Joe Purcell
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Joe Edward Purcell (born 29 July 1923) was the Democratic governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas for six days in 1979.
Joe Purcell was born in Warren, Arkansas. He graduated from Little Rock Junior College and served in the United States Army during World War II. He graduated from the University of Arkansas law school in 1952 and practiced law in Benton, Arkansas.
From 1955-1959 he served as a city attorney in Benton. He served as a municipal judge from 1959 until 1966, when he was elected Attorney General of Arkansas, where he served from 1967 to 1971. He was defeated in the Democratic primary for governor in 1970.
Purcell served as Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas from 1975 until 1981.
He became the acting Governor of Arkansas for six days in 1979 filling the unexpired term of then senator-elect David Pryor.
Purcell currently resides in Benton, Arkansas.
| Preceded by : David Pryor | Governor of Arkansas 1979 | Succeeded by: Bill Clinton |