Nov. 4, 1882 – Jan. 1970
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF
ARKANSAS---Page 1138-1139
Contributed by: Charles I
"Chuck" Gipson,
Dardanelle AR, whose wife is a Womack.
R. E. WOMACK
There is no doubt that
the teacher is one of the most important forces in the progress of the world and
the successful teacher deserves the respect and honor of all friends of
humanity. R. E. Womack, superintendent of the public schools of Conway,
Arkansas, is a conscientious and progressive educator and deserves prominent
mention in a work relating to Arkansas and the men who have contributed in a
large way to its development.
Mr. Womack is a native of
this state, his birth having occurred in Benton county, on the 4th of November,
1882, a son of James W. and Elizabeth (Gamble) Womack. His paternal grandfather,
Richard Womack, was born in Tennessee in 1819 and was a successful farmer and a
large slave owner. He came to Arkansas in 1855, making the trip overland and
passing through the states of Kentucky and Missouri. Many privations were
suffered by the family and two of his children died during the trip. They were
buried by the roadside. On reaching Arkansas he located on a tract of timber
land the greater part of which he cleared himself. He was one of the first
settlers in Benton County. During the Civil War the log house that he had built
on the homestead was burned to the ground and the family lived in the
smoke-house until the period of civil strife came to an end. Federal soldiers camped on his land throughout the period and
they plundered his home and destroyed his crops. He had three sons in the war,
Bransford, William, and Martin. Bransford and Martin were in active service for
four years. Grandfather Womack resumed the cultivation of his land after the war
and resided thereon until his demise, which occurred suddenly when on a visit in
Fort Smith. His son carried the remains back to Benton County in a wagon, the
journey requiring two days. Mr. Womack not only engaged in general farming but
set out a nursery on his place and sold fruit trees all over the state and into
Kansas. He contributed land, lumber and most of the work for the building of the
Center Point Church in Benton County and he was in every way an exemplary
citizen. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
and his political allegiance was given to the democratic party. Alexander
Gamble, the maternal grandfather, was born in Alabama in 1819 and sometime in
the 30's he came to Arkansas with his widowed mother. He entered land and taught
school in the country schools near his home. He was ordained a minister in the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church but never held any charge. He served as county
asessor for several terms and was never known to make a speech in his own
behalf. He was also a clerk in the county offices for several years, in addition
to farming. Grandfather Gamble was also one of the pioneers of Benton County and
a prominent figure in both public and private life. He died when seventy-five
years of age. James W. Womack, the
father of R.E.Womack, whose name introduces this review, was a native of Wilson
County, Tennessee, where his birth occurred in 1849. He was but six years of age
when he came with his parents to Arkansas and he received his education in the
log schoolhouses of Benton County. In later life he engaged in farming,
specializing in fruit farming, and he has achieved substantial success.
He is now living retired but still owns his farm, from which he rerives a
substantial income. In 1868 he was
united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Gamble, who was born in Benton County in
1859, and to the union nine children have been born: Cora, the wife of F.M.Marr,
engaged in the canning business at Warrensburg, Missouri: J.P. superintendent of
schools at Jonesboro; Anna, now the wife of H.B.Good, a farmer near Centerton;
Ida, the wife of R.E. Lee, engaged in farming in Louisianna; John A., pastor of
the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Fayetteville; Stella M., a stenographer for a large concern in
Pueblo, Colorado; R.E., whose name heads this review; William V., pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at
Siloam Springs; and Luther, who died in infancy. The family was reared in the
faith of the Methdoist Episcopal Church and Mr. Womack has always given his
political allegiance to the democratic party, having firm belief in the
roiciples of that party as factors in good government.
R.E.Womack received his education in the common schools of Benton County
and in due time entered the prearatory department of the State University. He
graduated from the Arkansas University in 1909, with the degree of A.B. Previous
to that, in 1902, he had taught school and for four years was a teacher in
Columbia, Ouachita and Benton Counties. In 1909, after receiving his degree from
the University of Arkansas, he became a teacher of history in that institution,
where he remained as an instructor until 1917. In that year he became
superintent of the schools of Conway and has been active in that connection. In
1916 the Peabody College for Teachers at Nashville,
Tennessee, conferred upon him the Master's degree. Mr. Womack is tireless
in his devotion to the duties devolving upon him as superintendent of schools
and he is an earnest, energtic and progressive member of his profession.
In 1904 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Womack and Miss Mamie Boner,
who was born in Grainer, Missouri, in 1883, a daughter of Stephen Boner, who was
for many years a prominent farmer and stockman of Missouri but came to Benton
County in 1896 and took up fruit farming. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Womack
six children have been born: Lucile,
who is now residing at home and is a graduate of the Conway high school; Elma Lee, a student in the high school; Helen, attending the
junior high school; Hazel and Richard in the grade schools; and Edith, at home.
----------------------------
Womack, Richard Elwood
1882-
Who Was Who in America.
Volume 7, 1977-1981. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1981. (WhAm 7)
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