Friday, August 27, 2021
Remembering the Late Gov. Edwin W. Edwards in Sabine Parish
PART VI
Letters From Prison
2000-July 2011
On May 9, 2000, Gov. Edwards was convicted on 17 of 26 counts in a federal racketeering case involving casino licenses. On Jan. 8, 2001, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $250,000 for racketeering and extortion. He began his sentence at the Federal Prison in Ft. Worth, TX on Oct. 21, 2002. It is known as a Federal Medical Center and is for male inmates of all security levels who might have special medical or mental health needs. On the day he walked into the prison, he vowed, “I will live to walk out of this place.” He was 74 at the time, and he certainly lived to walk out.
I immediately started corresponding with him by letter and we continued during the entire time he was in prison. He got so many letters in the beginning, that he began typing a general letter of his news, then would copy it and send copies to everyone who wrote him. At the bottom of the letters, he would usually include a personal handwritten note to close friends. Sometime he would write me a complete letter by hand. Later he got access to a typewriter, which made it much easier for him to correspond. And later still, he gained access to a computer. We exchanged many letters during his eight years of confinement.
A letter from him on Dec. 14, 2002 reported that on Dec. 10 he had received 102 pieces of mail. He said he had wonderful memories of Christmases-past and urged, “Enjoy the season with your family and friends for soon death or circumstances beyond our control will separate us from those we love.” He reported that his health was okay and his weight was steady at 185. “I eat, but not as much as I used to,” he wrote, “and I exercise more than I need to.”
Folks wanted to send him gifts, but he said he could not receive anything but paperback books and newspapers, and all had to be sent directly from the publisher. He noted the building he lived in was 68 years old and not lavish. Continuing, he stated he lived in a small room with a roommate, adding that the door was always open. He shared that prisoners were counted four times a day, the staff was courteous and businesslike and there were no relationships. “I clean the TV room and the windows there,” he added.
Petitions were being circulated at the time asking that leniency be shown the Governor and he asked everyone to sign and pass them around.
The letter closed, “While I cannot be with you in body, I am with you in spirit and thoughts and in prayers to the only perfect One whose birthday we celebrate.”
On Feb. 1, 2003 he wrote: “I have been medically cleared which means I can now try to get transferred to a facility nearer to Baton Rouge to make it easier for my family to visit. My health is great. I do not have access to a computer.”
The Governor was not allowed to communicate with son Stephen, who was serving time in a prison facility in Beaumont, TX and this bothered him very much. But he never gave up hope that visiting and communicating would be allowed and during his imprisonment he wrote about it often.
In a letter dated April 23, 2003, he announced that a committee had been formed asking President George W. Bush to grant him clemency, pointing out the 10-year sentence was unjust. The document said he had “helped so many people during his 49 years of public service and asked for clemency, pardon, reduction of sentence, staying in a Halfway House or home detention.”
At Christmastime in 2003, a personal written note said, “Thanks for all the Christmas cards. It was good of you to think of me. You are and have been a wonderful friend. I think of you often. We have an officer here named Gentry and, naturally, he makes me think of you. I hope our friends in Many are doing O.K. Please give them my regards. How is Dumas getting along? I trust O.K.”
In a Jan. 2, 2004 letter, I asked him if he would be interested in writing a weekly column about any subject of his choice in the Index. He responded on Jan. 20 saying, “Thanks for the offer to write a column. Right now, I just don’t feel like doing it. I have so much mail to answer. We can try later this year.” He added, “Give Dumas and Pete and James Lynn my regards.”
I had been sending him newspaper clipping about things that might interest him, and on March 1, 2004 he wrote, “I don’t know the policy on newspaper clippings, but please keep sending them.” He reported he had a prostate procedure and the results were non-cancerous. And in a hand-written note at the bottom of the typed personal letter, he wrote, “Tell Joe Salter I am proud of him and I always enjoyed working with him. Give my regards to Judge Pickett, a good man.” Joe had been appointed Speaker of the House by Gov. Kathleen Blanco, and Judge Pickett had administered his oath of office in the House chambers in Baton Rouge.
In a March 29, 2004 letter, he wrote: “On April 1, I will have been here 18 months. Every day drags from one dreary day to the next, yet somehow time seems to fly. I find it hard to believe I have been here that long. I sleep well, I am safe, dry and comfortable and miserable.” He then gave a rundown on his daily life and chores.
He continued, “I will be 77 on August 7. Everyone should live as well and as long as I have, and I am good for another 20 years. Thanks for your kindness, prayers and good wishes. I’ll survive and walk out of here and we will see each other again.”
