Changes

==Background==

==Background==

 

Cobb was born near Hatton in Polk County, Arkansas, to the lumberman Philander Cobb (born 1869), who in 1916 was a vocal supporter of the Republican nominee, [[Charles Evans Hughes]], who narrowly lost the election to [[U.S. President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]]. Cobb's mother was the former Ida Sublette, a songwriter, playwright, poet, and the author of four books.<ref>Osro Cobb, ''Osro Cobb of Arkansas:  Memoirs of Historical Significance'', Carol Griffee, ed., ([[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]]: Rose Publishing Company, 1989, pp, 3, 6</ref> In his memoirs, Cobb recalls that his mother "always made me feel that I was destined to do great things and make a meaningful contribution to my state and country of which she would be proud. She instilled in me the belief that by doing my very best, almost any objective I might seek would be within my grasp. She was right."<ref>Cobb, p. 7</ref>   

Cobb was born near Hatton in Polk County, Arkansas, to the lumberman Philander Cobb (born 1869), who in 1916 was a vocal supporter of the Republican nominee, [[Charles Evans Hughes]], who narrowly lost the election to [[U.S. President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]]. Cobb's mother was the former Ida Sublette, a songwriter, playwright, poet, and the author of four books.<ref>Osro Cobb, ''Osro Cobb of Arkansas:  Memoirs of Historical Significance'', Carol Griffee, ed., ([[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]]: Rose Publishing Company, 1989, pp, 3, 6</ref> In his memoirs, Cobb recalls that his mother "always made me feel that I was destined to do great things and make a meaningful contribution to my state and country of which she would be proud. She instilled in me the belief that by doing my very best, almost any objective I might seek would be within my grasp. She was right."<ref>Cobb, p. 7</ref>   

    

    

==College years==

==College years==

 

Because Cobb graduated from high school at the age of sixteen, he enrolled in 1920 at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, formerly known as Arkadelphia Methodist College or as Henderson Brown College. Cobb refers to  Henderson as "a small [[Methodist]] college ideally suited to my needs. It took only a short time for me to establish my identity and to make numberous friends among my fellow students and with faculty members." He lettered in baseball and was a member of the debate team and reports that he was falsely accused of [[plagiarism]] by an English professor regarding an article he wrote about moonshiners in Montgomery County.<ref>Cobb, pp. 10-12</ref>

Because Cobb graduated from high school at the age of sixteen, he enrolled in 1920 at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, formerly known as Arkadelphia Methodist College or as Henderson Brown College. Cobb refers to  Henderson as "a small [[Methodist]] college ideally suited to my needs. It took only a short time for me to establish my identity and to make numberous friends among my fellow students and with faculty members." He lettered in baseball and was a member of the debate team and reports that he was falsely accused of [[plagiarism]] by an English professor regarding an article he wrote about moonshiners in Montgomery County.<ref>Cobb, pp. 10-12</ref>

   

   

At Henderson, Cobb became an advocate of two-party competition in the political arena as a potential solution to Arkansas' lagging national standing both politically and economically. He graduated from Henderson in 1925 with two bachelor's degrees.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5693|title=Osro Cobb (1904-1996)|publisher=encyclopediaofarkansas.net|accessdate=May 29, 2012}}</ref>Cobb reports having read:

At Henderson, Cobb became an advocate of two-party competition in the political arena as a potential solution to Arkansas' lagging national standing both politically and economically. He graduated from Henderson in 1925 with two bachelor's degrees.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5693|title=Osro Cobb (1904-1996)|publisher=encyclopediaofarkansas.net|accessdate=May 29, 2012}}</ref> Cobb reports having read:

    

    

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

(2) In those days, Arkansas was a rock-ribbed, solid, yellow-dog Democrat state. ... political machines were spawned in various counties and they corrupted the elections by any means deemed necessary. .... The Republican Party had to be convinced that it must really work in Arkansas and across the South to help establish a viable, competitive two-party system. There was no chance for Arkansas to move forward until it could become a doubtful state in presidential elections.<ref>Cobb, p. 14</ref></blockquote>  

(2) In those days, Arkansas was a rock-ribbed, solid, yellow-dog Democrat state. ... political machines were spawned in various counties and they corrupted the elections by any means deemed necessary. .... The Republican Party had to be convinced that it must really work in Arkansas and across the South to help establish a viable, competitive two-party system. There was no chance for Arkansas to move forward until it could become a doubtful state in presidential elections.<ref>Cobb, p. 14</ref></blockquote>  

