Benjamin Travis Laney Jr. (1896 - 1977)

Born 25 Nov 1896 in Cooterneck, Ouachita, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Ethel Lucille (Kirtley) Laney — married 19 Jan 1926 in Ouachita, Arkansas, United States

Died 21 Jan 1977 at age 80 in Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas, United States

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Preceded by
Homer Martin Adkins

33rd Governor of Arkansas
1945 - 1949

Succeeded by
Sid McMath

Biography

Benjamin Laney Jr. is Notable.

Benjamin Travis Laney Jr. is notable for his tenure as the governor of Arkansas from 1945 to 1949, during which he implemented the significant 1945 Revenue Stabilization Law, effectively prohibiting deficit spending in the state. As a prominent Dixiecrat and segregationist, he vocally opposed federal civil rights initiatives and worked to maintain segregation, which marked his political stance. Laney's role in the 1948 States' Rights Democratic Party convention, where he protested against Harry Truman's civil rights platform, further highlighted his influence. Additionally, he was instrumental in promoting economic development in post-World War II Arkansas, advocating for industrial growth and investment in the state.^[1][2]

Benjamin Travis Laney Jr. was born on November 25, 1896, on a small farm in the Jones Chapel community, commonly called Cooterneck, in Ouachita County, Arkansas. His parents were Benjamin Travis Laney Sr.and Martha Ella Phenix Saxon.^[3][4] By 1900,^[5] and again in 1910, he lived in Washington Township, Ouachita County, Arkansas. At age 13, he worked as a farm laborer on the family farm.^[6]

Although Laney did not complete high school, his capabilities earned him a teaching position and admission to Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, in 1915. Despite his limited formal education, he excelled as an honor student. He left Hendrix College in 1916, taught briefly,^[3][7], and returned to live in Louann, Ouachita County, Arkansas, working as a farmer.^[8]

By 1920, Laney was back in Washington Township, laboring on the family farm,^[9] which saw the discovery of oil in 1922. He then returned to Conway and graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College (now University of Central Arkansas) in 1924. Following graduation, he gained business experience by working in a drugstore his brother had purchased.^[3]

On January 19, 1926, Laney married Ethel Lucille Kirtley in Ouachita County, Arkansas.^[10] By 1930, he was living in Camden, Ouachita County, managing a credit and savings loan.^[11] Laney then diversified into the oil business, acquiring cotton gins, oil mills, and stores selling feed, groceries, and hardware.^[3]

Laney was a dedicated teacher for many years of the Ben Laney Men's Bible Class at Camden First United Methodist Church, and was active in the Camden Softball League in the 1930s, where he pitched in games at Hirsch Field. In 1935, he was elected mayor of Camden, a position he was reelected to in 1937. By 1940, he continued farming in Camden.^[12][13][14]

In 1941, former Governor Homer M. Adkins appointed Laney to the State Penitentiary Commission. He served as governor of Arkansas from 1945 to 1949, during which his most notable achievement was the 1945 Revenue Stabilization Law, which prohibited deficit spending. As a Dixiecrat and segregationist, Laney opposed changes to race relations and efforts to end segregation. He spoke against federal initiatives to outlaw lynching and the poll tax, and worked discreetly to prevent desegregation in state education programs, citing constitutional principles and states' rights.^{[3][12][13][15][16]}

Laney drew national attention in 1948 as a presidential candidate for the States' Rights Democratic Party, opposing Harry Truman's civil rights platform. He withdrew before being nominated at the Philadelphia convention, refusing to support the Democratic Party platform, leading to a walkout by delegations from several southern states, including Arkansas.^{[3][12][13][17]}

Post-World War II, Laney promoted economic development for a "New South" and sought to attract industry to Arkansas. Despite his progressive economic views, he maintained a paternalistic racial stance. The Ouachita River Bridge on Highway 79B north of Camden was later named the Ben T. Laney Bridge in recognition of his efforts.^[3][17]

