Bob Odom

Bob Odom
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry
In office March 10, 1980 – January 14, 2008
Governor	Dave Treen Buddy Roemer Edwin Edwards Mike Foster Kathleen Blanco
Preceded by	Gilbert L. "Gil" Dozier
Succeeded by	Michael G. Strain
Personal details
Born	Robert Fulton Odom, Jr. (1935-07-20)July 20, 1935 Haynesville, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
Died	May 17, 2014(2014-05-17) (aged 78) Zachary, East Baton Rouge Parish Louisiana
Resting place	Beulah Plains Cemetery in Zachary
Nationality	American
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Mildred "Millie" Randolph Odom
Children	Robert Odom, III Ashley Odom Thompson White Four grandchildren
Alma mater	Southeastern Louisiana University
Occupation	Farmer; consultant
Military service
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps

Robert Fulton Odom, Jr. (July 20, 1935 – May 17, 2014), was the longest-serving Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in the U.S. state of Louisiana.

Odom was raised on a cotton and dairy farm near Haynesville, Louisiana.^[1]

Electoral history

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 1987

Threshold > 50%

First ballot, October 24, 1987

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Odom	993,869	73
	Republican	Don Johnson	190,502	14
	Democratic	Loston "Bubba" Borque, Jr.	104,628	8
	Democratic	Ambrose A. "Butch" Estay	63,673	5
Total	1,352,672	100
	Democratic hold

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 1991

Threshold > 50%

First ballot, October 19, 1991

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Odom (inc.)	824,167	60
	Republican	Don Johnson	199,688	15
	Democratic	Jack Keahey	146,256	11
	Republican	John Impson	107,392	8
	Democratic	Buster Fresina	99,430	7
Total	1,376,933	100
	Democratic hold

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 1995

Threshold > 50%

First ballot, October 21, 1995

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Odom (inc.)	980,909	74
	Republican	Don Johnson	272,349	21
	Democratic	Buster Fresina	71,829	5
Total	1,325,087	100
	Democratic hold

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 1999

Threshold > 50%

First ballot, October 23, 1999

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Odom (inc.)	Unopposed	100
Total	100
	Democratic hold

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 2003

Threshold > 50%

First ballot, October 4, 2003

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Odom (inc.)	822,682	66
	Republican	Don Johnson	430,856	34
Total	1,253,538	100
	Democratic hold

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, 2007

Threshold > 50%

First ballot, October 20, 2007

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Strain	494,760	40
	Democratic	Bob Odom (inc.)	505,504	41
	Republican	Wayne Carter	152,893	13
	Republican	Don Johnson	69,470	6
Total	1,222,627	100
	Republican gain from Democratic

Runoff did not occur and Strain won due to Odom withdrawing.

See also

• Biography portal
• United States portal
• Politics portal

References

1. Ballard, Mark; Shuler, Marsha (May 21, 2014). "Former state Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom dies". The Advocate. Retrieved October 6, 2025.

Party political offices
Vacant Title last held by Dave L. Pearce	Democratic nominee for Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner of Louisiana 1999, 2003	Vacant Title next held by Jamie LaBranche
Political offices
Preceded by Gilbert L. "Gil" Dozier (D)	Commissioner of Agriculture & Forestry 1980–2008	Succeeded by Michael Gene Strain (R)