Benjamin Travis Laney
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Travis Laney, Jr. (25 November 1896 21 January 1977), was the 33rd Governor of Arkansas
, having served from 1945-1949.
Laney was born in Camden
, where he attended Ouachita County public schools but never graduated from high school
. He was, however, admitted in 1915 to Hendrix College
, a liberal arts
institution in Conway
.
His studies were interrupted by World War I
. Laney entered the United States Navy
in 1918 and served until the end of the war.
In 1924, Laney earned a degree from the University of Central Arkansas
(then known as Arkansas Teacher's College), also in Conway. He also took graduate courses from the University of Utah
in Salt Lake City. Laney owned a drugstore in Conway, dealt in real estate
, and had interests in cotton gins, feed, and banking. Oil
was discovered on Laney's farm near Camden. He was hence called "Business Ben" because of his varied business interests.
Laney was elected mayor
of Camden in 1935 and served until 1939. He successfully ran for Governor of Arkansas in 1944. Laney polled 70,965 votes (38.6 percent) in the Democratic primary, compareed to J. Bryan Sims' 63,454 (34.5 percent) and David L. Terry's 49,685 (27 percent). Sims declined to pursue a party runoff election, and Laney was declared the automoatic Democratic nominee. He then overwhelmed the token Republican
nominee, H.C. Stump, 186,401 (86 percent) to 30,422 (14 percent).
During his administration, the Public Utilities Commission was formed and funds were appropriated for a stadium to be built in Little Rock
. Plans were also formed for the construction of an official Governor's Mansion. Laney successfully ran for reelection in 1946. He defeated J.M. Malone in the primary, having polled 125,444 votes, or 64.6 percent of the total. He then defeated Republican W.T. Mills, 128,029 (84.1 percent) to 24,133 (15.9 percent).
Laney sat out a gubernatorial term and unsuccessfully attempted to regain office in 1950, but he failed to unseat the more liberal
Democratic incumbent, Sidney Sanders McMath
. McMath received 298,559 votes (64 percent) to Laney's 112,651 (34.4 percent). Despite having previously served two terms, Laney campaigned against McMath under the slogan, "Re-Elect Ben Laney Governor, For a Second Time." After defeating Laney, McMath then trounced the Republican nominee, the young planter Jefferson W. Speck
of Frenchmans Bayou in Mississippi County.
In 1948, Laney was a top choice to serve as the Dixiecrat
presidential pick. At first, he balked and told reporters he would not attend the breakaway convention. However, he changed his mind and made the trip to Birmingham, Alabama
. The he hesitated again and remained in his hotel
room. He did not attend the convention and formally withdrew his name from consideration before the nomination was made. The nomination ultimately fell to Strom Thurmond
of South Carolina
.
Laney was a delegate to the 1969 Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Laney died of a heart attack in Magnolia
, the seat of Columbia County
south of Camden. He is interred at Camden Memorial Cemetery in Camden, alongside his wife, the former Lucille Kirtley (1906–1992). Son Benjamin Laney, III (1928–1995), is entombed at Desert View Memorial Park in Victorville
, California
, as explained in a marker at the Laney family plot in Camden. Another son, William David Laney (1931–1997), is interred in the family plot in Camden.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, having served from 1945-1949.
Laney was born in Camden
Camden, Arkansas
Camden is a city in and the county seat of Ouachita County in the southern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Long an area of American Indians villages, the French also made a permanent settlement here because of its advantageous location above the Ouachita River. According to 2007 Census...
, where he attended Ouachita County public schools but never graduated from high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. He was, however, admitted in 1915 to Hendrix College
Hendrix College
Hendrix College is a private liberal arts college located in Conway, Arkansas. The student body averages around 1,400 and currently represents forty-three states and fourteen foreign countries. In US News and World Report's America's Best Colleges, Hendrix is ranked annually in the top tier of...
, a liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
institution in Conway
Conway, Arkansas
Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...
.
His studies were interrupted by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Laney entered the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1918 and served until the end of the war.
In 1924, Laney earned a degree from the University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
The University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock and is the fourth largest university by enrollment in the U.S. state of Arkansas, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most...
(then known as Arkansas Teacher's College), also in Conway. He also took graduate courses from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
in Salt Lake City. Laney owned a drugstore in Conway, dealt in real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, and had interests in cotton gins, feed, and banking. Oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
was discovered on Laney's farm near Camden. He was hence called "Business Ben" because of his varied business interests.
Laney was elected mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Camden in 1935 and served until 1939. He successfully ran for Governor of Arkansas in 1944. Laney polled 70,965 votes (38.6 percent) in the Democratic primary, compareed to J. Bryan Sims' 63,454 (34.5 percent) and David L. Terry's 49,685 (27 percent). Sims declined to pursue a party runoff election, and Laney was declared the automoatic Democratic nominee. He then overwhelmed the token Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee, H.C. Stump, 186,401 (86 percent) to 30,422 (14 percent).
During his administration, the Public Utilities Commission was formed and funds were appropriated for a stadium to be built in Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. Plans were also formed for the construction of an official Governor's Mansion. Laney successfully ran for reelection in 1946. He defeated J.M. Malone in the primary, having polled 125,444 votes, or 64.6 percent of the total. He then defeated Republican W.T. Mills, 128,029 (84.1 percent) to 24,133 (15.9 percent).
Laney sat out a gubernatorial term and unsuccessfully attempted to regain office in 1950, but he failed to unseat the more liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
Democratic incumbent, Sidney Sanders McMath
Sid McMath
Sidney Sanders McMath was a decorated U.S. Marine, attorney and the 34th Governor of Arkansas who, in defiance of his state's political establishment, championed rapid rural electrification, massive highway and school construction, the building of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences,...
. McMath received 298,559 votes (64 percent) to Laney's 112,651 (34.4 percent). Despite having previously served two terms, Laney campaigned against McMath under the slogan, "Re-Elect Ben Laney Governor, For a Second Time." After defeating Laney, McMath then trounced the Republican nominee, the young planter Jefferson W. Speck
Jefferson W. Speck
Jefferson W. Speck was a planter and businessman from Mississippi County, Arkansas, who was the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1950 and again in 1952. He was a leader in the Dwight D...
of Frenchmans Bayou in Mississippi County.
In 1948, Laney was a top choice to serve as the Dixiecrat
Dixiecrat
The States' Rights Democratic Party was a short-lived segregationist political party in the United States in 1948...
presidential pick. At first, he balked and told reporters he would not attend the breakaway convention. However, he changed his mind and made the trip to Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The he hesitated again and remained in his hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
room. He did not attend the convention and formally withdrew his name from consideration before the nomination was made. The nomination ultimately fell to Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Laney was a delegate to the 1969 Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Laney died of a heart attack in Magnolia
Magnolia, Arkansas
Magnolia is a city in Columbia County, Arkansas, United States, that was founded in 1853. At the time of its incorporation in 1858, the city had a population of about 1,950. The city grew slowly as an agricultural and regional cotton market until the discovery of oil just east of the city in March,...
, the seat of Columbia County
Columbia County, Arkansas
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 24,552. The county seat is Magnolia. Columbia County was formed on December 17, 1852, and was named for Christopher Columbus...
south of Camden. He is interred at Camden Memorial Cemetery in Camden, alongside his wife, the former Lucille Kirtley (1906–1992). Son Benjamin Laney, III (1928–1995), is entombed at Desert View Memorial Park in Victorville
Victorville, California
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, as explained in a marker at the Laney family plot in Camden. Another son, William David Laney (1931–1997), is interred in the family plot in Camden.
External links
- Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: Benjamin Travis Laney Jr.