By 1950, Laney lived in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, where he owned and operated a real estate company.^[18] He died of an apparent heart attack on January 21, 1977, in Magnolia, Columbia County, Arkansas,^[12][13][19] and was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Camden, Ouachita County, Arkansas.^[20]

Laney was a Rotarian, a Mason, a Shriner, and a member of the American Legion. He was also active in the Boy Scouts and served as a trustee of the First United Methodist Church throughout his life.^[12][13]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. Benjamin T. Laney. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. April 19, 2024, 02:06 UTC. Available at: "Benjamin Travis Laney Jr." Accessed May 18, 2024.
2. ↑ Forgey, Tom, Magnolia, Arkansas, Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Last updated on 19 Jan 2024. "Benjamin Travis Laney Jr. (1896–1977)." Accessed 18 May 2024.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} Governors of Arkansas (2nd) (c). N.p.: University of Arkansas Press, (n.d.). "Governors of Arkansas." Accessed 18 May 2024.
4. ↑ Arkansas, Birth Certificates, 1914-1922: Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Birth Certificates; Year: 1896 Ancestry Record 61774 #777967
5. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census: Year: 1900; Census Place: Washington, Ouachita, Arkansas; Roll: 70; Page: 20; Enumeration District: 0134 Ancestry Record 7602 #35713022
6. ↑ 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Washington, Ouachita, Arkansas; Roll: T624_59; Page: 9a; Enumeration District: 0125; FHL microfilm: 1374072 Ancestry Record 7884 #191199598
7. ↑ U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010: Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ancestry Record 2441 #12557449
8. ↑ U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918: Registration State: Arkansas; Registration County: Ouachita County Ancestry Record 6482 #25011043
9. ↑ 1920 United States Federal Census: Year: 1920; Census Place: Washington, Ouachita, Arkansas; Roll: T625_75; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 154 Ancestry Record 6061 #39913116
10. ↑ Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957: Ancestry.com. Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2011. "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957," database, FamilySearch; from Arkansas Courts of Common Pleas and County Clerks. Digital images of originals housed at various county courthouses in the State of Arkansas. Marriage records. Ancestry Record 2548 #1301279
11. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census: Year: 1930; Census Place: Camden, Ouachita, Arkansas; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0010; FHL microfilm: 2339821 Ancestry Record 6224 #87037093
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4} "Ben Laney deat at 80", The Camden News, Camden, Arkansas, 24 Jan 1977, Mon. - Page 1. Newspapers Clip: 147645245, Accessed 18 May 2024.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4} "Ex-Arkansas governor dies", The Times, Shreveport, Louisiana, 23 Jan 1977, Sun. - Page 9. Newspapers Clip: 147645378, Accessed 18 May 2024.
14. ↑ 1940 United States Federal Census: Year: 1940; Census Place: Camden, Ouachita, Arkansas; Roll: m-t0627-00159; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 52-11A Ancestry Record 2442 #99474516
15. ↑ Whayne, Jeannie M.. Arkansas Biography: A Collection of Notable Lives. United States: University of Arkansas Press, 2000. "Arkansas Biography: A Collection of Notable Lives." Accessed 18 May 2024.
16. ↑ U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942: The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147 Ancestry Record 1002 #1086210
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Whayne, Jeannie M.., DeBlack, Thomas A.., Sabo, George., Arnold, Morris S.. Arkansas: A Narrative History. United States: University of Arkansas Press, 2014. "Arkansas: A Narrative History." Accessed 18 May 2024.
18. ↑ 1950 United States Federal Census: National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas; Roll: 1820; Page: 7; Enumeration District: 77-194 Ancestry Record 62308 #31448689
19. ↑ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014: Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File Ancestry Record 3693 #35241326
20. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19650/benjamin_travis-laney: accessed May 18, 2024), memorial page for Benjamin Travis Laney (25 Nov 1896–21 Jan 1977), Find A Grave: Memorial #19650, citing Memorial Park Cemetery, Camden, Ouachita County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q365383