Kelly Bryant
Encyclopedia
Kelly Bryant served as the Democratic
secretary of state of the U.S. state
of Arkansas
from 1963 until his death nearly thirteen years later. He was one of three statewide politicians born in Hope
, the seat of Hempstead County, in southern Arkansas. The others are former Governor
and U.S. President William Jefferson Blythe "Bill" Clinton
and former Governor and presidential candidate Michael Dale "Mike" Huckabee
.
.
In 1964, when U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
and Governor Orval E. Faubus were elected, Bryant defeated the little known Republican
challenger, Charles R. Watson of Arkadelphia
, the seat of Clark County
in south Arkansas. Bryant received 389,295 votes (73.1 percent) to Watson's 143,263 (26.9 percent). Watson won only in often Republican-leaning Searcy County in the northwestern portion of the state.
In 1968, Bryant faced a stronger Republican candidate in Lynn A. Davis
, who ran on the Winthrop Rockefeller
ticket. Though Rockefeller narrowly won his second term, the Democrat Bryant defeated Davis, who would later be the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas and had been Rockefeller's choice to head the Arkansas state police. The Arkansas State Senate, however, refused to confirm Davis' appointment. Bryant received 320,203 votes (54.7 percent) to Davis' 265,510 (45.3 percent). Davis won thirteen of the state's seventy-five counties.
In 1970, Bryant defeated the Republican former State Representative
James Lee "Jim" Sheets of Benton County
in far northwestern Arkansas. Bryant polled 360,209 votes (62.3 percent) to Sheets' 217,752 (37.7 percent). Sheets won only in Searcy and Benton counties. It was a particularly Democratic year both nationally and in Arkansas, as newcomer Dale Bumpers
ended Governor Rockefeller's poltiical career.
In 1972, Bryant defeated Jerome F. "Jerry" Climer
, the former clerk of Pulaski County, which includes the capital city of Little Rock
. Bryant received 366,079 votes (59.4 percent) to Climer's 250,532 (40.6 percent). Climer won in only two counties, Searcy and his own Pulaski. In the campaign, Climer questioned why Mrs. Bryant was hired as a $11,500-per-year employee in the secretary of state's office. Climer had been appointed to fill the vacancy as clerk late in 1970 shortly before Rockefeller vacated the governorship. Climer, who has extensive credentials in the field of public administration
, served as an aide to two Arkansas congressmen and went on to establish two Washington, D.C.
-based "think tanks", the Congressional Institute and the Public Governance Institute.
Bryant won his first, third, and last terms as secretary of state in 1962, 1966, and 1974, respectively, without Republican opposition. No Republican held the office since Reconstruction until the election of Mark Martin, a former state representative from Prairie Grove (Washington County) in 2010.
Bryant was married to the former Elizabeth Sutton (February 19, 1912 - July 7, 1997), a native of Marianna
, the seat of Lee County along the Mississippi River
in eastern Arkansas. She was the daughter of O.C. Sutton and the former Florence Dorsett. Mrs. Bryant, like her husband, had resided for many years in Hope and Little Rock, where she worked in various capacities in the state capital, including the offices of the secretary of state, state treasurer
, and Arkansas General Assembly
. Mrs. Bryant graduated from the University of Arkansas
at Fayetteville
in 1934 and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha
sorority. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution
, Business and Professional Women's Club
, Arkansas Democratic Women, Junior Auxiliary, the Cosmopolitan Club, and the Arkansas Historical Society.
Mrs. Bryant died in a nursing home in Murray, Kentucky
, the residence of their daughter, Betty Bryant Brockway. The Bryants, who were Methodist, are interred in Memory Gardens Cemetery south of Hope.
Democratic 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...
secretary of state of the U.S. 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 Arkansas
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...
from 1963 until his death nearly thirteen years later. He was one of three statewide politicians born in Hope
Hope, Arkansas
Hope is a small city in Hempstead County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2008 United States Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 10,378...
, the seat of Hempstead County, in southern Arkansas. The others are former 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 U.S. President William Jefferson Blythe "Bill" Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and former Governor and presidential candidate Michael Dale "Mike" Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
.
Defeating four Republicans
Bryant was elected to seven two-year terms as secretary of state, Arkansas' principal record-keeping agency, which processes election returns. Usually the office attracts little attention from the public or the mediaNews media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
.
In 1964, when U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
and Governor Orval E. Faubus were elected, Bryant defeated the little known 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...
challenger, Charles R. Watson of 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...
, the seat of Clark County
Clark County, Arkansas
Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 22,995. The county seat is Arkadelphia.The Arkadelphia Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Clark County.-Geography:...
in south Arkansas. Bryant received 389,295 votes (73.1 percent) to Watson's 143,263 (26.9 percent). Watson won only in often Republican-leaning Searcy County in the northwestern portion of the state.
