J. E. “Pat” Garner: Fort Smith’s Renaissance Cowboy (Garner-1)

John Edward "Pat" Garner was a radio broadcaster in the 1940s, speaking about the Arkansas war effort (World War II) and promoting his Fort Smith community. In 1949, Garner was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, serving four terms. He also served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1957 to 1961.
J. E. Garner as a young man
J. E. Garner at Hugo, Oklahoma, ca. 1915-1916

John Edward “Pat” Garner, son of T. E. Garner and Mattie A. Fergus, was born June 26, 1893, in Springfield, Missouri, and was reared in Hugo, Indian Territory [now Oklahoma].

Waddell School, Springfield, Missouri
Waddell School, Springfield, Missouri [J. E. Garner, upper right corner?], ca. 1901-1902
Garner had many interests in his life, particularly horses, an interest which he probably inherited from his father.  He was a promoter of horses in Fort Smith and served as editor and publisher of the Horse Market News. Garner also promoted the Arkansas-Oklahoma Rodeo and Fair during the 1930s with KFPW Radio Station public service announcements and other publicity.  He found a calling in radio as he used this medium in the 1940s to broadcast the Arkansas war effort (World War II) and promote his Fort Smith community.  The contacts he made through his radio career in the 1940s no doubt propelled him into the Arkansas State Senate and House of Representatives in the 1950s.

T. E. Garner with horses, ca. 1918
T. E. Garner (Garner’s father) with horses, Hugo, Oklahoma, ca. 1918