Changes

|term_end=December 1970​

|term_end=December 1970​

|preceded=[[John Paul Hammerschmidt]]​

|preceded=[[John Paul Hammerschmidt]]​

|succeeded=Charles Thomas Bernard​

|succeeded=Charles Taylor Bernard​, Sr.

|office2=Republican National Committeeman from Arkansas​

|office2=Republican National Committeeman from Arkansas​

|term_start2=February 1973​

|term_start2=February 1973​

In his capacity as chairman, Pollard often debated in public forums the staunch Democrat Perrin Jones, editor emeritus of the ''The Searcy Daily Citizen'' newspaper and an ally of Governor Faubus.<ref name=statement/>​

In his capacity as chairman, Pollard often debated in public forums the staunch Democrat Perrin Jones, editor emeritus of the ''The Searcy Daily Citizen'' newspaper and an ally of Governor Faubus.<ref name=statement/>​

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Pollard left the chairmanship in December 1970, and the state executive committee chose Charles Taylor Bernard (1927-2015), then a businessman engaged in dry cleaning from the small city of Earle in Cross County in eastern Arkansas. Bernard had been the unsuccessful Republican candidate in 1968 against Democratic [[U.S. Senator]] [[J. William Fulbright]]. When Rockefeller died in 1973, Pollard followed as Republican national committeeman, a post that Rockefeller had first filled in 1961, after the retirement of party veteran [[Wallace Townsend]]. Pollard was national committeeman until 1976, when U.S. Representative Hammerschmidt assumed the position while remaining a member of Congress. Coincidentally, Pollard died only three weeks prior to the passing of Hammerschmidt on April 1, 2015.​

Pollard left the chairmanship in December 1970, and the state executive committee chose Charles Taylor Bernard, Sr. (1927-2015), then a businessman engaged in dry cleaning from the small city of Earle in Cross County in eastern Arkansas. Bernard had been the unsuccessful Republican candidate in 1968 against Democratic [[U.S. Senator]] [[J. William Fulbright]]. When Rockefeller died in 1973, Pollard followed as Republican national committeeman, a post that Rockefeller had first filled in 1961, after the retirement of party veteran [[Wallace Townsend]]. Pollard was national committeeman until 1976, when U.S. Representative Hammerschmidt assumed the position while remaining a member of Congress. Coincidentally, Pollard died only three weeks prior to the passing of Hammerschmidt on April 1, 2015.​

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==Campaign manager of Ken Coon==​

==Campaign manager of Ken Coon==​

==Law partner of Edwin Bethune==​

==Law partner of Edwin Bethune==​

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Pollard is a former law partner of former  U.S. Representative Edwin Ruthvin Bethune, Jr., of Arkansas' 2nd congressional district]], who left the firm in 1972 to wage an unsuccessful bid for [[Attorney General of Arkansas|Arkansas attorney general]] against [[Jim Guy Tucker]], subsequently the state's Democratic governor from 1993 to 1996. In 1978, Bethune won the Little Rock-based congressional seat Pollard was Bethune’s finance chairman.<ref name=statement/> Bethune left the House in 1984 to wage a losing bid for US Senator against incumbent Democrat David Pryor, whose son, [[Mark Pryor]], held the same seat from 2003 to 2015.​

Pollard is a former law partner of former  U.S. Representative Edwin Ruthvin Bethune, Jr., of Arkansas' 2nd congressional district]], who left the firm in 1972 to wage an unsuccessful bid for state attorney general against Jim Guy Tucker, subsequently the state's Democratic governor from 1993 to 1996. In 1978, Bethune won the Little Rock-based congressional seat. Pollard was Bethune’s finance chairman.<ref name=statement/> Bethune left the House in 1984 to wage a losing bid for U. S. Senator against incumbent Democrat David Pryor, whose son, [[Mark Pryor]], held the same seat from 2003 to 2015.​

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==Later life==​

==Later life==​

In [[U.S. presidential election, 2008|2008]], Pollard contributed to the Arkansas Republican Party and former Governor [[Mike Huckabee]]'s unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Pollard&fname=Odell|title=Odell Pollard Campaign Contributions|publisher=fundrace.huffingtonpost.com|accessdate=December 30, 2009}}</ref>​

In 2008, Pollard contributed to the Arkansas Republican Party and former Governor [[Mike Huckabee]]'s unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Pollard&fname=Odell|title=Odell Pollard Campaign Contributions|publisher=fundrace.huffingtonpost.com|accessdate=December 30, 2009}}</ref>​

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In 2010, the city council of Searcy introduced [[nonpartisan]] ballots for municipal elections. Pollard supported the change: "It is probably good for the city and for White County. It might weaken the Republican Party in Searcy, but not an appreciative amount."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thelink.harding.edu/index.php/news/1-harding/1229-citizens-vote-using-first-nonpartisan-ballot|title=Janet Orgain, "Citizens vote using first nonpartisan ballot"|publisher=thelink.harding.edu|accessdate=January 30, 2011}}</ref>​

In 2010, the city council of Searcy introduced nonpartisan ballots for municipal elections. Pollard supported the change: "It is probably good for the city and for White County. It might weaken the Republican Party in Searcy, but not an appreciative amount."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thelink.harding.edu/index.php/news/1-harding/1229-citizens-vote-using-first-nonpartisan-ballot|title=Janet Orgain, "Citizens vote using first nonpartisan ballot"|publisher=Thelink.harding.edu|accessdate=January 30, 2011}}</ref>​

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==Personal life==​

==Personal life==​

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==Death==​

==Death==​

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:​

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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<blockquote>​

<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> ​

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>  

 

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==External links==​

==External links==​

*[http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=8534 Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry]​

*[http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=8534 Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry]​ has a full biographical sketch of Pollard.

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