In response, I wrote Edwards a letter on March 31, 2004, and said, “It was good to hear about you and know what you are feeling and doing. It brought an amount of sadness to read it and know the plight you are in. But I am glad for the attitude you have and hope and pray that you will live long enough to walk out. You know the Apostle Paul was content with his circumstances [imprisoned], and I guess we all have to learn from that.” I also commented, “I called Joe Salter this morning and passed along your message to him. He was very grateful that you thought of him.”
I visited Gov. Edwards at Ft. Worth on Sunday, May 23, 2004. I will cover that meeting in detail in my special column on Friday, Sept. 3.
Writing June 1, 2004, the Governor said, “I again express my thanks for your letters. I have been so helped by many wonderful people like you who keep in touch and give support and encouragement. You will never know how much it has helped me to survive and endure this confinement.”
He quoted the poet Edgar A. Guest:
“I’d like to think when life is done
That I had filled a needed post.
That here and there I’ve paid my fare
With more than idle talk and boast;
That I had taken gift divine,
The breath of life and manhood fine,
And tried to use them now and then
In service of my fellow man.”
Following the poem, he wrote: “So even in this dreadful situation on every day, in every way, I try to be of help to one less fortunate than I. It helps me and I am enriched by it. Every week I am reminded by letter of some act done years ago to make life a little better. Most I do not recall, but others remember and I am enriched by that. I know that in that final and unbiased judgment all will be well.”
When his divorce from Candy Picou became final, he wrote a July 9, 2004 letter, following their ten year marriage. He said both agreed on the divorce and remained friends, although it was a bitter cup. He quoted the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson: “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
He added, “I still walk several miles a day, sleep well and eat healthy if not good and still feel very good. I have no pain and no disability. I am blessed.”
I was going through a divorce for about three years during this period and he was very interested to know all the details. For what reason, I do not know and he never said.
On Aug. 4, 2004, I wrote Edwards about a trip I had made to Colorado and how late one evening had ended up at the Teller House in Central City where I saw “The Face on the Bar Room Floor.” The poem is about an artist who lost the love of his life, took to drinking, and one night ended up in a bar where he painted the beautiful face of his lost love on the bar room floor. The original poem was written in 1872 by John Henry Titus and in 1887 was adapted by Hugh Antoine d’Arcy, whose version became ever so popular at that time. Edwards wrote back that he, too, had been to Central City and seen the “Face” and shared what a great time he had.
On Aug. 7, 2004 he wrote again mentioning the story of “The Face on the Bar Room Floor” which I had mailed him earlier. “That was quite a story,” he wrote, “and I am glad that I saw it.”
I first met Laurie Sky in 2003 at a Bluegrass Festival in Wiggins, MS where she was singing and I was master of ceremonies. She and I started communicating by letter with each other since she was on the road a lot of the time. I started sharing information about Laurie with Edwin and again, he was very interested and wanted to know all the details. He was fascinated that she traveled around singing with her family. In his Sept. 13 letter, he wrote, “Marry the lady.”
On Oct. 12, 2004 he wrote that he had requested to be moved to a camp either at Oakdale or Pollock, LA, or Pensacola, FL. He said he and ex-wife Candy continued to communicate.
He asked if I would purchase a subscription to “Funny Times” for him and I was happy to do this. He later told me that he and other inmates had a fun time gathering around and reading the magazine. “I truly appreciate your cards and letters,” he stated. “It means the world to me, so please continue to write and keep me posted about events in your world.”
And by hand, he wrote, “Man, you hit the jackpot. Laurie is a doll. She must think you’re rich. Ha. I’ll arrange a visit when I get to another place, if that happens. Keep in touch.”
He later announced that son Stephen had been designated to a Federal Camp at Pollock and he to one at Oakdale. He said his move would be “more pleasant, [with] no fence, better food and more freedom.”
In a Nov. 22, 2004 letter, he wrote, “I left Ft. Worth on Oct. 29 and was in Oklahoma City until Nov. 15 when I was transferred to Oakdale. This camp is a thousand times better than Ft. Worth. The staff is friendly and courtesy but follows rules and doesn’t show favoritism. I will be working in the library.”
As a personal note, he wrote, “I will arrange a visit. I’d love to meet Laurie and tell her something she needs to know before it’s too late. Ha.” In closing he stated, “All is well and peaceful here, but I sure do want to go home.”
