Sid McMath, 91; 2-Term Governor of Arkansas
Sid McMath, 91, a former two-term governor of Arkansas, died late Saturday of heart failure at his home in Little Rock.
Born on a farm in rural Columbia County, Ark., McMath had moved with his family to Hot Springs by the time he was 10. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Arkansas.
He served in the Marines before and during World War II, and then began a career in public service. In 1948, he was elected to his first of two terms as governor.
In 1952, the same year he lost his bid for a third term, a commission was formed to investigate alleged irregularities in the state highway department during McMath’s administration. Although three members of his administration were indicted, McMath was never linked to any wrongdoing.
After leaving office, McMath went back to his law practice. He ran for U.S. senator in 1954 but lost. In 1962, he lost a run for the gubernatorial nomination against Gov. Orval E. Faubus.
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