Changes

|spouse=(1) Nolan Troxell (died 1971)​<br>

|spouse=(1) Nolan Troxell (died 1971)​<br>

(2) Russell Dodd<br>

(2) Russell Dodd<br>

​No children​

No children​

|religion=[[Southern Baptist]]}}​

|religion=[[Southern Baptist]]}}​

Leona Troxell was born to Frank and Clara Anderson in Johnstown in Fulton County, New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansas.gov/esd/About/Legacy/Directors/Troxell.htm|title=Arkansas Department of Workforce Services|website=www.arkansas.gov|accessdate=November 1, 2018}}</ref> She was the dean of women at Drake University in [[Des Moines]], [[Iowa]], before she married Nolan Troxell (1904–1971) and moved to [[rural]] Rose Bud in White County, north of the state capital of [[Little Rock]]​

Leona Troxell was born to Frank and Clara Anderson in Johnstown in Fulton County, New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansas.gov/esd/About/Legacy/Directors/Troxell.htm|title=Arkansas Department of Workforce Services|website=www.arkansas.gov|accessdate=November 1, 2018}}</ref> She was the dean of women at Drake University in [[Des Moines]], [[Iowa]], before she married Nolan Troxell (1904–1971) and moved to [[rural]] Rose Bud in White County, north of the state capital of [[Little Rock]]​

 

===Political career===

===Political career===

 

In 1968, when Rockefeller was re-elected to his second and last two-year term as governor, Troxell was the unsuccessful candidate for state treasurer. She was defeated by the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[incumbent]] Nancy J. Hall (1904–1991). Troxell polled 218,804 votes (37.4 percent) to Hall's 365,540 (62.6 percent). Troxell won five of the seventy-five Arkansas counties: Searcy, Baxter, Benton, Carroll, and Washington, but she did not prevail in her own White County. Hall, the wife of the late Secretary of State C.G. "Crip" Hall, was first elected treasurer in 1962 and served until 1981. Nancy Hall was also the first woman ever elected to statewide constitutional office in Arkansas.​

In 1968, when Rockefeller was re-elected to his second and last two-year term as governor, Troxell was the unsuccessful candidate for state treasurer. She was defeated by the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[incumbent]] Nancy J. Hall (1904–1991). Troxell polled 218,804 votes (37.4 percent) to Hall's 365,540 (62.6 percent). Troxell won five of the seventy-five Arkansas counties: Searcy, Baxter, Benton, Carroll, and Washington, but she did not prevail in her own White County. Hall, the wife of the late Secretary of State C.G. "Crip" Hall, was first elected treasurer in 1962 and served until 1981. Nancy Hall was also the first woman ever elected to statewide constitutional office in Arkansas.​

 

In 1974, Troxell ran for lieutenant governor on the Republican gubernatorial ticket headed by the more [[conservative]] [[Ken Coon]]. First of Cave City in Sharp County in northern Arkansas, whose work led to a landmark change in state [[libel]] law.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/19/obituaries/joseph-h-weston-publisher-of-an-arkansas-newspaper.html|title=Joseph H. Weston, Publisher of an Arkansas Newspaper|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=November 19, 1983|accessed May 11, 2010}}</ref>

In 1974, Troxell ran for lieutenant governor on the Republican gubernatorial ticket headed by the more [[conservative]] [[Ken Coon]]. First of Cave City in Sharp County in northern Arkansas, whose work led to a landmark change in state [[libel]] law.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/19/obituaries/joseph-h-weston-publisher-of-an-arkansas-newspaper.html|title=Joseph H. Weston, Publisher of an Arkansas Newspaper|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=November 19, 1983|accessed May 11, 2010}}</ref>

As the Republican nominee, Troxell pledged to bring "decorum" to the Arkansas State Senate, over which the lieutenant governor presides.<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 3, 1974.</ref> However, she was handily defeated by the Democratic former state Attorney General Joe Purcell (1923–1987) of Benton in Saline County in a heavily Democratic year, Troxell received only 121,302 votes (23 percent) to Purcell's 406,040 (77 percent). She carried no counties in what turned out to have been her last venture on a ballot. Coon was defeated by David Hampton Pryor, but he ran some 65,000 votes ahead of ticket-mate Troxell. Purcell served as lieutenant governor until 1981. He ran in the primary in 1982 against then former Governor [[Bill Clinton]].

