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Article: Orval E. Faubus Dies at 84; Six-Term Arkansas Governor
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- December 15, 1994
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Former governor Orval E. Faubus, 84, whose defiance of an order
to desegregate Little Rock's Central High School prompted President
Eisenhower to dispatch federal troops, died at home here Dec. 14. He
had spinal cancer.
A one-time hobo, Mr. Faubus rose from the backwoods poverty of
an Ozark Mountain hamlet to the state's highest office.
On Sept. 2, 1957, he ordered the Arkansas National Guard to
prevent black students from entering Central High despite a federal
court order. Nine black students were turned away the next day.
To the last, Mr. Faubus insisted he acted only to avoid the
violence he was sure would come with desegregation.
"I didn't know whether it would make me a hero ...