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Recruited to run for office by both political parties, he chose the more difficult route in Arkansas: the fledgling Republican Party. It was not even until he ran for lieutenant governor in 1972 that his state party had even won its first presidential election since [[Reconstruction]].

Recruited to run for office by both political parties, he chose the more difficult route in Arkansas: the fledgling Republican Party. It was not even until he ran for lieutenant governor in 1972 that his state party had even won its first presidential election since [[Reconstruction]].

When he announced that he would seek the office of lieutenant governor, Coon was in his third year as a biology instructor at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (then West Ark Community College) in Sebastian County in western Arkansas, the more politically [[conservative]] part of the state. He challenged Democratic incumbent Bob Cowley Riley (1924-1994), a professor from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia in Clark County in south central Arkansas.<ref>((cite web|url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/bob-cowley-riley-2458/|title=Riley, Bob Cowley|publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|accessdate=October 26, 2019}}</ref> Having lost an eye in [[World War II]], Riley wore a trademark black patch.<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 5, 1972,</ref>

When he announced that he would seek the office of lieutenant governor, Coon was in his third year as a biology instructor at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (then West Ark Community College) in Sebastian County in western Arkansas, the more politically [[conservative]] part of the state. He challenged Democratic incumbent Bob Cowley Riley (1924-1994), a professor from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia in Clark County in south central Arkansas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/bob-cowley-riley-2458/|title=Riley, Bob Cowley|publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|accessdate=October 26, 2019}}</ref> Having lost an eye in [[World War II]], Riley wore a trademark black patch.<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 5, 1972,</ref>

Riley claimed on several occasions not even "to know" Coon when the Republican entered the race.<ref>''The Pine Bluff Commercial,'' November 4, 1972.</ref> Coon tried to tie Riley to Democratic presidential nominee [[George McGovern]] after Riley urged Arkansans to cast straight Democratic ballots. "Arkansans just don't believe that being a Democrat is reason enough to vote for McGovern, as my opponent suggests," Coon said.<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 1, 1972.</ref>  

Riley claimed on several occasions not even "to know" Coon when the Republican entered the race.<ref>''The Pine Bluff Commercial,'' November 4, 1972.</ref> Coon tried to tie Riley to Democratic presidential nominee [[George McGovern]] after Riley urged Arkansans to cast straight Democratic ballots. "Arkansans just don't believe that being a Democrat is reason enough to vote for McGovern, as my opponent suggests," Coon said.<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 1, 1972.</ref>