U.S. House Members Honor Hammerschmidt With Remarks, Moment Of Silence

The four members of Arkansas’ delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives took to the House floor for more than eight minutes Tuesday evening to honor the memory of former U.S. Rep. John Paul Hammerschmidt, who died April 1. He was 92.

Hammerschmidt was the long-time and popular Congressman of Arkansas’ 3rd Congressional District and one of only two Republicans to defeat Bill Clinton in an election. Hammerschmidt, a Republican from Harrison, defeated Democrat and popular U.S. Rep. Jim Trimble in 1966 to capture the seat. He held the District until retiring in January 1993, having worked with six U.S. Presidents. For most of his years in Congress, Hammerschmidt was the only Republican in the Arkansas Congressional Delegation.

In addition to securing hundreds of millions of dollars for critical infrastructure projects in the state, Hammerschmidt was an active legislative sponsor in creating the Buffalo National River area for inclusion into the national parks system. He began pushing during his freshman year in Congress to protect the river from plans by the U.S. Corps of Engineers to dam the river. His tough battle with the Corps was successful, and in 1972 the bill designating the river as part of the National Park Service was signed by President Richard Nixon.

‘GOLD STANDARD’
On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers and who holds the 3rd District seat, was the first to speak, and reminded the Republican-majority body that Hammerschmidt in 1966 was the first Republican in Arkansas elected to the House in 93 years. Womack also noted that during his 26 years in Congress, “John Paul never spent a single day in the majority, but he didn’t let that stand in the way of serving his constituents to the best of his ability.”

“He worked with all colleagues, Democrat and Republican alike, to our state’s benefit,” Womack said, adding that Hammerschmidt is also known for his “gold standard” reputation in constituent service.

After a moment of silence, U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, said Hammerschmidt was a “visionary champion for Arkansas’ conservative values in Congress,” and was a “supremely successful ambassador for his district, and in fact the entire state.”

U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, noted that one of Hammerschmidt’s most important actions was ensuring that the Buffalo River was the country’s first national river, and thus protecting it from a Corps of Engineers’ plan to dam the river. Hill also said Hammerschmidt was a close friend with former President George Bush. Hammerschmidt and Bush were freshmen members of the House in 1967.

“President Bush once said of John Paul, ‘He did something I could never do: beat Bill Clinton,’” Hill said.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, said Hammerschmidt was a “tireless advocate” for citizens on “both sides of the aisle.”

HAMMERSCHMIDT BIO
Hammerschmidt was born May 4, 1922 in Boone County, Ark., and graduated from Harrison High School in 1938. His family was in the lumber business.

He attended The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., in 1938-1939, and the University of Arkansas in 1940 and 1941. After his Congressional career, Hammerschmidt would complete a master’s program at Canbourne University in London, England.

During World War II, Hammerschmidt was a pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps and flew cargo planes over the famous but treacherous “Burma Hump” in southeast Asia. He remained a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves between 1945 and 1960. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying cross with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, three Battle Stars, the China War Memorial Medal (by the Republic of China), and the Meritorious Service Award. He retired from the Air Force reserve as a major.

His private sector work included being president of Hammerschmidt Lumber Co. in Harrison, president of the Arkansas Lumber Dealers Association, and president of the Southwestern Lumberman’s Association.

Hammerschmidt also served on the Board of Directors of Southwestern Energy Co., Little Rock-based Dillard’s, First Federal Bank, the University of the Ozarks (Clarksville, Ark.), and the Washington (D.C.) Metropolitan Airports Authority Board.

He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention in 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980 and 1984. His other political service includes being a member of the Harrison City Council.