Harvey Crowley Couch, Sr. (21 August 1877 – 30 July 1941), was an Arkansas entrepreneur who rose from modest beginnings to control a regional utility and railroad empire.
He left school early to help with the family finances and assist his mother, the former Marie Heard, with his younger siblings.
His first paying job was to start the boiler every morning at Lum Barnett's cotton gin, for which he received 50 cents daily.
[2] After working in several clerical positions at local small businesses, Couch saw a newspaper advertisement seeking mail clerks; the pay was $75 per month, significantly higher than his then salary of $20.
Prior to working for Couch, lifelong friend and business attorney Hamilton Moses was a law partner of future U.S. senator Joe T.
[1] While still working on the Railway Post Office route from McNeil, Arkansas, into north Louisiana, Couch was exposed to the development of the long-distance telephone.
Believing he could earn money distributing telephone service, he formed a partnership with the postmaster of Bienville, Louisiana, Ben Cheen.
[2] After buying out Cheen's share of the business for $1,000, Couch and friend Dr. H. A. Longino formed the North Louisiana Telephone Company.
[2] His business interests in Louisiana brought Couch into political alliance with Huey Pierce Long Jr., the flamboyant governor and United States senator.
By the time North Louisiana Telephone Company had been sold, Couch was already exploring the possibilities of developing a similar interconnected electric utility system.
[5] The new system, a predecessor of Arkansas Power and Light Company (AP&L), became operational on 18 December 1914, providing Malvern and Arkadelphia with 24-hour electric service for the first time.
Under leadership of Couch, AP&L continued purchasing city utility systems and building electric transmission lines throughout Arkansas.
As demand for electric power increased, Couch began formalizing plans for hydroelectric development on the Ouachita River.
[6] As the electric utility industry continued to prosper and expand, Couch began to devote some attention to his earlier interest, locomotives and the railway.
[2] He created a syndicate of ownership and operators, among those, younger brother Peter Couch, assumed the role of vice-president and general manager.
In addition to his business interests, Harvey Couch contributed through a variety of public service roles, some of which were during times of national crises.
[9] Because the government set strict rules in paying back the federal loans, many applicants weren't granted project approval.
Three large projects that did receive approval took many years to generate jobs: the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge; the waterworks system of Pasadena, California, and the Colorado River Aqueduct to Los Angeles.
Couch bought equipment and decided to set up a radio station in his home state, "to advertise Arkansas and, incidentally, AP&L".
Listeners enjoyed the lack of commercials, but WOK became a financial drain on the utility company and required much employee time.
[16] In February 1940, Couch developed a severe case of influenza, but insisted on attending the Democratic National Convention that summer in Chicago even though he had not recovered.
[2] After several months of recuperation, he returned to Couchwood, his vacation estate near Jones Mills, between Malvern and Hot Springs.
At 11 a.m. on the day of his funeral at Lakeside Methodist Church in Pine Bluff, all trains on his railroad network halted their route for a minute of silence in his honor.
system, including the Southern Belle passenger train, which had 120 mph capabilities and air-conditioned compartments, were diverted to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to serve as a funeral train to carry Couch's body from funeral services in Pine Bluff to Magnolia for burial there in Magnolia Cemetery.