In 1968, Bryant faced a stronger Republican candidate in Lynn A. Davis
Lynn A. Davis
Lynn Arthur Davis is a retired attorney in Little Rock, Arkansas, who lectures and writes nonfiction crime thrillers based on his past law enforcement experiences. He is a former agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, short-term director of the Arkansas State Police, and U.S. marshal for...
, who ran on the Winthrop Rockefeller
Winthrop Rockefeller
Winthrop Rockefeller was a politician and philanthropist who served as the first Republican Governor of Arkansas since Reconstruction. He was a third-generation member of the Rockefeller family.-Early life:...
ticket. Though Rockefeller narrowly won his second term, the Democrat Bryant defeated Davis, who would later be the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas and had been Rockefeller's choice to head the Arkansas state police. The Arkansas State Senate, however, refused to confirm Davis' appointment. Bryant received 320,203 votes (54.7 percent) to Davis' 265,510 (45.3 percent). Davis won thirteen of the state's seventy-five counties.
In 1970, Bryant defeated the Republican former State Representative
Arkansas House of Representatives
The Arkansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the state. Each district has an average population of 26,734...
James Lee "Jim" Sheets of Benton County
Benton County, Arkansas
Benton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, the population was 153,406. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 population is 221,339. The county seat is Bentonville. Benton County was formed on 30 September 1836 and was named after Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S...
in far northwestern Arkansas. Bryant polled 360,209 votes (62.3 percent) to Sheets' 217,752 (37.7 percent). Sheets won only in Searcy and Benton counties. It was a particularly Democratic year both nationally and in Arkansas, as newcomer Dale Bumpers
Dale Bumpers
Dale Leon Bumpers is an American politician who served as the 38th Governor of Arkansas from 1971 to 1975; and then in the United States Senate from 1975 until his retirement in January 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Senator Bumpers is currently counsel at the Washington, D.C...
ended Governor Rockefeller's poltiical career.
In 1972, Bryant defeated Jerome F. "Jerry" Climer
Jerry Climer
Jerome Francis Climer, known as Jerry Climer , is the founder of two Washington, D.C.-based "think tanks", the Congressional Institute and the Public Governance Institute, which were established in 1987 and 2001, respectively...
, the former clerk of Pulaski County, which includes the capital city of Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. Bryant received 366,079 votes (59.4 percent) to Climer's 250,532 (40.6 percent). Climer won in only two counties, Searcy and his own Pulaski. In the campaign, Climer questioned why Mrs. Bryant was hired as a $11,500-per-year employee in the secretary of state's office. Climer had been appointed to fill the vacancy as clerk late in 1970 shortly before Rockefeller vacated the governorship. Climer, who has extensive credentials in the field of public administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
, served as an aide to two Arkansas congressmen and went on to establish two 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....
-based "think tanks", the Congressional Institute and the Public Governance Institute.
Bryant won his first, third, and last terms as secretary of state in 1962, 1966, and 1974, respectively, without Republican opposition. No Republican held the office since Reconstruction until the election of Mark Martin, a former state representative from Prairie Grove (Washington County) in 2010.
Personal life
Marianna, Arkansas
Marianna is a city in and the county seat of Lee County, Arkansas, United States, along the L'Anguille River. The community was established by Col. Walter H. Otey in 1848 and was known as Walnut Ridge until 1852 when it became known as Marianna...
, the seat of Lee County along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in eastern Arkansas. She was the daughter of O.C. Sutton and the former Florence Dorsett. Mrs. Bryant, like her husband, had resided for many years in Hope and Little Rock, where she worked in various capacities in the state capital, including the offices of the secretary of state, state treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
, and Arkansas General Assembly
Arkansas General Assembly
The Arkansas General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house Arkansas Senate with 35 members, and the lower Arkansas House of Representatives with 100 members. All 135 representatives and state senators...
. Mrs. Bryant graduated from the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
at Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
in 1934 and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha
Zeta Tau Alpha
Zeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana...
sorority. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Daughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
, Business and Professional Women's Club
Business and Professional Women
Business and Professional Women's Foundation Business and Professional Women’s Foundation is an organization focused on creating successful workplaces by focusing on issues that impact women, families and employers. Successful Workplaces are those that embrace and practice diversity, equity and...
, Arkansas Democratic Women, Junior Auxiliary, the Cosmopolitan Club, and the Arkansas Historical Society.
Mrs. Bryant died in a nursing home in Murray, Kentucky
Murray, Kentucky
Murray is a city in Calloway County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 17,741 at the 2010 census and has a micropolitan area population of 37,191. It is the 22nd largest city in Kentucky...
, the residence of their daughter, Betty Bryant Brockway. The Bryants, who were Methodist, are interred in Memory Gardens Cemetery south of Hope.