Harvey C. Couch
Encyclopedia
Harvey Crowley Couch, was an Arkansas
entrepreneur
who rose from very modest beginnings to control a regional utility and railroad empire. He is regarded as the father of Arkansas Power and Light Company and other electric utilities now part of Entergy
, and helped to mold the Louisiana and Arkansas Railway
and the Kansas City Southern Railway
into a major transportation system.
in southern Arkansas. During his youth, he assisted his parents and younger siblings with the endless work associated with a small cotton
farm. As his father's health deteriorated, the family moved to nearby Magnolia
, the seat of Columbia County. During this time, he was taught by future Governor of Texas Pat Neff at Southwestern Academy in Magnolia. In 1898, Couch successfully passed a correspondence course test, qualifying him to enter the Railway Mail Service
, sorting mail in one of the many railway post office
cars which criss-crossed the nation. Couch initially worked on a railway post office
route on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad between St. Louis
and Texarkana, then a Memphis
and Texarkana run over the St. Louis Southwestern Railway
, before getting an assignment south into Louisiana
out of his home town of Magnolia.
route from McNeil, Arkansas
, into north Louisiana, Couch was exposed to the development of the long-distance telephone. In partnership with the postmasters of McNeil, and Bienville, Louisiana
, Couch formed the North Louisiana Telephone Company. From this beginning just after the turn of the century, the company eventually constructed more than 1,500 miles of line, serving 50 exchanges
in four states. In 1911, the company was sold to Southwestern Bell
Telephone Company at a price which gave Couch a profit of over $1 million. His business interests in Louisiana brought Couch into political alliance with Huey Pierce Long, Jr.
, the flamboyant governor
and United States senator.
By the time North Louisiana Telephone had been sold, Harvey Couch was already exploring the possibilities of developing a similar interconnected electric utility system. Both Malvern
and Arkadelphia
, had awarded franchises
for citywide electric utilities, and in both cities, the utility companies had failed. Couch proposed a partnership with Arkansas Land & Lumber Company, a large sawmill
operation in Malvern
, whereby sawdust and waste material purchased from the sawmill
would be used to fuel boilers, producing steam for two 550-kilowatt turbines to generate electric power
. The new system, a predecessor of Arkansas Power and Light Company (AP&L), became operational on December 18, 1914, providing Malvern
and Arkadelphia
with 24-hour electric service for the first time. In 1916, AP&L's second generating plant was opened in Russellville
, the seat of Pope County in north central Arkansas. The plant was located adjacent to a coal field which provided a steady supply of fuel.
Under the leadership of Harvey Couch, AP&L continued purchasing city utility systems and building electric transmission lines
throughout Arkansas. As demand for electric power
increased, Couch began formalizing plans for hydroelectric development on the Ouachita River
. The first of several such dams, Remmel Dam, was completed in December 1924. As the electric utility industry continued to prosper and expand in Arkansas, Harvey Couch began to devote some attention to his earlier interest, railroading. A group of investors, led by Couch, gained control of the Louisiana and Arkansas Railway
in early 1928. Couch became president of the Kansas City Southern Railway
in 1939. Following Interstate Commerce Commission
approval, the Kansas City Southern acquired the Louisiana and Arkansas, consolidating the separate railroad holdings of the Couch syndicate. Pete Couch, younger brother of Harvey Couch, assumed the presidency of both railroads.
In addition to his business interests, Harvey Couch continued in a variety of public service roles during the 1930s. The Great Depression
dictated a greatly expanded government effort to encourage business, one such mechanism being the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
(RFC). A board of seven directors was chosen to run the RFC, one of whom was Harvey Couch. Couch served as RFC director until he resigned in August 1934 to return to Arkansas. In 1936, Couch served as chairman of the Arkansas Centennial celebration and hosted U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, with whom Huey Long had quarreled, during FDR's visit to Arkansas.
