Sterling R. Cockrill
Sterling R. Cockrill | |
---|---|
J. H. Cottrell, Jr. | |
Succeeded by | Hayes McClerkin |
Personal details | |
Born | Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. | April 7, 1925
Died | March 23, 2022 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. | (aged 96)
Political party | Democratic-turned-Republican (1970) |
Spouse | Adrienne Storey Cockrill |
Relations | Chester Ashley |
Children | Two daughters |
Residence(s) | Little Rock, Arkansas |
Alma mater | University of Arkansas |
Occupation | Insurance agent, government employee, urban planner artist |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Navy |
Battles/wars | World War II; Korean War |
Sterling Robertson Cockrill Jr. (April 7, 1925 – March 23, 2022) was an American politician, civic leader and artist in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Background
Cockrill was a descendant of the 19th century
Cockrill served in the United States Navy during the closing days of World War II and in the Korean War. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and joined the insurance agency owned by his father in Little Rock. Cockrill and his wife, the former Adrienne Storey, had two daughters.[1]
Political career
Cockrill was elected to the
In 1968, Speaker Cockrill had criticized Republican Governor Winthrop Rockefeller's proclaimed "Era of Excellence," as having never materialized.[3] In the spring of 1970, however, Cockrill switched affiliation to the Republican Party to run for lieutenant governor on the GOP ticket headed by the two-term Rockefeller, who sought a third-term in office.[1] He explained his party bolt in the pamphlet entitled "The Conscience of an Arkansan". Cockrill criticized the Democratic loyalty oath and accused the Democrats of being willing to "do anything, say anything, tell anything, create anything in order to win."[4] Cockrill won the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor with 88 percent of the vote over the politically unknown Gerald Williams of North Little Rock.[5] Cockrill replaced Lieutenant Governor Maurice Britt on the Republican ticket, who instead served as the Rockefeller campaign manager.[3]
Though they waged vigorous campaigns, Rockefeller and Cockrill were defeated by the united Democratic slate headed by
Riley attributed his victory to the Democratic "team effort" and accused Cockrill of having engaged in "mudslinging, character assassination, and hate emotions". Riley accused Cockrill supporters of having circulated "vicious statements about me" in African-American neighborhoods. Riley said that he still considered Cockrill a "friend" and hoped that the tactics he found so distasteful had been the work of GOP activists acting without Cockrill's knowledge.[7]
After the 1970 campaign, Cockrill did not again seek public office. From 1971 to 1978, he worked as an urban planner in the Little Rock office of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Cockrill was subsequently the executive director of several organizations dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Little Rock, such as Little Rock Unlimited Progress and the Metrocentre Improvement District.[1]
Later life
After retiring from those positions in 1990, Cockrill became an artist. He created
Cockrill died on March 23, 2022, at the age of 96.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d "Sterling Cockrill Collection". cdm15728.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ^ "Sterling Robertson Cockrill (1847–1901)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ^ a b Arkansas Democrat, November 3, 1970.
- ^ Sterling R. Cockrill, "The Conscience of an Arkansan", 1970 Arkansas Republican campaign pamphlet
- ^ Arkansas Secretary of State, Primary election returns, 1970
- ^ Arkansas Secretary of State, General election returns, November 3, 1970
- ^ Arkansas Gazette, November 5, 1970
- ^ "Stacey Bowers et al, Hall of Fame". syncweekly.com. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ^ "Sterling R. Cockrill". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved April 7, 2022.