Rick Nowlin

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Rickey L. "Rick" Nowlin
Louisiana State Representative from District 23 (Natchitoches and Winn parishes)
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 14, 2008
Preceded by	Thomas Taylor Townsend
Born	July 30, 1948 (1948-07-30) (age 59) Ferriday in Concordia Parish
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Widower of Brenda Barr Nowlin (1950-2000)
Children	Jennifer Lauren Nowlin (born 1980) and Matthew Louis Nowlin (born 1983)
Occupation	Engineer; businessman
Religion	Baptist

Rickey L. "Rick" Nowlin (born July 30, 1948) is a prominent Natchitoches engineer and businessman who is a freshman Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. Nowlin and State Senator Gerald I. Long are the first Republicans since Reconstruction to represent Natchitoches Parish in their state's legislature.^[1] The two took their oaths of office on January 14, 2008, the same day that Republican Governor Bobby Jindal was inaugurated.

Nowlin was born to Louis M. Nowlin (November 16, 1918 - July 18, 2001) and Jocie R. Nowlin (May 21, 1921 - August 30, 2000)^[2]. He, his brother, and two sisters were reared in Ferriday, a city in Concordia Parish near the Mississippi River. Nowlin graduated from Ferriday High School in 1966. One of his classmates was Dan Richey, who served as a Democrat in the Louisiana House (1976-1980) and the Louisiana Senate (1980-1984, and is now affiliated with the Louisiana Family Forum, a conservative interest group which supported Nowlin in his legislative campaign. Richey is also a member of the Republican State Central Committee. Nowlin also secured the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Business.^[3]

Nowlin, with the pledge of "A Time for Reform", won a stunning victory in District 23 (Natchitoches and Winn parishes) on November 17, 2007, over the Democrat Joseph Michael "Joe" Sampite (pronounced SAM PUH TAY), who served as the Natchitoches mayor from 1980-2000. Sampite is also an inductee into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.^[4] Nowlin polled 4,609 votes (55 percent) in the general election to Sampite's 3,766 (45 percent)^[5] In the primary on October 20, Nowlin led a four-candidate field with 4,849 votes (35 percent) to Sampite's 4,598 (33 percent). Two other Democrats, Ralph Wilson and Mack James, polled, 2,847 (21 percent) and 1,459 (11 percent), respectively. Hence, Nowlin and Sampite were thrust into the runoff, called the general election in Louisiana.^[6]Nowlin succeeded Thomas Taylor Townsend of Natchitoches, a Democrat who gave up the House seat after two terms to run unsuccessfully against Gerald Long for the state Senate. Townsend is a nephew of former State Senator Donald G. Kelly of Natchitoches.

Nowlin attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, from which he received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering in 1971.^[7] He was a member of Eta Kappa Nu honor electrical society, Sigma Nu social fraternity (which endorsed Nowlin in the campaign)^[8], and Omicron Delta Kappa honor society. He was listed in Who's Who in American College and Universities. The next year, Nowlin procured a Master of Business Administration degree with honors from Louisiana Tech and was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma honor business society.^[9]

Nowlin married the former Brenda Barr (February 12, 1950 - May 21, 2000)^[10]. The couple's two children include daughter Jennifer Lauren Nowlin (born 1980), a graduate student at Ohio State University in Columbus, and son Matthew Louis Nowlin (born 1983), a 2007 graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station. Nowlin is a widower.^[11] He lost his wife and both parents in a period of fourteen months.

The Nowlins moved to Natchitoches in 1979. He has been involved in many community affairs, including the National Rifle Association, Masonic Lodge, Boys and Girls Clubs of Natchitoches, and, formerly, the National Historic District Commission. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches.^[12]

Nowlin is president of N&A, Inc., Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors, with offices in Natchitoches, Pineville in Rapides Parish, and Jena in La Salle Parish. He owns Ducournau Restaurant and Townhouse in Natchitoches. He is a five-time board member of the Consulting Engineers Council of Louisiana. He has twice served as president of the Consulting Engineers Council of Louisiana, Alexandria chapter. He is affiliated with the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers.^[13]

Nowlin describes his political philosophy as (1) "Pro-business and Pro-job-creation, (2) Educational reform with emphasis on early childhood development, (3) Fiscal conservatism, (4) Limited government and reduced taxes, (5) Pro-life, (6) Pro-family, (7) Pro-Second Amendment.^[14]

On his website, Nowlin says that "There will be a new legislature and a new governor who must not waste this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put Louisiana back on track. We must lead with a bold purpose and have the courage to correct the problems that have plagued our state for far too long."^[15]

Political offices
Preceded by Thomas Taylor Townsend (D)	Louisiana State Representative from District 23 (Natchitoches and Winn parishes) Rickey L. "Rick" Nowlin (R) 2008–	Succeeded by Incumbent

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