaving the legislature, Faser became the manager of the Capitol House Hotel and the Bellemont Motor Hotel, both in Baton Rouge. Governor Edwin Edwards, McKeithen's successor, appointed Faser to serve on the Louisiana Tourist Development Commission. He also was a board member of the Louisiana Retired State Employees Association and became the first vice president of that organization before Alzheimer's disease compelled his retirement.[4]
Death
Faser died early in 2004 and was survived by his second wife, Pearl Fletcher Faser (born May 1926), also the first name of his mother. He had a son, Christian Faser, III (1940-2014), by his first wife, Maritza "Biz" Faser. Chris Faser, III, was an employee of the Louisiana Department of Insurance who retired to rural Batchelor in Pointe Coupee Parish, where he died at the age of seventy-four late in 2014.[6]
Faser also had two step-children, Jamie Taber Tarwater (born July 1961) and Ronald (last name not mentioned in obituary). After services at the First United Methodist Church, he was interred at Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Mausoleum. His honorary pallbearers included Louisiana politicians Donald Ray Kennard, W. Fox McKeithen, Francis C. Thompson, Aubrey W. Young, Robert "Bobby" Freeman, B. B. "Sixty" Rayburn, Risley C. Triche, Eugene McGehee, and Colonel Bo Garrison of the Louisiana State Police.[4]
References
- ↑ "Christian Faser, Jr.". findagrave.com. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ↑ Chirs Faser, Sr., was known as Chris Faser, Jr., until his death, at which time he was referred to as Chris Faser, Sr., with the son becoming the second Chris Faser, Jr.
- ↑ "Pearl Wrenn Faser (1887-1958)". Winona, Mississippi, Times. November 28, 1958. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 "Christian Faser, Jr. (1917-2004)". Baton Rouge Morning Advocate. January 18, 2004. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ↑ "Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-Present: East Baton Rouge Parish" (PDF). Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ↑ "Christian Faser, III". Baton Rouge Advocate. December 1, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
| Preceded by Six-member delegation: William P. "Bill" Bernhard, Jr. |
Louisiana State Representative for East Baton Rouge Parish
Christian "Chris" Faser, Jr. |
Succeeded by Nine-member delegation: Arthur F. Abadie |