Changes

| preceded=Sam M. Wassell

| preceded=Sam M. Wassell

| succeeded=Woodrow Wilson Mann

| succeeded=Woodrow Wilson Mann

| birth_date=October 26, 1915

| birth_date=October 26, 1915

| birth_place=Little Rock, Arkansas

| birth_place=Little Rock, Arkansas

| religion      =[[United Methodist]]

| religion      =[[United Methodist]]

| spouse        =Catherine Couch Remmel

| spouse        =Catherine Couch Remmel

| children       =Catherine Remmel Matthews<br>

| children=Catherine Remmel Matthews<br>

Pratt Remmel, Jr.<br>

Pratt Remmel, Jr.<br>

Rebecca Couch Remmel<br>

Rebecca Couch Remmel<br>

Parents:<br>

Parents:<br>

Augustus Caleb "Gus" Remmel<br>

Augustus Caleb "Gus" Remmel<br>

Remmel graduated from Little Rock High School in 1933. In 1937, he received a bachelor's degree in economics from the [[University of Virginia]] at Charlottesville, [[Virginia]].[2]  

Remmel graduated from Little Rock High School in 1933. In 1937, he received a bachelor's degree in economics from the [[University of Virginia]] at Charlottesville, [[Virginia]].[2]  

During  [[World War II]], Remmel was a [[United States Navy]] lieutenant, a pilot, and flight instructor.[3]  Hel married the former Catherine Couch (April 22, 1918 – January 24, 2006), the daughter of Harvey C. Couch of Pine Bluff, the founder of Arkansas Power & Light (a subsidiary of Entergy) and the director the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Lake Catherine near [[Hot Springs, Arkansas|Hot Springs]] in Garland County is named for Catherine Couch Remmel.[4]  

During  [[World War II]], Remmel was a [[United States Navy]] lieutenant, a pilot, and flight instructor.[3]  Hel married the former Catherine Couch (April 22, 1918 &ndash; January 24, 2006), the daughter of Harvey C. Couch of Pine Bluff, the founder of Arkansas Power & Light (a subsidiary of Entergy) and the director the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Lake Catherine near [[Hot Springs, Arkansas|Hot Springs]] in Garland County is named in  honor of Catherine Couch Remmel.[4]  

Remmel spent decades trying to build the Arkansas Republican Party. In 1940, he became chairman of the Pulaski County (Little Rock) Republican Executive Committee. Thereafter, at various times he was treasurer of the Republican State Central Committee, finance director of the Arkansas Republican Party (1949–1951), chairman of the Young Republicans of Arkansas and vice chairman of the Young Republican National Federation. Remmel attended the national Republican conventions as a delegate in 1952 and 1956 and as an alternate in 1948 and 1960.[5]  

Remmel spent decades trying to build the Arkansas Republican Party. In 1940, he became chairman of the Pulaski County (Little Rock) Republican Executive Committee. Thereafter, at various times he was treasurer of the Republican State Central Committee, finance director of the Arkansas Republican Party (1949–1951), chairman of the Young Republicans of Arkansas and vice chairman of the Young Republican National Federation. Remmel attended the national Republican conventions as a delegate in 1952 and 1956 and as an alternate in 1948 and 1960.[5]  

==Election as mayor, 1951==

==Election as mayor, 1951==

In the 1951 mayoral race, Remmel unseated the Democrat Sam M. Wassell, who sought a rarely given third term. Not since Ben D. Brickhouse (1919–1925) had anyone served longer than four years as mayor of Little Rock.[6] Wassell ignored Remmel, for he viewed the Republican nominee as too weak to warrant the reactivation of the precinct organization from the summer Democratic primary. Wassell claimed incorrectly that a Republican could not be elected in Little Rock because the party during [[Reconstruction]] had "left such an awful stink they haven't been back in seventy years."[7]  

 

In the 1951 mayoral race, Remmel unseated the Democrat Sam M. Wassell, who sought a rarely given third term. Not since Ben D. Brickhouse (1919–1925) had anyone served longer than four years as mayor of Little Rock.[6] Wassell ignored Remmel, for he viewed the Republican nominee as too weak to warrant the reactivation of the precinct organization from the summer Democratic primary. Wassell claimed incorrectly that a Republican could not be elected in Little Rock because the party during [[Reconstruction]] had "left such an awful stink they haven't been back in seventy years."[7]

