Tom Jefferson Terral

Thomas Jefferson Terral (born December 21, 1882 in Union Parish , Louisiana , † March 9, 1946 in Little Rock , Arkansas ) was an American politician and between 1925 and 1927 governor of Arkansas.

Early years

Thomas Terral attended the University of Kentucky . After a subsequent law degree at the University of Arkansas , he was admitted to the bar in 1910. He then practiced in Little Rock and worked as a teacher to improve his income.

Political rise

Like all Arkansas governors between 1874 and 1967, Terral was a member of the Democratic Party . Between 1911 and 1915 he was employed by the administration of the State Senate (Assistant Secretary of the Arkansas Senate). Between 1917 and 1921 he was Secretary of State in Arkansas. In 1920 he applied for the office of governor for the first time, but failed in the primary elections. His second candidacy in 1924 was successful.

Arkansas Governor

Tom Terral began his two-year term on January 13, 1925. During this time the governor reformed the administration. The number of government committees has been reduced from eleven (with over 60 members) to one with only three fully paid members. Some government departments were also merged to save money. The savings benefited the education system and the expansion of the highways. A large state hospital was built in Little Rock. At that time the first state-owned national park was created in Arkansas. Following a constitutional amendment, the number of judges in the country's Supreme Court was increased. In 1926, Terral applied for re-election. But it failed already in the primaries. His main opponent, John Martineau , accused him of bribery, but this has not been proven.

Another résumé

After the end of his tenure, Terral returned to his private interests. He returned to Little Rock as a lawyer. He died there in 1946 after a long illness.

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.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Terral, Tom Jefferson
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Terral, Thomas Jefferson; Terral, Thomas; Terral, Tom
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician, governor of Arkansas
DATE OF BIRTH	December 21, 1882
PLACE OF BIRTH	Union Parish , Louisiana
DATE OF DEATH	March 9, 1946
Place of death	Little Rock , Arkansas