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'''Len Everette Blaylock, Sr.''' (December 8, 1918 – March 25, 2012),[1] was a [[farmer]], [[educator]], small [[business]]man, and [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[politician]] from tiny Nimrod in Perry County in northwestern [[Arkansas]]. He was state welfare commissioner under the state's first Republican governor since [[Reconstruction]], [[Winthrop Rockefeller]]. He was the GOP gubernatorial nominee (1972), the U.S. marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas (1975–1978), the appointments secretary for Governor Frank D. White (1981–1983), and the chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party (1985–1986).  

'''Len Everette Blaylock, Sr.''' (December 8, 1918 – March 25, 2012),[1] was a [[farmer]], [[educator]], small [[business]]man, and [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[politician]] from tiny Nimrod in Perry County in northwestern [[Arkansas]]. He was state welfare commissioner under the state's first Republican governor since [[Reconstruction]], [[Winthrop Rockefeller]]. He was the GOP gubernatorial nominee (1972), the U.S. marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas (1975–1978), the appointments secretary for Governor Frank D. White (1981–1983), and the chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party (1985–1986).  

Blaylock was born in [[Little Rock]], to David Penn Blaylock (1876–1927) and the former Minnie Bradford (1886–1937). Blaylock's father and mother died when he was seven and seventeen, respectively. To help support his family, he dropped out of school three times before he could obtain his diploma from North Little Rock High School. He served three stints in the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] between 1936 and 1939, having been based at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Arkansas, in Cody, [[Wyoming]], and in [[Idaho]].[2] His life has been depicted as a Horatio Algerr story in sharp contrast to his benefactor, Winthrop Rockefeller, the epitome of family wealth and power.[3]

Blaylock was born in [[Little Rock]], to David Penn Blaylock (1876–1927) and the former Minnie Bradford (1886–1937). Blaylock's father and mother died when he was seven and seventeen, respectively. To help support his family, he dropped out of school three times before he could obtain his diploma from North Little Rock High School. He served three stints in the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] between 1936 and 1939, having been based at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Arkansas, in Cody, [[Wyoming]], and in [[Idaho]].[2] His life has been depicted as a Horatio Algerr story in sharp contrast to his benefactor, Winthrop Rockefeller, the epitome of family wealth and power.[3]

Blaylock entered the [[United States Army]] Air Corps, forerunner of the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], served in World War II]], and completed twenty years of service in 1959. During part of the war, he was based in [[England]] with the 8th Air Force. Later, he was assigned to the [[Strategic Air Command]]. He was an enlisted man for the first ten years and then an Air Force officer, having reached the rank of major. At various times, he was stationed in [[Alaska]], Spokane, [[Washington]]; [[Baylor University ]] in [[Waco]], [[Texas]], and the Little Rock Air Force Base.[2] He was a charter member of the Air Force Memorial Foundation[4]

Blaylock entered the [[United States Army]] Air Corps, forerunner of the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], served in World War II]], and completed twenty years of service in 1959. During part of the war, he was based in [[England]] with the 8th Air Force. Later, he was assigned to the [[Strategic Air Command]]. He was an enlisted man for the first ten years and then an Air Force officer, having reached the rank of major. At various times, he was stationed in [[Alaska]], Spokane, [[Washington]]; [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco]], [[Texas]], and the Little Rock Air Force Base.[2] He was a charter member of the Air Force Memorial Foundation[4]

While working with Captain Bruce K. Holloway at Duncan Field in [[San Antonio]], Blaylock was introduced by Holloway to Melba Winona Wright. From their union in 1941 were born four sons and a daughter: David Robert Blaylock (born 1942) and wife Suzi of Coolidge, [[Arizona]], Len Blaylock, Jr. (born 1944), and wife Luanne of  Maumelle in Pulaski County, Melvin James Blaylock (born 1949) and wife Mary of London, Arkansas, Betty Louise Freeze and husband Mike of England, Arkansas, and Dale Alan Blaylock (born 1960) and wife Vickie Kirkland Blaylock of Greenbrier in Faulkner County.[1] Len, Jr., served as the state executive director of the Farm Service Agency within the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]. Dale is a member of the security staff of the Arkansas governor's office. Len, III (born 1974), one of nineteen Blaylock grandchildren, is an Army officer who fought in the wars in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]].[2]

While working with Captain Bruce K. Holloway at Duncan Field in [[San Antonio]], Blaylock was introduced by Holloway to Melba Winona Wright. From their union in 1941 were born four sons and a daughter: David Robert Blaylock (born 1942) and wife Suzi of Coolidge, [[Arizona]], Len Blaylock, Jr. (born 1944), and wife Luanne of  Maumelle in Pulaski County, Melvin James Blaylock (born 1949) and wife Mary of London, Arkansas, Betty Louise Freeze and husband Mike of England, Arkansas, and Dale Alan Blaylock (born 1960) and wife Vickie Kirkland Blaylock of Greenbrier in Faulkner County.[1] Len, Jr., served as the state executive director of the Farm Service Agency within the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]. Dale is a member of the security staff of the Arkansas governor's office. Len, III (born 1974), one of nineteen Blaylock grandchildren, is an Army officer who fought in the wars in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]].[2]

Blaylock's ticket mates were all defeated too: the veterinarian [[Wayne Babbitt]] for the U.S. Senate, [[Ken Coon]] for lieutenant governor, future U.S. Representative Edwin Ruthvin Bethune, Jr., for state  attorney general, and [[Jerry Climer]] for secretary of state.[12] Coon was Blaylock's successor as the gubernatorial nominee in 1974, but he first had to dispose of the controversial newspaper editor Joseph H. Weston of Cave City. Weston's work with the former ''Sharp Citizen'' led to a change in Arkansas libel law.[13]

Blaylock's ticket mates were all defeated too: the veterinarian [[Wayne Babbitt]] for the U.S. Senate, [[Ken Coon]] for lieutenant governor, future U.S. Representative Edwin Ruthvin Bethune, Jr., for state  attorney general, and [[Jerry Climer]] for secretary of state.[12] Coon was Blaylock's successor as the gubernatorial nominee in 1974, but he first had to dispose of the controversial newspaper editor Joseph H. Weston of Cave City. Weston's work with the former ''Sharp Citizen'' led to a change in Arkansas libel law.[13]

==U.S. Marshal Blaylock==

==U.S. Marshal Blaylock==

In 1975, President [[Gerald Ford]] appointed Blaylock as the U.S. marshal in Little Rock. He succeeded [[Lynn A. Davis]],  formerly Rockefeller's choice to head the state police. Davis' reappointment was opposed by outgoing Democratic U.S. Senator [[John McClellan]].[14] Blaylock held the position until 1978, when President [[Jimmy Carter]] replaced him with Bumpers' cousin, the late Charles H. Gray.[15]

In 1975, President [[Gerald Ford]] appointed Blaylock as the U.S. marshal in Little Rock. He succeeded [[Lynn A. Davis]],  formerly Rockefeller's choice to head the state police. Davis' reappointment was opposed by outgoing Democratic U.S. Senator [[John McClellan]].[14] Blaylock held the position until 1978, when President [[Jimmy Carter]] replaced him with Bumpers' cousin, the late Charles H. Gray.[15]