Cobb left Henderson for a year when the family lumber mill at Caddo Gap burned -- a $100,000 loss. In the summer of 1924, he went to Union County in south Arkansas to work in the oil boom in an office at Norphlet near Smackover. He recalls a bizarre murder case there. A barber in Norphlet offered Cobb some cake that the man's wife had mailed to him from [[Oklahoma]]. The cake was, however, saturated with poison, and the barber quickly died on eating it. On an errand, Cobb delayed eating the cake and later reflected that he "felt the Lord had intervened to take care of me. In fact, I have been spared on several occasions, and I feel there has been a divine protector looking after me."<ref>Cobb, pp. 16-17</ref>

Cobb left Henderson for a year when the family lumber mill at Caddo Gap burned—a $100,000 loss. In the summer of 1924, he went to Union County in south Arkansas to work in the oil boom in an office at Norphlet near Smackover. He recalls a bizarre murder case there. A barber in Norphlet offered Cobb some cake that the man's wife had mailed to him from [[Oklahoma]]. The cake was, however, saturated with poison, and the barber quickly died on eating it. On an errand, Cobb delayed eating the cake and later reflected that he "felt the Lord had intervened to take care of me. In fact, I have been spared on several occasions, and I feel there has been a divine protector looking after me."<ref>Cobb, pp. 16-17</ref>

    

    

Cobb applied for a Rhodes scholarship, but the 1925 appointment went to [[J. William Fulbright]], a student at the [[University of Arkansas]] at Fayetteville, who later became the UA president and a long-term U.S. senator.<ref>Cobb, p. 13</ref> Cobb organized a Republican club at Henderson, having received encouragement from some of the faculty members. He became acquainted with Harmon L. Remmel of Little Rock, the Republican national committeeman during much of the 1920s and arranged to have his older friend Remmel to deliver the 1925 commencement address at Henderson.<ref>Cobb, p. 15</ref>

Cobb applied for a Rhodes scholarship, but the 1925 appointment went to [[J. William Fulbright]], a student at the [[University of Arkansas]] at Fayetteville, who later became the UA president and a long-term U.S. senator.<ref>Cobb, p. 13</ref> Cobb organized a Republican club at Henderson, having received encouragement from some of the faculty members. He became acquainted with Harmon L. Remmel of Little Rock, the Republican national committeeman during much of the 1920s and arranged to have his older friend Remmel to deliver the 1925 commencement address at Henderson.<ref>Cobb, p. 15</ref>

==Political career==

==Political career==

 

In 1926, Cobb was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives from Montgomery County and served as the only Republican member in the chamber for two two-year terms. He began studying at what is now the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 1929, Cobb was admitted to practice law before the Arkansas Supreme Court . Several senior partners in the law firm where he was employed, Campbell, Mallory, and Throgmorton in Little Rock, were Republicans.<ref name=bio/> Through these contacts, Cobb became the assistant U.S. attorney under [[Wallace Townsend]] and alongside [[Drew Bowers]]. He practiced law privately at the same time, a practice then permitted and not considered a conflict-of-interest.<ref>Cobb, p. 29</ref>

In 1926, Cobb was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives from Montgomery County and served as the only Republican member in the chamber for two two-year terms. He began studying at what is now the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 1929, Cobb was admitted to practice law before the Arkansas Supreme Court . Several senior partners in the law firm where he was employed, Campbell, Mallory, and Throgmorton in Little Rock, were Republicans.<ref name=bio/> Through these contacts, Cobb became the assistant U.S. attorney under [[Wallace Townsend]] and alongside [[Drew Bowers]]. He practiced law privately at the same time, a practice then permitted and not considered a conflict-of-interest.<ref>Cobb, p. 29</ref>

   

   

==U.S. attorney==

==U.S. attorney==

 

In 1952, Cobb was challenged for the chairmanship at the state convention by Vern Tindall of Stuttgart but again prevailed.<ref>Cobb, p. 106</ref>As a delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention in [[Chicago]], Cobb and the Arkansas delegation voted for U.S. Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of Ohio but quickly joined with the majority to endorse [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. Invited to meet with Eisenhower after the nomination, Cobb advised him not to concede a single southern state to the Democratic nominee, then Governor [[Adlai Stevenson]], of [[Illinois]]. Cobb writes in his memoirs that Eisenhower "did not need to be sold on campaigning in the South because he already was convinced that it would be successful."<ref>Cobb, p. 122</ref>

In 1952, Cobb was challenged for the chairmanship at the state convention by Vern Tindall of Stuttgart but again prevailed.<ref>Cobb, p. 106</ref> As a delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention in [[Chicago]], Cobb and the Arkansas delegation voted for U.S. Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of Ohio but quickly joined with the majority to endorse [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. Invited to meet with Eisenhower after the nomination, Cobb advised him not to concede a single southern state to the Democratic nominee, then Governor [[Adlai Stevenson]], of [[Illinois]]. Cobb writes in his memoirs that Eisenhower "did not need to be sold on campaigning in the South because he already was convinced that it would be successful."<ref>Cobb, p. 122</ref>