, and insisted on attending the Democratic National Convention
in Chicago, even though he had not recovered. After the convention, he traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
, where he suffered a heart attack. After several months of recuperation, he returned to Couchwood, his vacation estate located between Malvern
and Hot Springs, Arkansas
. The severity of Harvey Couch's condition was concealed from the public, and he continued as director of the state Polio Campaign even as his condition worsened. Havey Couch died at Couchwood from complications of cardiovascular disease
. One of the diesel locomotives and a number of the cars from Couch's beloved Kansas City Southern - Louisiana and Arkansas streamliner
, the Southern Belle
, were diverted to Pine Bluff, Arkansas
to serve as a funeral train, carrying Couch's body from funeral services in Pine Bluff
to Magnolia for burial.
The Democrat Couch was the father-in-law of Pratt C. Remmel
, the only elected Republican
to have served as mayor
of Little Rock in the 20th century. Remmel, the mayor from 1951-1955, was descended from an old-line Republican family. Remmel's wife, Catherine Couch Remmel, is honored by the naming of Lake Catherine
in Hot Springs
.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
who rose from very modest beginnings to control a regional utility and railroad empire. He is regarded as the father of Arkansas Power and Light Company and other electric utilities now part of Entergy
Entergy
Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. It is headquartered in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:...
, and helped to mold the Louisiana and Arkansas Railway
Louisiana and Arkansas Railway
The Louisiana and Arkansas Railway was a railroad that operated in the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The railroad's main line extended 332 miles, from Hope, Arkansas to Shreveport and New Orleans...
and the Kansas City Southern Railway
Kansas City Southern Railway
The Kansas City Southern Railway , owned by Kansas City Southern Industries, is the smallest and second-oldest Class I railroad company still in operation. KCS was founded in 1887 and is currently operating in a region consisting of ten central U.S. states...
into a major transportation system.
Early life
Harvey Couch was born in tiny Calhoun in Columbia CountyColumbia County, Arkansas
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 24,552. The county seat is Magnolia. Columbia County was formed on December 17, 1852, and was named for Christopher Columbus...
in southern Arkansas. During his youth, he assisted his parents and younger siblings with the endless work associated with a small cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
farm. As his father's health deteriorated, the family moved to nearby Magnolia
Magnolia, Arkansas
Magnolia is a city in Columbia County, Arkansas, United States, that was founded in 1853. At the time of its incorporation in 1858, the city had a population of about 1,950. The city grew slowly as an agricultural and regional cotton market until the discovery of oil just east of the city in March,...
, the seat of Columbia County. During this time, he was taught by future Governor of Texas Pat Neff at Southwestern Academy in Magnolia. In 1898, Couch successfully passed a correspondence course test, qualifying him to enter the Railway Mail Service
Railway Mail Service
The United States Postal Service's Railway Mail Service was a significant mail transportation service in the US during the time period from the mid-19th century until the mid-20th century. The RMS, or its successor the Postal Transportation Service , carried the vast majority of letters and...
, sorting mail in one of the many railway post office
Railway post office
In the United States a railway post office, commonly abbreviated as RPO, was a railroad car that was normally operated in passenger service as a means to sort mail en route, in order to speed delivery. The RPO was staffed by highly trained Railway Mail Service postal clerks, and was off-limits to...
cars which criss-crossed the nation. Couch initially worked on a railway post office
Railway post office
In the United States a railway post office, commonly abbreviated as RPO, was a railroad car that was normally operated in passenger service as a means to sort mail en route, in order to speed delivery. The RPO was staffed by highly trained Railway Mail Service postal clerks, and was off-limits to...
route on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad between St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and Texarkana, then a Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
and Texarkana run over the St. Louis Southwestern Railway
St. Louis Southwestern Railway
The St. Louis Southwestern Railway , known by its nickname of "The Cotton Belt Route" or simply Cotton Belt, was organized on January 15, 1891, although it had its origins in a series of short lines founded in Tyler, Texas, in 1870 that connected northeastern Texas to Arkansas and southeastern...
, before getting an assignment south into Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
out of his home town of Magnolia.