Remmel termed the Wassell administration "ineffectual, half-hearted, do-nothing government."[8] Near the end of the race when Wassell detected that Remmel was making rapid gains, the mayor listed his own accomplishments as:

Remmel termed the Wassell administration "ineffectual, half-hearted, do-nothing government."[8] Near the end of the race when Wassell detected that Remmel was making rapid gains, the mayor listed his own accomplishments as:

Remmel not only defeated Wassel: he won by a landslide, 7,794 votes (68 percent) to 3,668 (32 percent). He won all but three of the city's then twenty-six precincts. He was the first Republican to have sought the position in a quarter century. Then Democratic Governor Sidney Sanders McMath attributed Remmel's victory to local factors, particularly a divisive Democratic primary between Massell and Alderman Franklin E. Loy (February 10, 1915 &ndash; February 6, 1999), also an insurance agent.[12]  

Remmel not only defeated Wassel: he won by a landslide, 7,794 votes (68 percent) to 3,668 (32 percent). He won all but three of the city's then twenty-six precincts. He was the first Republican to have sought the position in a quarter century. Then Democratic Governor Sidney Sanders McMath attributed Remmel's victory to local factors, particularly a divisive Democratic primary between Massell and Alderman Franklin E. Loy (February 10, 1915 &ndash; February 6, 1999), also an insurance agent.[12]  

The Little Rock election caught the eye of Republican [[U.S. Senato]]r [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]] who told an audience in Biloxi, [[Mississippi]], that he hoped Remmel's victory would be "indicative of a new trend in the South."[13]At the 1952 Republican convention in [[Chicago]], Remmel first favored a largely ceremonial choice, General [[Douglas MacArthur]], a fellow Little Rock native whom he had hosted when the general visited the city.[14] Delegates Remmel, his mother "Nell" Remmel, National Committeeman [[Wallace Townsend]] and state GOP chairman [[Osro Cobb]] all voted at the convention for Taft. The Arkansas delegation split 6-4 for Taft, and an eleventh delegate abstained.[15] When the nomination went to [[Dwight Eisenhower]]], a [[Texas]] native who grew up in [[Kansas]], Remmel  Remmel worked for the national ticket, but the [[Adlai Stevenson]]-[[John Sparkman]] electors still won in Arkansas, a traditional Democratic political bastion at that time.  

The Little Rock election caught the eye of Republican [[U.S. Senato]]r [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]] who told an audience in Biloxi, [[Mississippi]], that he hoped Remmel's victory would be "indicative of a new trend in the South."[13]At the 1952 Republican convention in [[Chicago]], Remmel first favored a largely ceremonial choice, General [[Douglas MacArthur]], a fellow Little Rock native whom he had hosted when the general visited the city.[14] Delegates Remmel, his mother "Nell" Remmel, National Committeeman [[Wallace Townsend]] and state GOP chairman [[Osro Cobb]] all voted at the convention for Taft. The Arkansas delegation split 6-4 for Taft, and an eleventh delegate abstained.[15] When the nomination went to [[Dwight Eisenhower]]], a [[Texas]] native who grew up in [[Kansas]], Remmel worked for the national ticket, but the [[Adlai Stevenson]]-[[John Sparkman]] electors still won in Arkansas, a traditional Democratic political bastion at that time.  

==Reelection as mayor, 1953==

==Reelection as mayor, 1953==

The Democrats denounced Remmel as the "silk-stocking candidate" and the "tool of the Republican Party." Such rhetoric came from Alderman Franklin Loy and Arkansas Attorney General Thomas J. Gentry, who had become hostile critics of the Remmel administration.[17]  

The Democrats denounced Remmel as the "silk-stocking candidate" and the "tool of the Republican Party." Such rhetoric came from Alderman Franklin Loy and Arkansas Attorney General Thomas J. Gentry, who had become hostile critics of the Remmel administration.[17]  

Remmel defeated Kerr, 9,724 (59.2 percent) to 6,693 (40.8 percent). While Remmel claimed that his reelection had partisan implications because Kerr had emphasized party, state Republican Chairman Cobb said that the results merely reflected that Little Rock "places good government ahead of party labels."[18] Kerr's campaign manager, Frank H. Dodge, said, quite prematurely it turned out, that Remmel's reelection meant that "the two-party system is now at work in Little Rock."[19]  

