George Donaghey

George Washington Donaghey (born July 1, 1856 in Union Parish , Louisiana , † December 15, 1937 in Little Rock , Arkansas ) was an American politician and between 1909 and 1913 Governor of Arkansas.

Early years

George Donaghey attended the University of Arkansas in 1882 and 1883 . Among other things, he studied architecture and engineering. He then worked in many professions. He was a teacher, carpenter, architect and engineer. He built several courthouses in Arkansas and Texas . He built ice cream factories and roads in Arkansas. For the railroad, he designed water towers for refueling trains and stations. By the mid-1890s he was already a successful building and railroad architect. From 1901 he also worked on the construction of the new Arkansas Capitol, but lost this job again.

Arkansas Governor

George Donaghey was a member of the Democratic Party . This nominated him in 1908 as their top candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial election. One of Donaghey's main promises was the completion of the Capitol in the capital, Little Rock. The construction had stalled because of political and financial problems. After his successful election, he was able to take up his new office on January 14, 1909. After re-election in 1910, he remained in office until January 15, 1913. During his tenure, the award of convicts was stopped. The governor pardoned 360 prisoners, which was about half of all prison inmates of the day. Other focal points of his four-year term of office were health policy, school policy, the expansion of the road network against the background of the emerging automobile traffic and the further expansion of the railways. At that time, new hospitals and educational institutions emerged. The Capitol could still not be completed at that time. The project still failed due to political obstacles and finances. The building was not completed until 1917. Donaghey had received the order to do this.

Further life

After his tenure ended in January 1913, Donaghey became a member of the Education Committee in 1921. Between 1922 and 1926 he was head of the Board of Control of the Arkansas Charitable Institutions (President of the Board of Control of State Charitable Institutions). He continued to work as an architect and became chairman of a planning committee to build two bridges over the Arkansas River . George Donaghey died in Little Rock in December 1937, where he was also buried. He was married to Louvenia Wallace.

literature

Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

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personal data
SURNAME	Donaghey, George
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Donaghey, George Washington (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician, governor of Arkansas
DATE OF BIRTH	July 1, 1856
PLACE OF BIRTH	Union Parish , Louisiana
DATE OF DEATH	December 15, 1937
Place of death	Little Rock , Arkansas