John Cooksey

John Cooksey
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's5thdistrict
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Cleo Fields(Redistricting)
Succeeded by	Rodney Alexander
Personal details
Born	John Charles Cooksey (1941-08-20)August 20, 1941 Alexandria, Louisiana,U.S.
Died	June 4, 2022(2022-06-04)(aged 80) Columbia, Louisiana,U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Ann Grabill
Children	3
Education	Louisiana State University(BS,MD) University of Texas at Austin(MBA)

John Charles Cooksey(August 20, 1941 – June 4, 2022) was an Americanophthalmologistand politician who served as aRepublicanmember of theUnited States House of RepresentativesforLouisiana's 5th congressional districtfrom 1997 to 2003.

Early life and education

Cooksey was born inAlexandriainRapides ParishinCentral Louisiana.He graduated from La Salle High School inOllainLaSalle Parish,where his father operated asawmill.He attendedLouisiana State UniversityinBaton Rougeand received hisM.D.degree from theLSU Health Sciences Center New Orleansin 1966. In 1994, he received aMaster of Business Administrationfrom theUniversity of Texas at Austin.From 1967 until 1969, he served in theUnited States Air Force,where he was stationed inTexasandThailand.He served in theAir Force Reservefrom 1969 until 1972.

Career

Cooksey was elected to Congress in 1996 and represented Louisiana's Fifth District for three terms, traditionally based in the northeastern quadrant of the state about Monroe, but since reconfigured to reach deep intoSouth Louisianaas well. Cooksey first won the seat by defeatingDemocraticstate legislatorFrancis C. ThompsonofDelhiinRichland Parish.Cooksey had edged past formerU.S. RepresentativeClyde C. HollowayofForest Hillin Rapides Parish in thenonpartisan blanket primary.In that campaign, Cooksey pledged to serve no more than three terms in the House, a pledge that he kept.

In2002,Cooksey was an unsuccessful candidate in the Republican primary for theUnited States Senateseat held until 2015 by DemocratMary Landrieu.In that campaign, Cooksey made a derogatory remark aboutArabs— comparing traditional Arab headdresses liketurbansandkeffiyehsto diapers fastened by fan belts— which was attacked by his opponents asracist.He never overcame the blunder. In the November general election, the losing Republican candidate was Cooksey's intra-party rival,Suzanne Haik TerrellofNew Orleans.

In addition to the reelection of Landrieu, the Democrats temporarily regained Cooksey's House seat in the same general election balloting.

Personal life

Cooksey with family

After his Senate campaign, Cooksey retired from politics and resumed his medical practice. He and his wife, the former Ann Grabill (born 1943), had three children. He wasMethodistand a member ofLambda Chi Alphafraternity.

Cooksey died inColumbia, Louisianaon June 4, 2022, at the age of 80.

External links

• United States Congress."John Cooksey (id: C000735)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Vote 2002 profileArchivedNovember 5, 2012, at theWayback Machine,PBS
• Congress freshmen 1997 profile,CNN
• AppearancesonC-SPAN