Kenneth Osterberger

Kenneth Osterberger
Member of the Louisiana State Senate
In office 1972–1992
Succeeded by	Jay Dardenne
Personal details
Born	Kenneth Eli Osterberger (1930-04-03)April 3, 1930
Died	August 10, 2016(2016-08-10) (aged 86)
Political party	Democratic Republican
Spouse	Harriet Osterberger[1]
Children	2[1]
Alma mater	Louisiana State University

Kenneth Eli Osterberger (April 3, 1930 – August 10, 2016) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic and later a Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate. In all, he served 20 years in the state senate from 1972 to 1992.

Life and career

Kenneth Eli Osterberger was born April 3, 1930, the son of George Breazeale.[2] He attended Louisiana State University, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha and served as student body president from 1952 to 1953.[1][3]

Korean War

Osterberger served in the United States Army during the Korean War.[1][4] He was a second lieutenant.[1]

Louisiana politics

In 1969, Osterberger was elected to the Metropolitan Council, the legislative branch of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was then selected by the members of the council to be President Pro Tempore, serving until 1972.[5][6] In 1971 he was elected as a Democrat to the Louisiana State Senate for East Baton Rouge Parish; he was re-elected four times, in 1975 defeating David Duke in Duke's first run for public office[7][8] and in 1983 and 1987 after changing his party affiliation to Republican.[4][9] In 1992 he was succeeded by Jay Dardenne.[10]

Personal life and death

Osterberger was married twice, to Margaret Simmons and to Harriet Osterberger, and had four children. He died on August 10, 2016, of Alzheimer's disease, at the age of 86.[1][4]

References

1. "Kenneth Osterberger Obituary (1930-2016)". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. August 11, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
2. "Kenneth Osterberger BR Jaycee President". The Natchitoches Enterprise. Natchitoches, Louisiana. June 2, 1960. p. 17. Retrieved November 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Kenneth Osterberger Elected President Of Student Body at Louisiana State". The Natchitoches Enterprise. March 27, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved November 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Elizabeth Crisp (August 11, 2016). "Former state Sen. Ken Osterberger dies at age 86". The Advocate. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
5. "Metropolitan Council". Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
6. "Elected and Appointed Officials in City-Parish Government" (PDF). Baton Rouge, Louisiana. March 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
7. David Maraniss (October 30, 1991). "Alienated Middle Class Swells Ranks OF 'Dukies'". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
8. Tyler Bridges (1995) [1994]. The Rise of David Duke. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. pp. 55–57. ISBN 0-87805-684-X.
9. "Membership in the Louisiana Senate: 1880 - 2024" (PDF). Louisiana State Senate. July 2021. p. 33.
10. "Jay Dardenne". Ballotpedia (footnotes section). Retrieved November 8, 2022.^[unreliable source?]