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Joe Purcell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Joe Purcell | |
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49th Governor of Arkansas
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| In office January 3, 1979 – January 9, 1979 |
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| Lieutenant(s) | N/A |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | David Pryor |
| Succeeded by | Bill Clinton |
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| Born | June 29, 1923 Warren, Arkansas |
| Died | March 1987 Benton, Arkansas |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | attorney |
| Served unexpired term of David Pryor, following Pryor's ascent to the United States Senate | |
Joe Edward Purcell (29 July 1923-March 1987) was the Democratic governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas for six days in 1979.
Joe Purcell was born in Warren, Arkansas. He graduated from Little Rock Junior College and served in the United States Army during World War II. He graduated from the University of Arkansas law school in 1952 and practiced law in Benton, Arkansas.
From 1955-1959 he served as a city attorney in Benton. He served as a municipal judge from 1959 until 1966, when he was elected Attorney General of Arkansas, where he served from 1967 to 1971. In that office, Purcell instituted a number of reforms and innovations, including a pro-active consumer protection office which sided with ratepayers and borrowers against public utilities and banks and which strictly enforced election laws to ensure honest balloting. He developed a reputation for integrity which led many to encourage him to run for Governor in 1970. In that race, he placed third behind former Governor Orval Faubus and Dale Bumpers, a 44-year old Charleston lawyer whose boiling, telegenic appeal edged out Purcell's laconic, almost wooden speaking style. Bumpers went on to defeat Faubus in the runoff and GOP Governor Winthrop Rockefeller in the general election. Purcell ran again in 1982, winning a place in the runoff, which he lost to Former Governor Bill Clinton, who went on to defeat incumbent Governor Frank D. White in November, avenging a 1980 defeat by the latter.
Purcell was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1974, serving in that office until 1981. He became the Governor of Arkansas for six days in 1979 filling the unexpired term of then senator-elect David Pryor.
Purcell resided in Benton, Arkansas until his death in March 1987 at the age of 63.
Purcell remains widely admired as a sturdy, caring politician who set a fresh example of professionalism and integrity in public office.
| Preceded by David Pryor |
Governor of Arkansas 1979 |
Succeeded by Bill Clinton |
| Governors of Arkansas |  |
|---|---|
| Territorial: Miller • Izard • Crittenden* • Pope • Fulton*
J. Conway • Yell • Adams* • Drew • Byrd* • Roane • E. Conway • Rector • Flanagin • Murphy • Clayton • Hadley* • Baxter • Garland • Miller • Churchill • Berry • Hughes • Eagle • Fishback • Clarke • Jones • Davis • Little • Moore* • Pindall* • Martin* • Donaghey • Robinson • Oldham* • Futrell* • Hays • Brough • McRae • Terral • Martineau • Parnell • Futrell • Bailey • Adkins • Laney • McMath • Cherry • Faubus • Rockefeller • Bumpers • Riley • Pryor • Purcell • Clinton • White • Clinton • Tucker • Huckabee • Beebe * denotes acting |