W. Fox McKeithen

Walter Fox McKeithen (September 8, 1946 – July 16, 2005) served five terms as Secretary of State of Louisiana between 1988 and 2005. He is best known for merging the state's election divisions into one department and for the promotion of historical preservation.

W. Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State of Louisiana
In office December 1988 – July 15, 2005
Governor	Buddy Roemer Edwin Edwards Mike Foster Kathleen Blanco
Preceded by	James H. "Jim" Brown
Succeeded by	Al Ater
Louisiana State Representative from Caldwell, Franklin, Jackson, and Winn parishes
In office 1984–1988
Preceded by	Thomas "Bud" Brady
Succeeded by	Noble Ellington
Personal details
Born	Walter Fox McKeithen (1946-09-08)September 8, 1946 Columbia, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	July 16, 2005(2005-07-16) (aged 58) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Party	Republican (1989–2005)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (before 1989)
Alma mater	Louisiana Tech University (BA)
Occupation	Educator; businessman

Early life and education

McKeithen was born in rural Columbia, Louisiana, to John Julian McKeithen and the former Marjorie Howell Funderburk. According to his tombstone, he was named for two World War II heroes, Walter Bennett and Elmer Fox. He graduated as class president in 1964 from Caldwell Parish High School, the same month in which his father was inaugurated as governor of Louisiana. One of his classmates was future associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, Chet D. Traylor. McKeithen attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston in Lincoln Parish to obtain a bachelor's degree in history and social studies.

After graduating from Louisiana Tech, McKeithen returned to Caldwell Parish High School, located off U.S. Route 165, as a civics teacher and coach. He also established three businesses in Caldwell Parish.^{[citation needed]}

Democrat for secretary of state, 1987

Republican for Secretary of State, 1991

In the summer of 1989, McKeithen switched to the Republican Party, whose chairman, Billy Nungesser Sr., had courted him for a possible 1990 campaign for the United States Senate against the Democrat J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.^[1] Upon making the party switch, the GOP helped McKeithen pay off $400,000 in campaign debts.^[2]

In subsequent elections, McKeithen was often endorsed by Democrats and worked well with members from both parties. His folksy manner meant that he was generally popular with voters despite adopting such unpopular positions as raising the pay of elected state officials.

Death

Five months after suffering a paralyzing injury, McKeithen died on July 15, 2005—just hours after submitting his resignation as Secretary of State. He left his state pension to his wife, Yvonne Y. McKeithen.^{[citation needed]}

Fox McKeithen is interred beside his father, mother, and older brother at the private Hogan Cemetery off Louisiana Highway 559 in Caldwell Parish

Legacy

In 2006, McKeithen was inducted posthumously into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield, an honor that his father had procured in 1993, having been among the first thirteen honorees.