On Dec. 6, 2004, I wrote telling him I was happy he was back in Louisiana. I continued, “I would love to come and visit you after New Years’. I would love for Laurie to come with me and meet you and you meet her. I know you would enjoy visiting with her.”
And again on Dec. 14, I wrote him, “Laurie and I are looking forward to seeing you after the first of the year. You are my hero in the category of ‘older men marrying younger women.’ So, I really need you to talk to her about the subject and let her know it is a good thing to do. Yes, there are some things to tell her before it is too late, and I have to believe they would all be good.”
I wrote that his good friend Carol Pattison was retiring from the Sabine Tax Assessor’s Office on Dec. 28, 2004, and asked if he would write her a note of congratulations and best wishes. He did so, and I read it at the reception honoring her and presented her a copy of his remarks.
I closed out the letter by saying, “I am glad to hear that you are at peace with your Maker, your fellowman, yourself and that you are as content as possible at your lot in life.”
At Christmas 2004, my daughter Verity Gentry, sent him a card. She apparently asked him to marry her. He responded thusly, “Thanks for the nice card. I appreciate hearing from you. Please give my regards to Robert. I truly admire him and cherish our friendship of many years. I am flattered by the offer, but I don’t think Robert would like me as a son-in-law. Ha. But I’ll think about it. Anyhow, it sounds too tempting. You made my day.”
I visited with him Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005, at the camp in Oakdale. Laurie was to have gone with me, but her name got mixed up on the application and it was very disappointing she could not go with me.
In a letter to him shortly after, I said, “Joe Salter is in the hospital with pneumonia. I visited him Thursday and told him about visiting with you. He was interested in all the details.”
In a letter dated March 21, 2005, the Governor wrote, “Today marks 29 months. I am still well and enduring this horrible experience. I feel like I have tried to be nice to everyone and never missed an opportunity to help others, especially the needy. I don’t have too many regrets.”
On April 12, 2005, I wrote him a letter giving details of the Pickett Family of Sabine Parish being inducted into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame and shared that I had gone to the affair. He always thought so much of Judge John S. Pickett Jr.
A May 21, 2005 letter said he had marked the end of 31 months. He wrote, “Men my age usually lament the passing of each day as we are one day closer to the grave. I, on the other hand, rejoice with each passing as I am one day closer to freedom. You and others like you have been a great help during this awful ordeal and I will never forget you.”
Laurie and I were scheduled to visit him on Sunday, June 26, 2005. They made yet another mix-up on her application, and the visit was canceled. I sent him a picture of Laurie in a June 22 letter telling him how sorry we were the visit had been canceled and he responded, “Looking at her picture, I understand your interest. I am proud of you.”
In a July 15, 2005 letter he wrote: “I am anxious to meet Laurie. Whenever it is convenient for the two of you to come, let me know. All is well here except I am in prison, but all that will end someday.”
By Sept. 16, 2005, we finally arrived on a date for our visit – Saturday, Sept. 24, at 9:30 a.m. We could only stay until noon, as Laurie had a show scheduled in Waskom, TX that night. Laurie had been performing prior in the mid-west and flew in from Springfield, MO on Thursday. As luck would have it, Hurricane Rita was just then roaring into Louisiana and Texas, so our visit was again canceled. Again, we were disappointed. We could not schedule another visit, as Laurie was working a lot of showdates until after the end of the year.
In a Dec. 7, 2005 letter, he stated, “I am getting lots of mail. I am having a hard time keep up.”
In February, we once again started trying to schedule another meeting, this time on Saturday, March 11. He responded, “Plan on it. I’m anxious to see both of you.” On Feb. 24, I wrote him: “Our relationship is coming along really well. I am very pleased with it. I feel like a few good words from you will push it over the top. I am certainly looking forward to Laurie meeting and visiting with you, and she is certainly looking forward to it, too.”
We walked into the visiting room on March 11 and told the ones in charge who we were there to visit. A short time later, Edwin came walking in. I stood up and started toward him to shake hands. He shook his head “no” and headed straight to Laurie with his arms outstretched and that’s how they met.
He was very interested in Laurie’s profession and she told him how they operated in the music business, he listened with interest and asked questions. He told us how much he loved music and that his favorite song was the hymn, “The Love of God.” After we got back, Laurie found a hymnal with the words to the song and sent it to him. We also copied some material for him which gave the history of the song. We had a great time and Laurie really enjoyed meeting him. At one point in the conversation, as he was talking with Laurie, he said, “Robert needs to get you at least a 2 or 3-carat stone, graded D.” We all laughed and continued visiting. All too soon, the meeting was over.
