Neil Riser

Hartwell Neil Riser, Jr., known as Neil Riser (born April 25, 1962), is a funeral home owner in Columbia in Caldwell Parish in northeastern Louisiana, who is a Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate. He was a candidate for Louisiana's 5th congressional district in the special runoff election held on November 16, 2013, having been defeated by fellow Republican Vance McAllister, a political newcomer from Swartz.
Early life, education, and business career
Riser's grandfather, A. Hartwell Riser, was a city alderman from 1942 to 1950 in Ruston in Lincoln Parish. Riser was born in Columbia to Hartwell Neil Riser, Sr. (1934–1985), and the former Lillian Marie Gore (born 1937), who married in Caldwell Parish in 1956. After her husband's death, Lillian Riser married Herschel Gentry, Jr., of Monroe. Neil Riser graduated in 1980 from Caldwell Parish High School in Columbia.
Located south of Monroe in northeastern Louisiana, Columbia was also...