Elaine Schwartzenburg Edwards is a former United States Senator and the first wife of Edwin Washington Edwards, making her a former First Lady of Louisiana. Edwards was born in Marksville, the seat of Avoyelles Parish, to Errol Schwartzenburg and Myrl Dupuy Schwartzenburg. She married Edwin Edwards in 1949. Elaine also had a brother, Frank, and another brother, Ralph. On August 1, 1972, Edwin Edwards appointed Elaine to the U.S. Senate after the death of Allen Ellender. Edwin's reasons for appointing his wife included her willingness to resign after a new senator was elected and her agreement with his political philosophy. However, during the 1976 presidential election campaign, Elaine endorsed Gerald Ford over Jimmy Carter, while her husband first endorsed California governor Jerry Brown, and later endorsed Carter after Brown didn't get the nomination. An observer said that Elaine Edwards "wanted the opposite of what Edwin wanted. She hated the fishbowl of politics." Edwin and Elaine Edwards divorced in 1989 after 40 years of marriage. 

March 8th, 1929 in Marksville, Louisiana as Elaine Schwartzenburg  /  Died:   May 14th, 2018