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. Clark Gaudin Carl V. Dawson Joe Keough Eugene McGehee Lillian W. Walker
Succeeded by	Nine-member delegation: Arthur F. Abadie Richard Hugh Baker Warren Davis Folkes Clark Gaudin Woody Jenkins Johnnie A. Jones Kevin P. Reilly Frank P. Simoneaux Richard Turnley, Jr.
Personal details
Born	(1917-05-28)May 28, 1917 Monroe, Ouachita Parish Louisiana, USA
Died	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 (2) Pearl Fletcher Faser
Children	Christian Faser, III Two step-children
Parents	Chris and Pearl Wrenn Faser
Residence	(1) Winona Montgomery County Mississippi (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), 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.

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 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, he was the floor leader for Davis's successor as governor, Democrat John McKeithen. 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.

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.

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.

References

Preceded by Six-member delegation: William P. "Bill" Bernhard, Jr. Clark Gaudin Carl V. Dawson Joe Keough Eugene McGehee Lillian W. Walker

Louisiana State Representative for East Baton Rouge Parish Christian "Chris" Faser, Jr. (alongside six other members) 1968–1972

Succeeded by Nine-member delegation: Arthur F. Abadie Richard Hugh Baker Warren Davis Folkes Clark Gaudin Woody Jenkins Johnnie A. Jones Kevin P. Reilly Frank P. Simoneaux Richard Turnley, Jr.