Winthrop Rockefeller
Winthrop Paul Rockefeller Sr. was born May 1, 1912, in New York City. Rockefeller was the grandson of John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil Company. He served as Arkansas Governor from 1967-1971. In 1973, Rockefeller died of pancreatic cancer.
Rockefeller served in the United States military during World War II. He enlisted on January 22, 1941, and by November 1943, Rockefeller was promoted to major. He left the Army as lieutenant colonel with a Bronze Star, an Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart.
Rockefeller moved in Arkansas in 1953, when he bought land atop Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton, Arkansas. By 1955, Rockefeller found himself in charge of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission. While in this office, Arkansas saw a significant change in the state's economy. There were more than 600 new industrial plants in the state that provided 90,000 new jobs for Arkansas residents. While the national rise in manufacturing wages was 36 percent, Arkansas’s wages grew 88 percent.
Rockefeller ran for Arkansas State Governor in 1966, and became the first Arkansas Republican governor since 1872. Rockefeller’s terms are filled with achievements and reform for the state of Arkansas. Some of the major achievements include: the state’s first minimum wage, stricter law insurance regulation, and creating a law to guarantee freedom of information.
Rockefeller had a personal belief in racial equality and broke down many barriers for African Americans in Arkansas. During Rockefeller's terms as Arkansas governor, there was a large number of African Americans in high ranking state positions. Also the State Police was integrated, which brought about a more acceptable state government. On April 4, 1968, Rockefeller was the only Southern governor to hold a public ceremony of mourning for the death of Martin Luther King Jr.
Rockefeller was known as a "transitional leader." Because of his actions as governor, Arkansas was more accessible to political and social changes. Even though Rockefeller died in 1973, his legacy lives today through the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.
