John Paul Hammerschmidt dies at 92

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/WILLIAM MOORE
From right, former U.S. Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt, former U.S. Senator and Arkansas Governor David Pryor and University of Arkansas Chancellor David Gearhart laugh as they listen to remarks by Tom Dillard, Head of Special Collections (not pictured), during a ceremony to mark the opening of Congressman Hammerschmidt's public papers Wednesday, September 14, 2011 in the Mullins Library on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/WILLIAM MOORE From right, former U.S. Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt, former U.S. Senator and Arkansas Governor David Pryor and University of Arkansas Chancellor David Gearhart laugh as they listen to remarks by Tom Dillard, Head of Special Collections (not pictured), during a ceremony to mark the opening of Congressman Hammerschmidt's public papers Wednesday, September 14, 2011 in the Mullins Library on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.

Former Republican U.S. Rep. John Paul Hammerschmidt died Wednesday at age 92 at Regency Hospital in Springdale, son John Arthur Hammerschmidt said.

Born in 1922, Hammerschmidt won a race for Congress in 1966, taking office in January 1967. He spent 26 years in office serving the 3rd Congressional District. His constituents re-elected him campaign after campaign, including one in 1974, when he defeated a young Bill Clinton.

Hammerschmidt retired from Congress in 1993, but remained active in civic and state matters.

Read Thursday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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