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In 1958, Pollard exposed a voter corruption case in Bald Knob, a small city near Searcy. Election workers cast "absentee ballots" for some thirty pipeline construction workers and their spouses. However, the workers were outside of Arkansas at the time of the election, which included a [[prohibition]] measure on the ballot. They did not cast absentee votes, according to their affidavits, which were presented by Pollard to the White County prosecutor, who declined to take action until after the [[statute of limitations]] had expired, when the charges were moot.<ref name=statement/>​

In 1958, Pollard exposed a voter corruption case in Bald Knob, a small city near Searcy. Election workers cast "absentee ballots" for some thirty pipeline construction workers and their spouses. However, the workers were outside of Arkansas at the time of the election, which included a [[prohibition]] measure on the ballot. They did not cast absentee votes, according to their affidavits, which were presented by Pollard to the White County prosecutor, who declined to take action until after the [[statute of limitations]] had expired, when the charges were moot.<ref name=statement/>​

In 1954, as a Democrat, Pollard had supported the Republican [[governor|gubernatorial]] nominee  Pratt C. Remmel, then the [[mayor]] of [[Little Rock]]. Six years later, he supported Henry M. Britt, the Republican nominee for governor, later a judge in Garland County.<ref name=statement/>​

In 1954, as a Democrat, Pollard had supported the Republican [[governor|gubernatorial]] nominee  Pratt C. Remmel, then the [[mayor]] of [[Little Rock]]. Six years later, he supported as a Republican Henry M. Britt of Hot Springs for governor. Britt was later a judge in Garland County.<ref name=statement/>​

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==Relations with Orval Faubus==​

==Relations with Orval Faubus==​

In 1966, Rockefeller rebounded to win the governorship after he had defeated Democrat [[James D. Johnson]] of Conway in Faulkner County, the first Arkansas Republican to hold the state's top executive position since [[Reconstruction]]. Pollard served as state party chairman from 1966 to 1970, the same as the Rockefeller gubernatorial years. Years later, Pollard described Rockefeller as "a dedicated man who tried to do a lot of good for the state of Arkansas. He and I saw things exactly the same way."<ref name=statement/>​

In 1966, Rockefeller rebounded to win the governorship after he had defeated Democrat [[James D. Johnson]] of Conway in Faulkner County, the first Arkansas Republican to hold the state's top executive position since [[Reconstruction]]. Pollard served as state party chairman from 1966 to 1970, the same as the Rockefeller gubernatorial years. Years later, Pollard described Rockefeller as "a dedicated man who tried to do a lot of good for the state of Arkansas. He and I saw things exactly the same way."<ref name=statement/>​

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Because Arkansas Republican chairman [[John Paul Hammerschmidt]], a businessman from Harrison and a decorated [[World War II]] veteran, was elected to Congress in 1966, an election was held by state Republican committee members on December 10 of that year to choose a new party leader. Pollard, the party's general counsel, ran, as did the North Little Rock[[veterinarian]] [[Wayne Babbitt]], the sitting vice chairman. Four days before the election, however, Babbitt withdrew in Pollard's favor but with a warning: "It saddens me greatly to witness the strife and controversy that has been created by the race for chairmanship of our party.... We can ill afford the price of such unnecessary fighting among ourselves. It this doesn't cease at once, a sharp division in our ranks will be created that could last for years to come."<ref>Cathy Kunzinger Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform: Winthrop Rockefeller as Governor of Arkansas, 1967-71'' (Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 1991), p. 164, {{ISBN|1-55728-200-5}}</ref>​

Because Arkansas Republican chairman [[John Paul Hammerschmidt]], a businessman from Harrison and a decorated [[World War II]] veteran, was elected to Congress in 1966, an election was held by state Republican committee members on December 10 of that year to choose a new party leader. Pollard, the party's general counsel, ran, as did the North Little Rock [[veterinarian]] [[Wayne Babbitt]], the sitting vice chairman. Four days before the election, however, Babbitt withdrew in Pollard's favor but with a warning: "It saddens me greatly to witness the strife and controversy that has been created by the race for chairmanship of our party.... We can ill afford the price of such unnecessary fighting among ourselves. It this doesn't cease at once, a sharp division in our ranks will be created that could last for years to come."<ref>Cathy Kunzinger Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform: Winthrop Rockefeller as Governor of Arkansas, 1967-71'' (Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 1991), p. 164, {{ISBN|1-55728-200-5}}</ref>​

