Odell Pollard

Odell Pollard (April 29, 1927 – March 12, 2015) was a lawyer and politician in Arkansas. He switched from being a Democrat to becoming a member of the Republican Party.^[1] In the 1960s, he chaired the Arkansas Republican Party.^[2] In 1967, he addressed the Urban League of Little Rock.^[3] He had a law firm in Searcy, Arkansas, and for many years worked to transform Arkansas from a Democratic stronghold into a two-party state.^[4] He was a liberal Republican and a close ally of Winthrop Rockefeller.^[1]

Odell Pollard
Chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party
In office 1966–1970
Preceded by	John P. Hammerschmidt
Succeeded by	Charles T. Bernard
Personal details
Born	(1927-04-29)April 29, 1927 Union Hill, Arkansas, U.S.
Died	March 12, 2015(2015-03-12) (aged 87) Searcy, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Other political affiliations	Democratic (until 1956)
Alma mater	University of Arkansas School of Law

He was born in Union Hill, Arkansas. He graduated from University of Arkansas School of Law in 1950.^[4]

Further reading

• “State GOP Elects Pollard Chairman, Hears Caution Plea.” by Mike Barrier Arkansas Gazette, December 11, 1966, pages 1A and 2A.
• “New GOP Chairman Was Once a Democrat, Never Voted That Way.” Arkansas Gazette December 18, 1966, page 24A.
• Agenda for Reform: Winthrop Rockefeller as Governor of Arkansas, 1967–1971 by Cathy Kunzinger Urwin, Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 1991