Business career
While still working on the railway post officeRailway post office
In the United States a railway post office, commonly abbreviated as RPO, was a railroad car that was normally operated in passenger service as a means to sort mail en route, in order to speed delivery. The RPO was staffed by highly trained Railway Mail Service postal clerks, and was off-limits to...
route from McNeil, Arkansas
McNeil, Arkansas
McNeil is a city in Columbia County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 662 at the 2000 census.The community was named for William B. McNeil, founder of the College Hill Academy.-Geography:McNeil is located at ....
, into north Louisiana, Couch was exposed to the development of the long-distance telephone. In partnership with the postmasters of McNeil, and Bienville, Louisiana
Bienville, Louisiana
Bienville is a village in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 262 at the 2000 census.There are seven cemeteries located near the village....
, Couch formed the North Louisiana Telephone Company. From this beginning just after the turn of the century, the company eventually constructed more than 1,500 miles of line, serving 50 exchanges
Telephone exchange
In the field of telecommunications, a telephone exchange or telephone switch is a system of electronic components that connects telephone calls...
in four states. In 1911, the company was sold to Southwestern Bell
Southwestern Bell
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T. It does business as AT&T Southwest and other d/b/a names in its operating region.The company is currently headquartered in Dallas, Texas at One AT&T Plaza.-History:...
Telephone Company at a price which gave Couch a profit of over $1 million. His business interests in Louisiana brought Couch into political alliance with Huey Pierce Long, Jr.
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
, the flamboyant governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
and United States senator.
By the time North Louisiana Telephone had been sold, Harvey Couch was already exploring the possibilities of developing a similar interconnected electric utility system. Both Malvern
Malvern, Arkansas
Malvern is the county seat of Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The city had a population of 10,318 at the time of the 2010 census and is also called the "Brick Capital of the World" because of the three Acme Brick plants in the area...
and Arkadelphia
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Arkadelphia is a city in Clark County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 10,548. The city is the county seat of Clark County. The city is situated at the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. Two universities, Henderson State...
, had awarded franchises
Government-granted monopoly
In economics, a government-granted monopoly is a form of coercive monopoly by which a government grants exclusive privilege to a private individual or firm to be the sole provider of a good or service; potential competitors are excluded from the market by law, regulation, or other mechanisms of...
for citywide electric utilities, and in both cities, the utility companies had failed. Couch proposed a partnership with Arkansas Land & Lumber Company, a large sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
operation in Malvern
Malvern, Arkansas
Malvern is the county seat of Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The city had a population of 10,318 at the time of the 2010 census and is also called the "Brick Capital of the World" because of the three Acme Brick plants in the area...
, whereby sawdust and waste material purchased from the sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
would be used to fuel boilers, producing steam for two 550-kilowatt turbines to generate electric power
Electric power
Electric power is the rate at which electric energy is transferred by an electric circuit. The SI unit of power is the watt.-Circuits:Electric power, like mechanical power, is represented by the letter P in electrical equations...
. The new system, a predecessor of Arkansas Power and Light Company (AP&L), became operational on December 18, 1914, providing Malvern
Malvern, Arkansas
Malvern is the county seat of Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The city had a population of 10,318 at the time of the 2010 census and is also called the "Brick Capital of the World" because of the three Acme Brick plants in the area...
and Arkadelphia
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Arkadelphia is a city in Clark County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 10,548. The city is the county seat of Clark County. The city is situated at the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. Two universities, Henderson State...
with 24-hour electric service for the first time. In 1916, AP&L's second generating plant was opened in Russellville
Russellville, Arkansas
Russellville is the county seat and largest city in Pope County, Arkansas, United States, with a population of 27,920, according to the 2010 Census. It is home to Arkansas Tech University and Arkansas Nuclear One, Arkansas' only nuclear power plant...
, the seat of Pope County in north central Arkansas. The plant was located adjacent to a coal field which provided a steady supply of fuel.
Under the leadership of Harvey Couch, AP&L continued purchasing city utility systems and building electric transmission lines
Electric power transmission
Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to Electrical substations located near demand centers...
throughout Arkansas. As demand for electric power
Electric power
Electric power is the rate at which electric energy is transferred by an electric circuit. The SI unit of power is the watt.-Circuits:Electric power, like mechanical power, is represented by the letter P in electrical equations...
increased, Couch began formalizing plans for hydroelectric development on the Ouachita River
Ouachita River
The Ouachita River is a river that runs south and east through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana, joining the Tensas River to form the Black River near Jonesville, Louisiana.-Course:...
