Date Original
1955-1957
Description
Orval E. Faubus' papers contain correspondence, appointments, press releases, inauguration materials, speeches, and campaign materials covering the early years of Faubus' governorship.
Biographical/Historical Note
Orval Eugene Faubus was born on January 7, 1910, to John Samuel "Sam" and Addie Joslin Faubus, on the family farm at Greasy Creek, Madison County, Arkansas. Faubus was educated in rural Madison County. Orval's father urged him to attend college and Faubus attended Commonwealth College in 1935 but did not graduate. In 1931, Faubus married Alta Haskins. After his service in World War II, Faubus returned to Madison County, Arkansas, as Postmaster at Huntsville and became owner of the local paper, the Madison County Record. In 1948, Governor Sid McMath appointed Faubus to the State Highway Commission, and then later as an administrative assistant to the governor’s office. Faubus launched his political career in 1954, when he challenged Governor Francis Cherry in the Democrat Primary. He defeated Cherry and in November won a landslide victory over Republican Pratt Remmel in the general election. Faubus would go on to serve six consecutive terms as Governor of Arkansas, giving him the distinction of holding the office longer than any other governor. Faubus' political career, however, was defined by his role in the Little Rock Central High School Crisis. Faubus chose not to run again for governor in 1966, clearing the way for Winthrop Rockefeller to become the first Republican governor of Arkansas since Reconstruction. In 1969, Orval and Alta Faubus divorced, and he later married Elizabeth Westmoreland. After her death in 1983, Faubus married Jan Hines Wittenberg in 1986. Faubus would run again for Governor in 1970, 1974 and 1986, but was unable to regain the popularity he had in the 1950s and 1960s. Orval Eugene Faubus died December 14, 1994, and is buried in Combs Cemetery near Greasy Creek in Madison County.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas
Language
English
Identifier
MS.000408
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Orval E. Faubus papers, MS.000408
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Orval E. Faubus papers, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
