Bob Odom was born in Haynesville, Louisiana, and
has spent his entire life in agriculture. He grew up
on a 1,000-acre cotton and dairy farm. He still has
a 400-acre farm in Claiborne Parish.
He was elected Commissioner of Agriculture in 1979.
Since that time the Office of Forestry and Soil &
Water Conservation have been added to the Department
of Agriculture. In 2003, Commissioner Odom was
re-elected to his seventh consecutive term as
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry.
He is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana
University in Animal Science. He has been with the
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
since 1960. Prior to his election as Commissioner,
he served as chief of the Pesticide Division, acting
Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, and
Director of Technical Services.
In 1970, he was recognized for outstanding service
to agriculture by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
In 1976, Commissioner Odom was commended by
Concurrent Resolution of the Louisiana Legislature
for many years of exemplary work with the Louisiana
Department of Agriculture. In 1982, he was awarded
the Degree of Honorary American Farmer by the Future
Farmers of America. In 1995, he was named
Outstanding Agriculture Commissioner of the Year by
the Biotechnology Industry Organization, a group
representing more than 570 biotechnology companies
and academic institutions. In 1996, Commissioner
Odom was named Man of the Year by the Progressive
Farmer for his efforts to promote agriculture and
agribusiness. Odom received the distinguished
Agriculture Hall of Fame Award from the Louisiana
Agricultural Consultants Association in 2005.
In 1994 he served as president of the National
Association of State Departments of Agriculture
(NASDA) and has served on the Board of Directors for
several years, representing the agriculture
departments of the 50 states. He served on the Board
of Directors and is past president of the Southern
Association of State Departments of Agriculture. He
is also past president of the Southern United States
Trade Association.
Commissioner Odom was a company commander with the
U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa and retired as
Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps
Reserve. He is a graduate of the Marine Corps
Command and Staff College. He serves on many boards
and commissions representing agriculture, and is a
member of numerous agricultural groups including the
Louisiana Cattlemen's Association, East Baton Rouge
Parish Farm Bureau, Louisiana Farm Bureau
Federation, World Trade Center of New Orleans and
Louisiana Environmental Health Association. Bob is a
member of the Board of Directors of the Southern
Regional Aquaculture Center and is on the Board of
Governors of National Agriculture Center Hall of
Fame. He also holds many honorary memberships in
agriculture organizations.
Commissioner Odom is married to the former Millie
Randolph. They have two children, Robb and Ashley;
three granddaughters, Taylor Brooke Odom, Baylie
Monet Odom and Brighton Lynn Thompson; and one
grandson, Nolan Randolph Thompson. He is a member of
the First Baptist Church in Zachary. Commissioner
Odom spends what little leisure time he has enjoying
hunting, fishing and woodworking. |
