Benjamin Travis Laney Jr.

Benjamin Travis Laney Jr.
Born: November 25, 1896, at Jones Chapel (Cooterneck), Arkansas
Died: January 21, 1977, at Magnolia, Arkansas
Buried: Camden Memorial Cemetery, Camden
Served: 1945-1949

“Business Ben” Laney, born in 1896, attended the public schools in Ouachita County. In 1918 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until the Armistice; he earned a degree from the Arkansas Teachers College in 1924 and took graduate courses from the University of Utah. Laney owned a drugstore in Conway, Arkansas, traded in farm real estate and entered the oil business when oil was discovered on his family farm near Camden, Arkansas. He entered politics in 1935 when elected Mayor of Camden, serving until 1939. Laney ran for governor and won both the 1944 and 1946 elections. In his first campaign, Laney called for “efficiency, economy and consolidation” in state government; he followed through by promoting the ultimately adopted Revenue Stabilization Act which proved to be his greatest achievement. While Laney was governor, the Arkansas Resources and Development Commission was formed and the Corporation and Utilities Commissions were consolidated into the Public Service Commission. Also during his tenure, construction of both the War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock and the governor's mansion was authorized by the Assembly. Laney was a consistent supporter of racial segregation and eventually became identified with the “Dixiecrat” states’ rights movement but, notably, during Laney’s administration the University of Arkansas became the first historically white southern public university to admit African-American students. Laney did not seek re-election for a third term and left office on January 11, 1949. He ran, unsuccessfully, in the 1950 gubernatorial race but remained active in public affairs, serving as a delegate to the 1969 Arkansas Constitutional Convention.