Edwards’ brother pulls for convicted ex-governor from Arkansas

Chuck Bartels

Thursday, May 11, 2000 | 10:54 a.m.

Allan Edwards took a different path in life than his newly-convicted brother, former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards.

While his sibling sought - and achieved - power in Louisiana, Allan served in the Marine Corps and in 1962 bought a 400-acre cattle farm at Quitman, Ark., where he still lives.

The brothers grew up on a farm in Marksville, La., the northernmost area of Cajun country. Allan, 77, was born about five years before his brother and said in a phone interview Wednesday those years made all the difference.

"We'd just gotten through the Depression and I joined the Marine Corps in 1941," he said. "(Edwin) never did work on the farm like I did. I don't know, maybe I just inherited the farming spirit and he didn't. He was able to go to college. I went one year. Everyone I know was being drafted and I just went ahead and signed up."

Edwin Edwards, 72, became Louisiana governor in 1972 and served four terms through 1996. The ex-governor has said he was targeted in nearly two dozen state or federal investigations since he was first elected to Congress in the 1960s. After a hung jury in 1985 in New Orleans, Edwin Edwards was acquitted of racketeering a year later.

Allan said he'd never accompanied his brother on his celebrated Las Vegas gambling trips ("I'm too cheap to gamble.") and said he had no dealings with Edwin that involved the state, other than staying overnight at the governor's mansion.

"We've kind of lived our own life quietly, didn't get involved in Louisiana politics," Allan said.

On Tuesday, Allan watched news coverage of his brother's conviction on two racketeering counts and 15 other charges for extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars from businessmen applying for riverboat casino licenses.

"I hope we win on appeal," Allan said. "He's been such a wonderful brother, above and beyond. I don't know how to explain it. We've just always been close, that's all."

Is Edwin honest?

"As far as I know, he's always been honest, and he's always been honest with me," Allan said, his Cajun accent still evident despite nearly four decades in Arkansas.

The brothers visit when they can and used to hunt quail in Arkansas. Allan said they plan to get together next month. He didn't make to Baton Rouge for the trial.

Allan said he occasionally hears from his former sister-in-law, Elaine, and that he thinks the world of the new Mrs. Edwards, Candy, 35.

"She's a dandy, love her to death," Allan said. "She's a doll."

Allan said all he knows about the just-concluded trial came from media coverage and dispatches from another brother, Marion, from Baton Rouge. Allan said he and Edwin spoke Tuesday night and said his brother told him he will appeal.

Marion Edwards, who was swept into scandals - including the latest one - involving the former governor, had health problems for years but Allan reports that Marion is doing well.

"He's doing great. He's healthier than either me or Edwin," Allan said. Another sibling, Nolan, was murdered by a former law client in 1983.

Allan's wife whispered in the background as he spoke.

"Can you type that my wife's giving me the mean eye?" he said, a moment before breaking off the interview.

Allan says he has plenty to do, even though he sold his cattle a year ago and now leases his acreage. He said farming came as naturally to him as politics to his famous brother.

"He always said when he was a kid that he was going to be governor someday."