Frank Spooner
Frank Spooner | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 9, 1937 Stephens, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Oil and natural gas entrepreneur, politician |
| Years active | 1960–present |
| Known for | 1976 Republican candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Louisiana's 5th congressional district; founder of Spirit Petroleum Company/Mark V Petroleum Company |
| Spouse | Mary Flippo Spooner |
William Franklin Spooner, commonly known as Frank Spooner (born September 9, 1937), is an oil and natural gas entrepreneur based in Monroe, Louisiana, located in the northeastern region of Louisiana. Since the early 1970s, Spooner has been actively involved in the state's Republican Party. In 1976, he mounted a competitive yet unsuccessful bid for the United States House of Representatives seat representing Louisiana's 5th congressional district. Initially, he aimed to unseat incumbent Otto Passman, who was defeated in the Democratic primary by farmer and businessman Jerry Huckaby from Bienville Parish. This development transformed Spooner's race into a contest for an open seat against Huckaby.
Background
Frank Spooner’s father, Harry Spooner, Sr. (1893–1964), originally hailed from Buffalo, New York. He sustained injuries during World War I while serving in France. Following the war, he relocated to Arkansas to pursue opportunities in the petroleum sector, eventually settling in Stephens, Arkansas, where he married Willie Green (1905–2000). Frank was born in Stephens and completed his secondary education at Stephens High School in 1955. He began his higher education at Southern Arkansas University before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Land Management in 1960. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army and Reserves during the pre-Vietnam era and was employed by Humble Oil Company from 1960 through 1965.
In 1967, Spooner moved to Monroe and entered into a business partnership with his brother Harry Jr. Together, they discovered multiple natural gas fields within Northeast Louisiana. Operating independently from 1971 until 1980, Spooner later established Spirit Petroleum Company, which was rebranded as Mark V Petroleum Company in 1997. These enterprises were responsible for developing additional oil and gas reserves, including pioneering Louisiana’s first commercial coal seam methane production in 2004.
Spooner's political involvement began when he chaired the Ouachita Parish Young Republicans in 1971 and led the Monroe campaign for gubernatorial candidate David C. Treen, who ultimately lost to Democrat Edwin Edwards. Treen was elected to Congress in 1972; four years later, Spooner challenged Jerry Huckaby for the congressional seat vacated by Passman. Treen departed Congress in 1980 to become Louisiana’s first Republican governor since Reconstruction.
1976 congressional campaign
In 1976, Spooner became the first Republican candidate to vie for Louisiana's Fifth District congressional seat in seventy-six years. The last GOP contender, Henry E. Hardtner, had garnered only 628 votes (9.2 percent) back in 1900 before switching allegiance to the Democratic Party and serving in the state legislature. Preparing for his campaign, Spooner attended a Republican candidate training program in Washington, D.C., receiving support from the Republican National Committee along with public relations assistance from journalist Jennie Carroll Casey.
Prominent Republicans such as former Governors Ronald Reagan of California and John B. Connally Jr. of Texas—both prospective presidential candidates for 1980—actively campaigned on Spooner's behalf throughout the predominantly agricultural district. Connally criticized the Democratic House Caucus for reducing moderate influence, while Reagan and Connally contributed significantly to fundraising efforts and boosting Spooner's public profile. Additionally, Spooner's wife, Mary Flippo Spooner, played an influential role within Republican networks, strengthening local ties.
Spooner's strategy focused on capturing votes in urban areas like Monroe, West Monroe, Natchitoches, Ruston, Bastrop, and Winnfield to compensate for expected losses in rural regions with traditionally weak Republican support. Voter turnout during the general election more than doubled compared to prior primaries due to the concurrent 1976 presidential contest between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.
Following his primary defeat, incumbent Passman contemplated endorsing Spooner but ultimately refrained. Passman was a long-tenured Democrat recognized for opposing foreign aid while advocating farm subsidies and supporting the Vietnam War.
Carter's statewide win bolstered Huckaby's campaign, leading to an election result of 83,696 votes (52.5 percent) against Spooner's 75,574 votes (47.5 percent). Although Spooner increased his vote tally by approximately 35,000 compared to Passman's primary total, this translated into only a modest percentage improvement due to heightened turnout. Spooner secured majorities in Ouachita Parish (59 percent) as well as Lincoln, Morehouse, Union, and Richland parishes but was unable to overcome strong Democratic margins in Bienville, Madison, Concordia, and northern Rapides parishes—areas known as Long faction strongholds. His support was limited to just 27 percent in Bienville and under 40 percent within Madison and Winn parishes.
Later political involvement
Following his bid for Congress, Spooner took on the role of Louisiana Republican National Committeeman but chose not to pursue elected office again, continuing his engagement within the Republican Party. In 1979, he remained neutral between Treen and U.S. Representative Henson Moore during the Republican gubernatorial selection, a stance that drew criticism from his predecessor John H. Cade, Jr. By 1983, Spooner was appointed chairman of the Platform Committee at the Louisiana State Republican Convention, which endorsed Treen’s re-election campaign. He spearheaded a failed 1984 initiative to draft Treen for a Senate challenge against Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., and also served as security chairman for the 1984 Republican National Convention.
In 1986, Spooner crafted an effective "Get Out The Vote" campaign that helped Republicans in Northeast Louisiana secure various offices. He acted as campaign chairman for John Cooksey’s victorious 1996 congressional race in Louisiana’s 5th District.
In 1985, Spooner found himself at odds with Treen and Cade over efforts to oust State Party Chairman George Despot, whom Spooner praised as "the best chairman we ever had." These internal conflicts undermined party strength during Henson Moore’s 1986 Senate campaign against Democrat John Breaux—a political contest Spooner later described as his "greatest disappointment."
Spooner has extended his support to Governor Bobby Jindal, Senator David Vitter, and Representative Rodney Alexander, whose district saw significant expansion by 2013. Notably, in 2004, he contributed to Alexander’s intraparty challenger, former State Representative Jock Scott. Additionally, in 2007, Spooner donated to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s presidential bid.
Personal life
Spooner practices the United Methodist faith and is a benefactor of the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home orphanage located in Monroe. He has been an active member of the Optimist Club. Together with his wife, he has three daughters and eight grandchildren.