Remmel defeated Kerr, 9,724 (59.2 percent) to 6,693 (40.8 percent). While Remmel claimed that his reelection had partisan implications because Kerr had emphasized party, state Republican Chairman Cobb said that the results merely reflected that Little Rock "places good government ahead of party labels."[18] Kerr's campaign manager, Frank H. Dodge, said, quite prematurely it turned out, that Remmel's reelection meant that "the two-party system is now at work in Little Rock."[19]  

==Remmel the Christian==

==Remmel the Christian==

A devout [[Christian]], Remmel was a member of the board of stewards of the First [[United Methodist]] Church in Little Rock and the Methodist Men's Club. He was a former state president of the Gideons International, the men's organization which distributes [[Bible]]s in public places, such as hotel rooms.[4]  

A devout [[Christian]], Remmel was a member of the board of stewards of the First [[United Methodist]] Church in Little Rock and the Methodist Men's Club. He was a former state president of the Gideons International, the men's organization which distributes [[Bible]]s in public places, such as hotel rooms.[4]  

Through his mayoral tenure, Remmel was a former member of the advisory committee to the United States Conference of Mayors and a former chairman of the Arkansas Municipal League. He was once a member of the United States National Commission for [[UNESCO]].[4]  

Through his mayoral tenure, Remmel was a former member of the advisory committee to the United States Conference of Mayors and a former chairman of the Arkansas Municipal League. He was once a member of the United States National Commission for [[UNESCO]].[4]  

==Remmel's obituary==

==Remmel's obituary==

In addition to his Republican and religious affiliations, Remmel was a 32nd degree Mason, a Shriner, and a member of the American Legions, the Sertoma and Optimist clubs, and the [[United Fund]]. He was a former Arkansas president of the American Red Cross. He was affiliated with Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and the Little Rock Country Club.[34] Remmel was a board member of the Arkansas River Basin Commission and chairman of the Arkansas Waterways Commission.[3]  

In addition to his Republican and religious affiliations, Remmel was a 32nd degree Mason, a Shriner, and a member of the American Legions, the Sertoma and Optimist clubs, and the [[United Fund]]. He was a former Arkansas president of the American Red Cross. He was affiliated with Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and the Little Rock Country Club.[34] Remmel was a board member of the Arkansas River Basin Commission and chairman of the Arkansas Waterways Commission.[3]  

5. Bessie Butler Allard, ed. Who Is Who in Arkansas, Vol. I (Little Rock, 1959), pp. 199-200; Who's Who in the South and Southwest (chicago, 1952), p. 603<br>  

5. Bessie Butler Allard, ed. Who Is Who in Arkansas, Vol. I (Little Rock, 1959), pp. 199-200; Who's Who in the South and Southwest (chicago, 1952), p. 603<br>  

6. John L. Ferguson, ''Arkansas Lives: The Opportunity Land's Who's Who'' (Hopkinsville, [[Kentucky]], 1965), p. 466.<br>  

6. John L. Ferguson, ''Arkansas Lives: The Opportunity Land's Who's Who'' (Hopkinsville, [[Kentucky]], 1965), p. 466.<br>  

 

7. ''Arkansas Gazette,'' October 16, 1951.<br>  

''Arkansas Gazette,'' October 16, 1951.<br>  

8. ''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 1, 1951.<br>

''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 1, 1951.<br>

9. ''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 4, 1951.<br>

''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 4, 1951.<br>

10. ''Arkansas Gazette,'' October 30, 1951.<br>  

''Arkansas Gazette,'' October 30, 1951.<br>  

11. ''Arkansas Democrat,''November 7, 1956.<br>  

''Arkansas Democrat,''November 7, 1956.<br>  

12. ''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 7, 1951.<br>  

''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 7, 1951.<br>  

''Memphis Press Scmitar'' (defunct [[Tennessee]] publication), November 8, 1951.<br>  

''Memphis Press Scmitar'' (defunct [[Tennessee]] publication), November 8, 1951.<br>  

''Arkansas Democrat,'' October 24, 1954.<br>  

''Arkansas Democrat,'' October 24, 1954.<br>