Fact Sheet About Governor Ellis G. Arnall

Deceased:
1992

Political Career:

- Youngest Representative ever elected to the Georgia General Assembly
- Georgia Attorney General
- Governor of Georgia between 1943 and 1947

Accomplishments While Governor:

- Attaining accreditation of the university system
- Establishing a teachers' retirement system
- Creating a merit system for state employees
- Repealing the state's poll tax
- Reforming the state's penal system
- Lowering the voting age
- Paying off the state's debts
- Fighting discriminatory freight rates

Legal Career:
Co-founder in 1949 of Arnall Golden & Gregory, LLP with Sol I. Golden and Cleburne Gregory, Jr.

Quotes:

- When asked what he was proudest of during his time as Governor, Arnall replied "Spending more than 50 cents of every dollar on education. I believe in a free and open education."
- In connection with abolishing the poll tax, allowing even the poorest citizen to vote without having to pay for the right to do so, he said "Politics is the science of bringing people together on a common concept."
- While bringing widespread reform to the education system he said "Education is the cure for ignorance, poverty, and disease."
- Arnall's abiding faith in democracy led him to say "There is nothing wrong with government that democracy won't cure."

Additional Reading:
The Politics of Change in Georgia: A Political Biography of Ellis Arnall by Harold Paulk Henderson (University of Georgia Press).
The Governship of Ellis Arnall Georgia Historical Quarterly, vol. LXXIV, No. 4, Winter, 1990

Former Governor of Georgia Becomes Spokesman for the Independent Movement in Hollywood

Read about the 1948 events that brought Ellis G. Arnall into Hollywood as the president of the Society of Independent Motin Picture Producers. Excerpt from Hollywood Renegades by J. A. Aberdeen.

Ellis G. Arnall - Biography

The political career of the Governor of Georgia, which came to the attention of the independent producers of Hollywood. Excerpt from Hollywood Renegades by J. A. Aberdeen.

History of Arnall Golden & Gregory

The lawfirm organized by Ellis Arnall in 1949, while president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers. If the above link does not load properly, click here.

Ellis Arnall (1907-1992)

Additional biographical information with pictures of the "Boy Governor" who became the progressive leader of Georgia at age 35. If the above title link does not load properly, click here.

Georgia's Three Governors Controversy

In 1946, Ellis Arnall became involved in one of the most unique elections in the history of United States politics. [Archived link cordially removed at the request of the author and website creator.]

Ellis Gibbs Arnall Memorial

See pictures and read the inscription on the statue of the former Governor of Georgia. If the above link does not load properly, click here.

How Hollywood Reformed The Georgia Prison System

More information on the case of Robert Burns  in I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang. If the above link does not load properly, click here.

http://otrsite.com/logs/logm1041.htm

Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs provides cassette recordings of Ellis Arnal (as well as Eric Johnston) appearances on the radio series Meet The Press.