Bo Callaway
Bo Callaway | |
|---|---|
| Born | Howard Hollis Callaway 2 April 1927 LaGrange, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | 15 March 2014 (aged 86) Columbus, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Years active | 1953–1987 |
| Known for | United States Secretary of the Army (1973–1975), U.S. Representative from Georgia's 3rd congressional district (1965–1967) |
Howard Hollis "Bo" Callaway (April 2, 1927 – March 15, 2014) was a prominent American entrepreneur and political figure. Originally affiliated with the Democratic Party, he transitioned to the Republican Party in 1964. Callaway represented Georgia's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1965 until 1967 and later held the position of United States Secretary of the Army between 1973 and 1975.
Life and career
Born in LaGrange, Georgia, Callaway was the son of Virginia Hollis and Cason Callaway, and the grandson of Fuller Earle Callaway. He completed his secondary education at Episcopal High School in 1944 before pursuing higher studies at Georgia Tech and the United States Military Academy, graduating with a degree in military engineering in 1949. Following his service in the United States Army during the Korean War, he returned to Georgia in 1953 to contribute to the development and management of Callaway Gardens, taking on the role of executive director that June.
In 1964, Callaway was elected as a Republican to Congress, becoming the first member from Georgia to represent the party since Reconstruction. His victory was part of a broader Republican upswing in the Deep South, influenced by Barry Goldwater's resonance with conservative voters.
Choosing not to pursue a second term in Congress, Callaway ran for governor in 1966. The election was notably fractious due to divisions within the state Democratic Party between segregationist Lester Maddox and former governor Ellis Arnall, who entered as a write-in candidate after losing the nomination. Although Callaway secured a plurality, he did not achieve an outright majority, leading to a decision by the Democratic-majority Georgia General Assembly. After legal disputes reaching the United States Supreme Court, the legislature's authority was affirmed, resulting in Maddox's election as governor.
Following his departure from Congress, Callaway was succeeded by Jack Brinkley.
Later career
During the 1970s, Callaway resided in Colorado. In 1973, President Richard Nixon appointed him as United States Secretary of the Army, a position he maintained under both Nixon and Gerald Ford until 1975, when he was succeeded by Norman R. Augustine. His term included controversy surrounding the reduction of Lieutenant William Calley's sentence related to the My Lai massacre and subsequent parole decisions.
Callaway acted as campaign manager for President Ford but resigned after accusations emerged regarding political interference intended to facilitate expansion of a ski resort; his role was then assumed by Rogers Morton. In 1980, he sought the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat from Colorado with backing from Senator William L. Armstrong, but was defeated by Mary Estill Buchanan. He later led the Colorado Republican Party as chairman until 1987.
Death
Callaway passed away on March 15, 2014, in Columbus, Georgia, at age 86 due to complications stemming from an intracerebral hemorrhage.