| 1927 August 7 |
Born near Marksville, La. |
| 1944 |
Graduates from Marksville High School. |
| 1948-1949 |
Navy Air Corp pilot. |
| 1949 |
Earns law degree from Louisiana State University at age 21. Opens a law practice in Crowley, Louisiana. |
| 1954-62 |
Serves on Crowley City Council Crowley, Louisiana. |
| 1964 |
Elected to Louisiana state Senate. |
| 1965 |
Elected to Congress. |
| 1972-1980 February 1 |
Governor of Louisiana |
| 1973 |
pushes legislation that taxes oil by value rather than by volume, giving the state government a a huge financial boost. Criticized for gambling trips to Las Vegas and is investigated by IRS, but no charges are filed. |
| 1975 |
Faces little opposition in is bid for re-election. |
| 1977 |
Edwards again escapes charges when he admits that he and his wife received $20,000 from a South Korean government agent in 1971 and 1972. He faced a federal grand jury and the U. S. House Ethics Committee. A book published by friend Clyde Vidrine enhances Edwards popularity despite tales of gambling trips, womanizing and allegedly illegal activities. |
| 1979 |
The FBI investigates Edwards and others when sstate group benefits contracts seem shady. His top administrative officer Charles Roemer II is convicted of bribery scheme, but Edwards is unindicted. |
| 1980 |
After leaving the governor's office because he cannot serve another consecutive term he is appointed to a brief, temporary term on the state Supreme Court.. |
| 1980 |
After election to a third term a Federal grand jury criticizes Edwards for his involment in a tax shelter scheme for state employees, but again does not incict him., Edwards' brother Nolan is slain by a former law client. |
| 1984-1988 | Governor of Louisiana |
| 1985 |
Edwards is indicted and goes on trial, accused of brokering state hospital and nursing home permits while in office and out. This trial ends in a hung jury. |
| 1986 |
Edwards is acquitted by a second jury. |
| 1987 |
Edwards runs for a fourth term, but places second in the primary and shocks everyone by dropping our of the runoff. |
| 1989 |
Edwards divorces his wife Elaine after 40 years of marriage. |
| 1991 |
Edwards wins a fourth term as governor, eliminating the incumbent, Buddy Roemer in the primary and the David Duke, the former head of the Ku Klux Klan, in the runoff. During the runoff thousands of cars sport the bumper sticker "Vote for the Crook - its important". |
| 1994 |
Marries 29-year old Candace Picou. |
| 1998 |
Edwards, his son Stephen and three others are indicted for and alleged scheme to extort thousands from businessmen seeking gambling boat licenses. |
| 1999 |
Edwards is indicted along with Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown and others in a case where they are alleged to have arranged a sweetheart deal for liquidation of the Cascade Insurance Company. He is also an unindicted co-conspirator in a case against former Houston Mayor Fred Hofheinz. |
| 2000 |
Edwards is convicted in 17 counts of the federal racketeering case involving casino licenses. His son Stephen is aldo convicted. Edwards is acquited in the insurance case. |
| 1992-1996 | Governor of Louisiana |