Howard Callaway
Encyclopedia
Howard Hollis "Bo" Callaway (born April 2, 1927) is a businessman and former politician
from the state
of Georgia
.
, west of Atlanta. His grandfather was Fuller Earle Callaway. He attended Georgia Tech
and graduated from the United States Military Academy
at West Point, New York
. After his term in the Army ended, Callaway returned to Georgia to help his father develop and run Callaway Gardens
in western Georgia. The gardens are located near Franklin D. Roosevelt
's famous Warm Springs
retreat.
. In 1964, however, he ran as "Goldwater
Republican
" for a seat in the House of Representatives
. He won, becoming the first Republican elected to the U.S. House from Georgia since the Reconstruction era. Callaway gave up his House seat to run for governor of Georgia in 1966
, making him the first Republican nominee for Governor in Georgia since 1876. "Go Bo" was used as his gubernatorial campaign slogan, and some people unhappy with both major candidates (Lester Maddox
was the Democratic candidate) would expand that to say "Go Bo, and take Lester with you". Callaway won a plurality over the segregationist Maddox in the general election, but a write-in effort in support of liberal former Governor Ellis Arnall
denied Callaway a majority of votes. Under Georgia's election law then in effect, the state legislature was required to select a governor from the two candidates with the most votes. Dominated overwhelmingly by Democrats, the legislature selected Maddox.
Callaway moved to Colorado
in the 1970s. He served as Secretary of the Army
from 1973 to 1975 and as Gerald Ford
's first campaign manager in 1976. Callaway was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate
in 1980, losing to challenger Mary Buchanan. The seat was retained by the incumbent, Democrat Gary Hart
. Callaway then served as the chairman of the Colorado Republican party and as head of GOPAC
.
A son-in-law, Terry Considine
, also a Republican, ran unsuccessfully for the Senate from Colorado in 1992, losing to Democratic (later Republican) Congressman Ben Nighthorse Campbell
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Early life and education
Callaway was born in LaGrange, GeorgiaLaGrange, Georgia
LaGrange is a city in Troup County, Georgia, United States. It is named after the country estate near Paris of the Marquis de La Fayette, who visited the area in 1825. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census...
, west of Atlanta. His grandfather was Fuller Earle Callaway. He attended Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
and graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. After his term in the Army ended, Callaway returned to Georgia to help his father develop and run Callaway Gardens
Callaway Gardens
Callaway Gardens is a resort complex located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, just outside of Columbus, Georgia. The resort draws over 750,000 visitors annually....
in western Georgia. The gardens are located near Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's famous Warm Springs
Warm Springs, Georgia
Warm Springs is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 478 at the 2010 census.-History:Warm Springs first came to prominence in the 19th century as a spa town, due to its mineral springs which flow constantly at nearly 32 °C...
retreat.
Career
Like most southerners of his time, Callaway grew up as a supporter of the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. In 1964, however, he ran as "Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
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...
" for a seat in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He won, becoming the first Republican elected to the U.S. House from Georgia since the Reconstruction era. Callaway gave up his House seat to run for governor of Georgia in 1966
Georgia gubernatorial election, 1966
The Georgia gubernatorial election of 1966 was held on November 8. After an election that exposed divisions within the Georgia Democratic Party , segregationist Democrat Lester Maddox was elected Governor of Georgia by the Georgia General Assembly...
, making him the first Republican nominee for Governor in Georgia since 1876. "Go Bo" was used as his gubernatorial campaign slogan, and some people unhappy with both major candidates (Lester Maddox
Lester Maddox
Lester Garfield Maddox was an American politician who was the 75th Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1967 to 1971....
was the Democratic candidate) would expand that to say "Go Bo, and take Lester with you". Callaway won a plurality over the segregationist Maddox in the general election, but a write-in effort in support of liberal former Governor Ellis Arnall
Ellis Arnall
Ellis Gibbs Arnall was an American politician, a progressive Democrat who served as the 69th Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1943 to 1947.-Education:...
denied Callaway a majority of votes. Under Georgia's election law then in effect, the state legislature was required to select a governor from the two candidates with the most votes. Dominated overwhelmingly by Democrats, the legislature selected Maddox.
Callaway moved to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in the 1970s. He served as Secretary of the Army
United States Secretary of the Army
The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official within the Department of Defense of the United States of America with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and...
from 1973 to 1975 and as Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
's first campaign manager in 1976. Callaway was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1980, losing to challenger Mary Buchanan. The seat was retained by the incumbent, Democrat Gary Hart
Gary Hart
Gary Hart is an American politician, lawyer, author, professor and commentator. He served as a Democratic Senator representing Colorado , and ran in the U.S...
. Callaway then served as the chairman of the Colorado Republican party and as head of GOPAC
GOPAC
GOPAC is a Republican state and local political training organization. Although often thought of as a PAC, or Political Action Committee, it is actually a 527 organization. It describes itself as "the premier training organization for Republican candidates in elected office on the state and local...
.
A son-in-law, Terry Considine
Terry Considine
Terry Considine is the CEO of AIMCO, an American real estate investment trust that he helped found through various acquisitions and mergers. He attended Harvard University for his undergraduate degree and later returned to Harvard for law school...
, also a Republican, ran unsuccessfully for the Senate from Colorado in 1992, losing to Democratic (later Republican) Congressman Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Benjamin Nighthorse Campbell is an American politician. He was a U.S. Senator from Colorado from 1993 until 2005 and was during his tenure the only American Indian serving in the U.S. Congress. Campbell was a three term U.S. Representative from 1987 to 1993, when he was sworn into office as a...
.