Frank Fulco - Political Career

Political Career

In 1936, Fulco was elected for a single four-year term to the Caddo Parish Police Jury, later the Caddo Parish Commission, the governing board of the parish. Fulco, at twenty-seven, was the youngest member of the body. One of his colleagues, Earl Williamson, of Vivian in north Caddo Parish, would serve on the board for some forty years. Williamson, like Fulco, was part of the Long faction.

Fulco's legislative tenure coincided with the administrations of Governors Earl Kemp Long, James Houston "Jimmie" Davis, and John J. McKeithen. Elected in 1956 and 1960, Fulco won his third term as part of a Caddo Parish five-member at-large delegation in the general election held on March 3, 1964. Fulco finished fourth among the five winners. Two Republicans, Morley A. Hudson and Taylor W. O'Hearn led the tabulations, followed by Democrats Algie D. Brown, Fulco, and future State Senator and U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.. Fulco jokingly declared that "the elephant trampled us" but predicted that he could work well with both Hudson and O'Hearn despite their different parties. The Hudson and O'Hearn victories were attributed that year in part to the coattails of GOP gubernatorial nominee Charlton Lyons of Shreveport.

Fulco regarded himself as a special legislative ally of fire fighters, educators and police officers. During his tenure, he authored or co-authored bills which were instrumental in establishing Louisiana State University in Shreveport (LSUS), historically black Southern University at Shreveport, and the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport. He pushed for the creation of LSU for many years before it was finally authorized by the legislature in 1966 and opened in 1967. LSUS Chancellor Vincent Marasla termed Fulco "an outstanding community servant who loved Shreveport and the people of Shreveport."