On April 10, 2006, he reported a problem in his lower back. “It is the first real sustained pain I have had in my 78 years, so I certainly cannot complain.”
He continued, “I enjoyed your mail. I can see you are in love with Laurie. Lucky for you I am not out. Thanks for the hymnal. The words to ‘The Love of God’ are beautiful. Invite me to your wedding.”
On May 25, 2006, I wrote the Governor: “I must tell you we are being married Oct. 8 at 4:30 p.m. at Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, AR. I would like to ask you to be my best man, in spite of your confinement. I have always felt a strong kinship and friendship with you. You really played a big part in our ‘coming together’ whether you realize it or not.”
In a letter June 21, 2006, he wrote: “I live in some kind of paradox. I am too far from the womb and too close to the tomb to want time to pass quickly and yet here in prison I count each passing day with glee knowing that I will be one day closer to freedom.”
Continuing, “I will be released to a Halfway House Jan. 6, 2011 and fully released July 6, 2011. Although I will soon be 79, I have every intention of walking out of here to live a good and full life thereafter.”
As a personal note, he wrote, “I’ll gladly be your best man. Sure am happy for you. Laurie is wonderful and really attractive. I don’t know how you did it, but good for you. I’ve been to Eureka Springs and visited the chapel. It is a beautiful place to take your vows. Just wish I could be there. But I will in spirit.”
On July 21, 2006, he sent the following toast to be read at our wedding reception: “I would really love to be with you today. Unfortunately, I can’t. Here’s to one of my best friends and a true American and his beautiful bride. As they travel on life’s highway may they have good health and always be in love.” Joe Salter read the toast for him.
On that date, he also wrote: “Today marks the 45th month in prison. I finally realize the court system will not offer me any relief. I will continue to exercise and watch my diet and will walk out of here.” Only three weeks earlier, he had undergone a stint procedure.
On Sept. 21, 2006, Edwin wrote: “Well, Oct. 8 is just around the corner. I know you are anxious and I am happy for you and Laurie. Good luck.”
He also wrote: “Thanks for thinking about me, but do not worry. I will be O.K. and I’ll live to walk out of here. We will see each other yet and again. Happy times – light at the end of the tunnel as I approach the half-way point in my stay.”
On Jan. 2, 2007, he said, “Your first Christmas together. May there be many more.”
In addition, he wrote, “May 2007 bring us relief, freedom and peace in the world and may we resolved again to do all we can to make life better for others less fortunate than we are.”
Laurie and I were about to go to Arizona because she had some show date contracted there prior to our marriage. On Jan. 11, 2007, Edwin wrote, “While in Arizona try to visit a small mountain town named Jerome. Laurie will love it. It is a few miles from Sedona and south of Flagstaff. I have been there.” We visited Jerome and enjoyed it very much.
In an April 12, 2007 letter, he sent results of a statewide poll which showed that of the last five Governors, 28 per cent of those polled thought he had done the best job. This was behind Mike Foster’s 29 per cent. “This helps make this awful situation tolerable,” he wrote.
On July 7, 2007 he said he had been receiving a great volume of mail as people were sending petitions and letters to President Bush for commutation of his sentence. It did not work. In a Jan. 20, 2009 letter, he said he was sorry Bush never took any action.
He added, “I may yet visit you and Laurie. She can sing and I can cook.”
On August 21, 2007, he wrote, “Seventy-one years ago, I was nine-years-old and a water boy for workers building the Red River levee near where we lived. I was making 15¢ per hour. Now I have my second government job. As head librarian here, I am making 21¢ per hour.”
On a personal note, he added, “You are so nice to send that beautiful birthday card. I know you two are happy and I am happy for you. I may yet see you in Many.”
In a Jan. 7, 2008 letter, he wrote, “I guess you two love birds are doing O.K. I am happy for you.” He added, “I hoped the President would grant me some kind of relief over the holidays, but he didn’t.”
He added a personal note, “You are Laurie are still on the approved list, so anytime you wish to visit, call Anna [his daughter].” We visited the first part of July. During our conversation he mentioned that I should be inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Flame. I was flattered he would think that. It had never crossed my mind. He said he would work on it. It happened on Feb. 15, 2020, and he was kind enough to come to Winnfield and do the induction.
