Former Arkansas Gov. Sid McMath dies at 91

[goobergunch]

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) -- Former Arkansas Gov. Sid McMath, a prosecutor and popular state leader by the age of 40, has died at his home in Little Rock. He was 91.

McMath had been hospitalized last week after being examined for an irregular heartbeat but was released on Wednesday. His death late Saturday was announced by the office of Gov. Mike Huckabee.

After serving in the military during World War II, McMath began a career in public service, becoming a prosecutor in Hot Springs and winning election to his first of two terms as governor in 1948.

"He was a young, progressive governor who had cleaned up Hot Springs and done real good things for Arkansas, real tolerant in race, and tried to do a lot for education and roads," said Cal Ledbetter, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. "He was so impressive at one time that there were rumors that Truman would put him on the ticket in 1948."

more...http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/05/mcmath.obit.ap/index.html

[PinkTiger]

1. He was a great man.

I had the great pleasure of meeting him and interviewing him several times during my years in Arkansas. May he rest in peace.

[dbt]

2. Well done, Governor!

Johnny Cash would like to see you over on the newcomers' bench.

:loveya:
dbt

[HerbieHeadhunter]

3. A facinating man indeed...

Sid was one of the first in a line of great progressive democratic governors in Arkansas....McMath, Cherry, Bumpers, Pryor, Clinton. Of course we had Faubus in following Cherry until he was defeated by Rockefeller (who still to this day remains the only Republican anybody in my family has ever voted for) but it was truely McMath who laid the building blocks for progressive reforms inacted by those who followed him.

Strangely, I just bought his memoir the other day "Promises Kept" and was going to attend a book signing. Unfortunately, his health caught up with him. Here's his book on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1557287546/qid=1065454026/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-9965941-2612043?v=glance&s=books&n=507846