Date Original
1971-1976
Description
This collection contains State Senator Olen Hendrix's correspondence from 1971-1976. Almost all letters concerned pending legislation, most notably: the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), car insurance, savings and loans reform, teacher retirement, and kindergarten. This collection includes a letter dated January 23, 1973, from future Governor Mike Huckabee when he was governor of Boys' State, a model government for high school seniors.
Biographical/Historical Note
Olen Clay Hendrix (1909-1998) was an Arkansas politician, businessman, and banker. In 1909, Hendrix was born in the Piney community in Pike County, Arkansas. He opened a general store during the Great Depression and later he entered the lumber industry. Hendrix began his career in politics with his appointment to the Arkansas State Highway Commission under Governor Sid McMath in 1952. Governor Orval Faubus appointed Hendrix to State Hospital Board in 1955. During this appointment, Hendrix was inspired to run for office by the deplorable conditions in Arkansas mental health facilities. In 1958, he was elected to the State Senate where he served until 1982. Hendrix served as Senate President Pro Tempore from 1971 to 1972. During his civil service, Hendrix chaired the Committee on the Charitable, the Legislative Council, and the Joint Budget Committee. He was actively involved in the establishment of the Old Washington State Park. Red River Technical College at Hope, and CARTI. Outside of politics, Hendrix served on the Harding University Board of Trustees, as well as banking, lumber, and oil ventures. Although he had an eighth-grade education, Harding gave him an honorary doctorate in law. He married Carmen Cornish on October 25, 1929. They had four children. Their son, Gerald Hendrix (1932-1996), followed his father into politics serving in the Arkansas State House of Representatives. Olen Hendrix died on August 5, 1998, at the age of 89.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas
Language
English
Identifier
MS.001061
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Olen Hendrix papers, MS.001061
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Olen Hendrix 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