August 7, 2008 was his 81st birthday and in a letter he stated he had received more birthday mail in prison than he had as Governor. He wrote, “The situation I am now in resulted from persons I thought to be friends that I tried to help only to have them make deals with Federal prosecutors to save themselves by testifying falsely. But I will survive and they must live with this perfidy all their remaining days.”
As we approached the holiday season, on Nov. 10, 2008, he wrote: “I hope you will reflect on your blessings and remember those less fortunate than you and in the spirit of Him who 2,000 years ago walked the shore of Galilee to teach us charity, kindness and love, you will remember and keep His teachings in your own life.”
His subscription to “Funny Times” had expired and I renewed it for him. Then on March 27, 2009, he wrote, “I do not wish to impose, but would prefer to get National Geographic. However, it is a bit expensive so do not feel obligated.” I happily got him a subscription for it, of course.
On April 21, 2009, I called Anna and made arrangements for Laurie and I to visit him on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Laurie brought him a beautiful bouquet of roses, but prison officials would not let him have them. We were always allowed to bring money and he could purchase soft drinks and snacks from the vending machines in the visiting room. He always loved to treat us to something and we always loved to do it for him.
During the visit we found him to be in good health and satisfied with life as much as possible under the circumstances. Laurie told him about working on her journalism degree at Northwestern. He said we could take her tuition as a business deduction. We checked with our accountant and he was right, so we did just that. He said when he was again free, he would be taking a trip out west. We talked about traveling a lot. He said, “You don’t need to travel out of America. There are so many beautiful things to see here.”
In a Nov. 7, 2009 letter, he lamented the death of Gov. Dave Treen. After Edwin defeated Treen, they became good friends and Treen worked very hard to get him released from prison. Treen called Edwin’s sentence, “A misuse of power.” Edwin was always very grateful for Treen’s efforts.
In the past, we had talked about visiting the Texas Hill Country, and in this letter he wrote: “The Texas Hill Country is very nice. I had a ranch at Junction, just west of Kerrville. Good hunting. After the holidays we’ll arrange a visit if it works for you.”
I had informed him of the death of Sen. Bryan Poston and on Nov. 13, 2009 he wrote: “Sen. Poston was a good guy. I always called Mrs. Poston ‘Little Sister.’”
On Jan. 6, 2010, I received a letter from Edwin saying he had lost another good friend, making that number 25 since he had been in prison. He stated, “Except for my only sister, I was unable to attend any funerals.” He also asked me to get him a subscription to “Motor Homes,” which I did. He added, “I’ll drive up to see you before long.”
In an Aug. 9, 2010 letter, he was proud that he had received 126 birthday greetings.
He wrote: “Jan. 6, 2011, I expect to leave here for the Halfway House in Baton Rouge and then six months later it will all be over. I will celebrate my 84th birthday at home.”
In a handwritten note: “Working on furlough dates. As soon as I find out, I’ll contact you about a visit. I want to meet with you one more time to thank you for being my friend. Regards to Judge Stephen Beasley.”
During his latter months in prison, I noted a change. His letters were not as frequent, and he didn’t arrange any more visits. And the reason was he had met Trina Grimes Scott of Alexandria. She wrote him a letter and they began corresponding. Their regular correspondence turned into phone calls, both of which continued for several months. He invited her to visit him, and she did. They first met the Saturday after Father’s Day in 2009 – June 27, 2009. Both Edwin and Trina have said she visited him on every visitor day thereafter.
Now I understood what he had his mind on, and I was happy for him. Said Trina, “The first time I wrote him out of curiosity. I just wanted to see what all the hype was about. He was nothing like I expected him to be because he was warm and kind and very loving. I kind of expected him to be a little bit cocky, I guess or maybe even bitter and angry a little. But he wasn’t. You know, our relationship is very unusual.”
He was released from prison, and on July 29, 2011, just over two years after first meeting, he and Trina were married at the Monteleone Hotel in New Orleans. He was 83 and she was 32.
The next night, Edwin and Trina were honored on their marriage and Edwin was celebrated for his 84th Birthday at a banquet at the Monteleone. Laurie and I attended along with 560 other guests. There was a press conference at 4 p.m., followed by the Birthday Party and Roast at 6 p.m. Ten speakers roasted him, and his brother Marion served as Master of Ceremonies. Entertainer Doug Kershaw was on the program and led the singing of “Happy Birthday.”
It did my heart good to see him home, happy and healthy and with a beautiful bride by his side. He did indeed, “live to walk out,” and he did it very well.
See you next week for another installment on the life of the late Gov. Edwin Edwards highlighting his ties to Sabine Parish.
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