Edgar Franklin Foreman Jr. (December 22, 1933 – February 2, 2022) was an American businessman and politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives. He had one term representing Texas's 16th congressional district from 1963 to 1965 and a second term from 1969 to 1971 representing New Mexico's 2nd district, then newly established.[1] He is the most historically recent member of Congress to have represented more than one state during their career.
Edgar Franklin Foreman Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Foreman in 1969 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 16th district | |
| In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1965 | |
| Preceded by | J.T. Rutherford |
| Succeeded by | Richard C. White |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | At-large: Thomas G. Morris |
| Succeeded by | Harold Runnels |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 22, 1933 Portales, Roosevelt County, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Died | February 2, 2022 (aged 88) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Barbara Lynn Southard Foreman
(m. 1955) |
| Children | Preston Kirk Foreman Rebecca Lynn Foreman |
| Residence(s) | Odessa, Ector County, Texas Las Cruces, New Mexico |
| Alma mater | Eastern New Mexico University New Mexico State University (BS) |
| Occupation | Civil engineer businessman |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1956–1957 |
Early life and education
editForeman was born near Portales, New Mexico, in Roosevelt County in southeastern New Mexico, to Edgar Foreman Sr. and the former Lillian Childress.[2]
From 1952 to 1953, he attended Eastern New Mexico College in Portales. He transferred to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, where in 1955 he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.
From 1953 to 1956, Foreman was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company. From 1956 to 1957, he served in the United States Navy as an enlisted sailor.[3] He also served in the United States Navy Reserve and United States Air Force Reserve. While in the Air Force Reserve, he became a captain in the 9999th Air Reserve Squadron in Washington, DC while serving as a congressman.[3] He headed Foreman Brine Sales and Service in Odessa, Texas, from 1956 to 1962. He was formerly the president of Valley Transit Mix, Atlas Land Company, and Foreman Oil, Inc.[2]
Political career
editRepresented West Texas, 1963–1965
editIn 1962 Foreman was elected to Congress from the 16th District in West Texas,[2] which stretched from El Paso to the Permian Basin. His victory is attributed to the incumbent Democratic Representative J. T. Rutherford having been linked with the Billie Sol Estes scandal.[citation needed] In that same election, the Democrat, later Republican, John Connally, was elected governor over the Republican oilfield equipment executive Jack Cox.
Foreman was defeated when he sought re-election in 1964, a year in which President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texan, was reelected over Republican U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater in a landslide, and the Republicans suffered massive losses throughout the nation.
Represented southern New Mexico, 1969–1971
editFollowing his defeat, he relocated to New Mexico, where he became active in business and civic affairs in Las Cruces.[4] In 1968 while residing in Las Cruces, Foreman ran for Congress in the southern district of New Mexico[2] and upset the two-term Democrat E. S. "Johnny" Walker of Albuquerque. Richard Nixon won New Mexico's electoral votes that year over Hubert H. Humphrey, and that Republican momentum helped Foreman to get elected.[citation needed] Foreman was unseated after a single term in 1970 by Democrat Harold Runnels.
Appointment to two federal jobs
editAfter losing a House seat for the second time in six years, Foreman in 1971 was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Interior in the Nixon administration, and the following year, 1972, he was appointed to a position at the United States Department of Transportation, where he stayed until 1976.[4]
Personal life and death
editForeman died on February 2, 2022, at the age of 88.[5]
References
edit- General
- ^ Prior to 1968, New Mexico U.S. representatives had been elected at-large statewide.
- ^ a b c d "Edgar Franklin Foreman", Who's Who in America with World Notables, Volume 56 (1970–1971), (Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1970), page 747.
- ^ a b "Congress 'Soldiers' Under Fire", The Evansville Press, Evansville, Indiana, 59th year, number 143, December 15, 1964, page 8.
- ^ a b "Obituary of Edgar Franklin Foreman". Las Cruces Sun. February 10, 2022.
- ^ Former congressman Ed Foreman — who represented southern New Mexico and west Texas — dies at 88
- Specific
- Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, U.S. House edition
External links
edit
- United States Congress. "Ed Foreman (id: F000272)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.