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There was no ideological split between Pollard and Babbitt. The Rockefeller aide, Everett Ham, said that Babbitt "rubbed Rockefeller the wrong way, and that's who got the election." The now-defunct ''Arkansas Gazette'' called Pollard "the voice of compromise," who was allied with the more liberal side of the party but had also worked well with the conservative faction.<ref name="Urwin, p. 164">Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform'', p. 164.</ref>​

There was no ideological split between Pollard and Babbitt. The Rockefeller aide, Everett Ham, said that Babbitt "rubbed Rockefeller the wrong way, and that's who got the election." The now-defunct ''Arkansas Gazette'' called Pollard "the voice of compromise," who was allied with the more liberal side of the party but had also worked well with the conservative faction.<ref name="Urwin, p. 164">Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform'', p. 164.</ref>​

Before he left the chairmanship, Pollard disclosed that Rockefeller was financing a third of the Republican state budget for 1968 and had given even more to the party committee in the past. However, he did not reveal the exact extent of Rockefeller's financial aid. Rockefeller had also permitted the party to rent space at a vastly-reduced rate, in his Tower Building in Little Rock.<ref>Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform'', pp. 169-170.</ref>​

Before he left the chairmanship, Pollard disclosed that Rockefeller was financing a third of the Republican state budget for 1968 and had given even more to the party committee in the past. However, he did not reveal the exact extent of Rockefeller's financial aid. Rockefeller had also permitted the party to rent space at a vastly-reduced rate, in his Tower Building in Little Rock.<ref>Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform'', pp. 169-170.</ref>​

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Pollard was recommended for a vacant U.S. District Court judgeship in Little Rock, but the appointment from President [[Richard M. Nixon]] went to G. Thomas Eisele, another Rockefeller partisan. State Court Judge Britt had also been considered to fill that vacancy.<ref>Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform'', p. 170.</ref>​

Pollard was recommended for a vacant U.S. District Court judgeship in Little Rock, but the appointment from President [[Richard M. Nixon]] went to G. Thomas Eisele, another Rockefeller partisan. State Court Judge Britt had also been considered to fill that vacancy.<ref>Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform'', p. 170.</ref>​

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Pollard was a delegate to the [[Republican National Convention]] in 1968 and, while he was no longer chairman, to the party conclave in 1972 in Miami Beach, [[Florida]].  In 1972, he was the Nixon finance chairman in Arkansas. In 1976, Pollard supported President [[Gerald  Ford]], in the Arkansas delegate primary against [[Ronald W. Reagan]]. Pollard was the co-chairman of the housing committee for the 1976 Republican National Convention held in [[Kansas City]],  Missouri. However, he did not attend the convention but sent his alternate delegate.<ref name=statement/>​

Pollard was a delegate to the [[Republican National Convention]] in 1968 and, while he was no longer chairman, to the party conclave in 1972 in Miami Beach, [[Florida]].  In 1972, he was the Nixon finance chairman in Arkansas. In 1976, Pollard supported President [[Gerald  Ford]], in the Arkansas delegate primary against [[Ronald W. Reagan]]. Pollard was the co-chairman of the housing committee for the 1976 Republican National Convention held in [[Kansas City]],  Missouri. However, he did not attend the convention but sent his alternate delegate.<ref name=statement/>​

==Campaign manager of Ken Coon==​

==Campaign manager of Ken Coon==​

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In the 1974 gubernatorial election, Pollard was a campaign strategist for Republican nominee [[Ken Coon]], later a [[psychologist]] in Little Rock, who challenged Pryor. Pollard urged owners of nursing homes to support Coon because Pryor had earlier pressed successfully for greater state and national regulation of such facilities: "He demeaned the nursing homes just so he could get national publicity," Pollard said of Pryor.<ref>''The Arkansas Gazette,'' November 3, 6, 1974.</ref>​