As the Republican nominee, Troxell pledged to bring "decorum" to the Arkansas State Senate, over which the lieutenant governor presides.<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 3, 1974.</ref> However, she was handily defeated by the Democratic former state Attorney General Joe Purcell (1923–1987) of Benton in Saline County in a heavily Democratic year, Troxell received only 121,302 votes (23 percent) to Purcell's 406,040 (77 percent). She carried no counties in what turned out to have been her last venture on a ballot. Coon was defeated by David Hampton Pryor, but he ran some 65,000 votes ahead of ticket-mate Troxell. Purcell served as lieutenant governor until 1981. He ran in the primary in 1982 against then former Governor [[Bill Clinton]].

In 1981, Mrs. Troxell questioned the appointment of former Governor [[Orval E. Faubus]], a Democrat, as director of the scandal-plagued Arkansas Veterans's Affairs Department. The selection was made by Governor [[Frank D. White]], only the second Republican governor of Arkansas since [[Reconstruction]].  "... Obviously, I do not want to go back to the kind of regime we had when he was governor ... Believe me, that was machine politics at its worst," Mrs. Troxell said of the Faubus era (1955–1967).<ref''Arkansas Gazette,'' August 5, 1981.</ref> Among those defending the selection were former gubernatorial candidate [[Len Blaylock]] of Perry County, [[U.S. Representative]] [[John Paul Hammerschmidt]] of Harrison in Boone County and former state Representative [[Danny L. Patrick]]. These Republicans argued that Faubus was ideally suited for the particular position.​<ref>Ellen Debenport, "Segregation-era governor makes political comeback," UPI, September 14, 1981.</ref>

In 1981, Mrs. Troxell questioned the appointment of former Governor [[Orval E. Faubus]], a Democrat, as director of the scandal-plagued Arkansas Veterans's Affairs Department. The selection was made by Governor [[Frank D. White]], only the second Republican governor of Arkansas since [[Reconstruction]].  "... Obviously, I do not want to go back to the kind of regime we had when he was governor ... Believe me, that was machine politics at its worst," Mrs. Troxell said of the Faubus era (1955–1967).<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' August 5, 1981.</ref> Among those defending the selection were former gubernatorial candidate [[Len Blaylock]] of Perry County, [[U.S. Representative]] [[John Paul Hammerschmidt]] of Harrison in Boone County and former state Representative [[Danny L. Patrick]]. These Republicans argued that Faubus was ideally suited for the particular position.​<ref>Ellen Debenport, "Segregation-era governor makes political comeback," UPI, September 14, 1981.</ref>

Troxell also questioned Governor White over the proposed [[Equal Rights Amendment]]. When White declined to include ERA in the agenda for a special legislative session in the fall of 1981, Troxell attempted to meet with White.  "I asked if there was any opportunity for a group to see the governor, but his schedule was completely full," Troxell told the since defunct ''Arkansas Gazette.''<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 13, 1981.</ref>  

Troxell also questioned Governor White over the proposed [[Equal Rights Amendment]]. When White declined to include ERA in the agenda for a special legislative session in the fall of 1981, Troxell attempted to meet with White.  "I asked if there was any opportunity for a group to see the governor, but his schedule was completely full," Troxell told the since defunct ''Arkansas Gazette.''<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 13, 1981.</ref>  

 

Mrs. Troxell was an active member of the Rose Bud First [[Baptist]] Church, having worked over the years with the youth, the [[choir]], and the Women's [[Missionary]] Union. She established the Nolan and Leona Troxell Perpetual Church Scholarship. In 1994, the Rose Bud congregation named its new church education building after her.​

Mrs. Troxell was an active member of the Rose Bud First [[Baptist]] Church, having worked over the years with the youth, the [[choir]], and the Women's [[Missionary]] Union. She established the Nolan and Leona Troxell Perpetual Church Scholarship. In 1994, the Rose Bud congregation named its new church education building after her.​

 

She was a past chairman of the Arkansas Heart Association and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

She was a past chairman of the Arkansas Heart Association and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

​''Arkansas Outlook,'' Republican Party newsletter, May 1974.<br>​

''Arkansas Outlook,'' Republican Party newsletter, May 1974.<br>​

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Troxell, Leona}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Troxell, Leona}}​

[[Category:Arkansas]]​

[[Category:Arkansas]]​