Chris Faser, Jr.
| Christian "Chris" Faser, Jr. | |
Louisiana State Representative
for East Baton Rouge Parish | |
| In office 1968–1972 | |
| Preceded by | Six-member delegation: William P. "Bill" Bernhard, Jr. |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Nine-member delegation: Arthur F. Abadie |
| Born | May 28, 1917 Monroe, Louisiana, USA |
| Died | January 18, 2004 Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Resting place | Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Mausoleum in Baton Rouge |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Maritza "Biz" Faser (2) Pearl Fletcher Faser |
| Children | Christian Faser, III Two step-children |
| Residence | (1) Winona, Mississippi (2) Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Religion | United Methodist |
Christian Faser, Jr., known as Chris Faser, Jr., though technically Chris Faser, III (May 28, 1917 – January 17, 2004), was a Democrat who served as a state representative in both Louisiana and Mississippi, best known as a confidant of Louisiana Governor Jimmie Davis.
Contents
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.[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 theSt. Tammany Parish attorney Lewis Lovering Morgan (1874-1950). 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 Chep Morrison, William 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 J. McKeithen.[4] Upon leaving the legislature, Faser became the manager of the Hilton 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 (1926-2020), also the first name of his mother, and the owner of a Baton Rouge boutique.[6] 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.[7]
Faser also had two step-children from the marriage of Pearl, Jamie Taber Tarwater (born July 1961) and Ronald Hernanzez. Services were held in Baton Rouge at the First United Methodist Church. Chris and Pearl Faser are interred at Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Mausoleum. His honorary pallbearers included Louisiana politicians Donald Kennard, Walter Fox McKeithen, Francis C. Thompson, Aubrey Young, Robert 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 on October 3, 2020.
- ↑ 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 on October 4, 2020.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Christian Faser, Jr. (1917-2004). The Baton Rouge Advocate (January 18, 2004). Retrieved on December 31, 2014.
- ↑ Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-Present: East Baton Rouge Parish. Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved on December 31, 2014.
- ↑ Pear Faser obityary. The Baton Rouge Advocdate (July 25, 2020). Retrieved on October 3, 2030.
- ↑ Christian Faser, III, obituary. Baton Rouge Advocate (December 1, 2014). Retrieved on October 4, 2020.