In the 1974 gubernatorial election, Pollard was a campaign strategist for Republican nominee Kenneth L. "Ken" Coon, later a [[psychologist]] in Little Rock, who challenged Pryor. Pollard urged owners of nursing homes to support Coon because Pryor had earlier pressed successfully for greater state and national regulation of such facilities: "He demeaned the nursing homes just so he could get national publicity," Pollard said of Pryor.<ref>''The Arkansas Gazette,'' November 3, 6, 1974.</ref>​

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Pollard said that he was grateful for each gain made by the Arkansas Republican Party but that there had been little success in many election cycles. "We didn't broaden the party as much as needed. We should have contested more county offices," he said. He noted that his own White County, once fully-Democratic, had become receptive to Republican candidates.<ref name=statement/>​

Pollard said that he was grateful for each gain made by the Arkansas Republican Party but that there had been little success in many election cycles. "We didn't broaden the party as much as needed. We should have contested more county offices," he said. He noted that his own White County, once fully-Democratic, had become receptive to Republican candidates.<ref name=statement/>​

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==Personal life==​

==Personal life==​

Pollard was twice married. His first union to the former Sammie Lane Lewis (1930–1980) ended with her death. In 1990, after ten years as a widower, Pollard married a widow, Imogene Stroud Huett (born 1925). He had three children from his first marriage, Laura Lane Pollard Roussel (born 1956) and husband, Scott, Paula P. Gray and husband, Bill, and Mark Odell Pollard (born 1964), and wife, Dana. Mark has been a captain for [[Continental Airlines]] based in [[Nashville]],  [[Tennessee]]. Pollard has three stepchildren from the second marriage, Jamie Huett and wife Pam, Tommy Huett and wife Becky, and Mary Jane Norman and husband, Tommy.<ref name=obit/>​

Pollard was twice married. His first union to the former Sammie Lane Lewis (1930–1980) ended with her death. In 1990, after ten years as a widower, Pollard married a widow, Imogene Stroud Huett (1925-2015), who died eight months after the passing of her husband.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/?name=Imogene+Stroud+Huett_Pollard&event=_searcy-white-arkansas-usa_29527&birth=1925|title=Imogene Stroud Huett Pollard|publisher=Ancestry.com|accessdate=June 15, 2019}}</ref>

 

Pollard had three children from his first marriage, Laura Lane Pollard Roussel (born 1956) and husband, Scott, Paula P. Gray and husband, Bill, and Mark Odell Pollard (born 1964), and wife, Dana. Mark has been a captain for Continental Airlines based in [[Nashville]],  [[Tennessee]]. Pollard has three stepchildren from the second marriage, Jamie Huett and wife Pam, Tommy Huett and wife Becky, and Mary Jane Norman and husband, Tommy.<ref name=obit/>​

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==Death==​

==Death==​

Pollard died in Searcy at the age of eight6-seven. He is interred along his first wife at White County Memorial Gardens in Searcy.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://hosting-24809.tributes.com/obituary/print/102276822|title=Odell Pollard|publisher=tributes.com|accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref> His former law partner Bethune paid tribute:​

Pollard died in Searcy at the age of eighty-seven. He is interred along his first wife at White County Memorial Gardens in Searcy.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://hosting-24809.tributes.com/obituary/print/102276822|title=Odell Pollard|publisher=tributes.com|accessdate=March 30, 2015}}</ref> His former law partner Bethune paid tribute:​

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Without his leadership in the 1960s, our state might still be in the wilderness. Against all odds, he stood firm for Governor Rockefeller and the need to develop a two-party system. Much of what has been accomplished in our state can be attributed to the work of Odell Pollard.<ref name=obit/></blockquote> ​

Without his leadership in the 1960s, our state might still be in the wilderness. Against all odds, he stood firm for Governor Rockefeller and the need to develop a two-party system. Much of what has been accomplished in our state can be attributed to the work of Odell Pollard.<ref name=obit/></blockquote> ​