. The first of several such dams, Remmel Dam, was completed in December 1924. As the electric utility industry continued to prosper and expand in Arkansas, Harvey Couch began to devote some attention to his earlier interest, railroading. A group of investors, led by Couch, gained control of the Louisiana and Arkansas Railway
Louisiana and Arkansas Railway
The Louisiana and Arkansas Railway was a railroad that operated in the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The railroad's main line extended 332 miles, from Hope, Arkansas to Shreveport and New Orleans...
in early 1928. Couch became president of the Kansas City Southern Railway
Kansas City Southern Railway
The Kansas City Southern Railway , owned by Kansas City Southern Industries, is the smallest and second-oldest Class I railroad company still in operation. KCS was founded in 1887 and is currently operating in a region consisting of ten central U.S. states...
in 1939. Following Interstate Commerce Commission
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
approval, the Kansas City Southern acquired the Louisiana and Arkansas, consolidating the separate railroad holdings of the Couch syndicate. Pete Couch, younger brother of Harvey Couch, assumed the presidency of both railroads.
In addition to his business interests, Harvey Couch continued in a variety of public service roles during the 1930s. The Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
dictated a greatly expanded government effort to encourage business, one such mechanism being the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
Reconstruction Finance Corporation
The Reconstruction Finance Corporation was an independent agency of the United States government, established and chartered by the US Congress in 1932, Act of January 22, 1932, c. 8, 47 Stat. 5, during the administration of President Herbert Hoover. It was modeled after the War Finance Corporation...
(RFC). A board of seven directors was chosen to run the RFC, one of whom was Harvey Couch. Couch served as RFC director until he resigned in August 1934 to return to Arkansas. In 1936, Couch served as chairman of the Arkansas Centennial celebration and hosted U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, with whom Huey Long had quarreled, during FDR's visit to Arkansas.
Final chapter
In February 1940, Couch developed a severe case of influenzaInfluenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
, and insisted on attending the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in Chicago, even though he had not recovered. After the convention, he traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he suffered a heart attack. After several months of recuperation, he returned to Couchwood, his vacation estate located between Malvern
Malvern, Arkansas
Malvern is the county seat of Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The city had a population of 10,318 at the time of the 2010 census and is also called the "Brick Capital of the World" because of the three Acme Brick plants in the area...
and Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
. The severity of Harvey Couch's condition was concealed from the public, and he continued as director of the state Polio Campaign even as his condition worsened. Havey Couch died at Couchwood from complications of cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
. One of the diesel locomotives and a number of the cars from Couch's beloved Kansas City Southern - Louisiana and Arkansas streamliner
Streamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired recumbent bicycles...
, the Southern Belle
Southern Belle (KCS)
The Southern Belle was a named passenger train service offered by Kansas City Southern Railway from the 1940s through the 1960s, running between Kansas City, Missouri and New Orleans, Louisiana.The service was inaugurated on September 2, 1940...
, were diverted to Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff is the largest city and county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area...
to serve as a funeral train, carrying Couch's body from funeral services in Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff is the largest city and county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area...
to Magnolia for burial.
The Democrat Couch was the father-in-law of Pratt C. Remmel
Pratt C. Remmel
Pratt Cates Remmel, Sr. , was the only 20th century Republican elected on a partisan ballot to have served as mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas. He was elected to the first of two two-year terms in 1951, was reelected in 1953, and then defeated in 1955 by the Democrat Woodrow Wilson Mann, who like...
, the only elected Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to have served as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Little Rock in the 20th century. Remmel, the mayor from 1951-1955, was descended from an old-line Republican family. Remmel's wife, Catherine Couch Remmel, is honored by the naming of Lake Catherine
Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine
Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine are a pair of man-made lakes around Hot Springs, Arkansas. The two lakes have greatly improved the tourism in Hot Springs. Both Lakes were created by Arkansas Power & Light .-Lake Hamilton:...
in Hot Springs
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
.