    

    

In 1954, Eisenhower appointed Cobb as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, a highly visible position during the desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock. In the fall of 1957, Cobb was in communication with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], the [[United States Department of Justice]], and the [[White House]] regarding late-breaking developments. With [[United States Attorney General]] [[Herbert Brownell]], Cobb represented in federal court the U. S. government's case against Governor Faubus, who attempted without success to thwart desegregation. Cobb reached the conclusion that Faubus had exaggerated the likelihood that segregationists would engage in violence in a vain bid to block desegregation.<ref name=bio/>

In 1954, Eisenhower appointed Cobb as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, a highly visible position during the desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock. In the fall of 1957, Cobb was in communication with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], the [[United States Department of Justice]], and the [[White House]] regarding late-breaking developments. With [[United States Attorney General]] [[Herbert Brownell]], Cobb represented in federal court the U. S. government's case against Governor Faubus, who attempted without success to thwart desegregation. Cobb reached the conclusion that Faubus had exaggerated the likelihood that segregationists would engage in violence in a vain bid to block desegregation.<ref name=bio/>

   

   

==Faubus and Rockefeller==

==Faubus and Rockefeller==

 

Late in 1965, Faubus asked Cobb to fill a vacancy on the Arkansas Supreme Court after Justice Sam Robinson retired. On January 11, 1966, Cobb took the position and served for the remainder of the year.<ref name=bio/> Politically, Cobb's Republican activities paralleled the career of Wallace Townsend, an [[Iowa]] native who served as Arkansas's Republican national  committeeman from 1928 to 1961.  

Late in 1965, Faubus asked Cobb to fill a vacancy on the Arkansas Supreme Court after Justice Sam Robinson retired. On January 11, 1966, Cobb took the position and served for the remainder of the year.<ref name=bio/> Politically, Cobb's Republican activities paralleled the career of Wallace Townsend, an [[Iowa]] native who served as Arkansas's Republican national  committeeman from 1928 to 1961.  

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

 

From the late 1960s until his retirement, Cobb focused on his petroleum and timber interests. In 1938, Cobb married the oil heiress Audrey Umsted, whom he had met while golfing. Her father, Sydney Albert Umsted, had in 1924 drilled the Discovery oil well in the Smackover field but was subsequently mortally injured in a train accident in [[Mississippi]] and died in a hospital in [[Memphis]], Tennessee.<ref>Cobb, pp. 77-78</ref> The Cobbs adopted one son, John Cobb. Audrey Cobb died in 1976. The next year he married his neighbor, Martha Jane Rebsamen,<ref name=bio/> the widow of Raymond Rebsamen, a prominent Little Rock industrialist and philanthropist.<ref>Cobb, p. 157</ref>Shortly before the second marriage, two armed robbers wearing masks broke into Martha Jane's home and locked her, Cobb, and her housekeeper in a closet. The intruders left with Cobb's Cadillac but called police to tell them of the three people trapped in the closet.<ref>Cobb, p. 159</ref>

From the late 1960s until his retirement, Cobb focused on his petroleum and timber interests. In 1938, Cobb married the oil heiress Audrey Umsted, whom he had met while golfing. Her father, Sydney Albert Umsted, had in 1924 drilled the Discovery oil well in the Smackover field but was subsequently mortally injured in a train accident in [[Mississippi]] and died in a hospital in [[Memphis]], Tennessee.<ref>Cobb, pp. 77-78</ref> The Cobbs adopted one son, John Cobb. Audrey Cobb died in 1976. The next year he married his neighbor, Martha Jane Rebsamen,<ref name=bio/> the widow of Raymond Rebsamen, a prominent Little Rock industrialist and philanthropist.<ref>Cobb, p. 157</ref> Shortly before the second marriage, two armed robbers wearing masks broke into Martha Jane's home and locked her, Cobb, and her housekeeper in a closet. The intruders left with Cobb's Cadillac but called police to tell them of the three people trapped in the closet.<ref>Cobb, p. 159</ref>

In 1989 and 1990, with the help of the late journalist-editor Carol Griffee, then of Little Rock, Cobb published two editions of his autobiography entitled ''Osro Cobb of Arkansas: Memoirs of Historical Significance''. He died in Little Rock at the age of ninety-one. His papers were deposited in Special Collections of the Torreyson Library of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.<ref name=bio/>

In 1989 and 1990, with the help of the late journalist-editor Carol Griffee, then of Little Rock, Cobb published two editions of his autobiography entitled ''Osro Cobb of Arkansas: Memoirs of Historical Significance''. He died in Little Rock at the age of ninety-one. His papers were deposited in Special Collections of the Torreyson Library of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.<ref name=bio/>