Adkins is remembered as a skilled retail politician and a strong states' rights proponent and social conservative who served as governor during a period when Arkansas departed from several national economic and societal trends.

The former Ku Klux Klan member fought the post-World War II civil rights gains made by African-Americans and sought to organize a constitutional convention to restore the white primary after the Supreme Court's Smith vs. Allwright decision.

Derided as "Holy Homer" by opponents, Adkins' strong brand of social conservativism earned formidable opposition from moderates and more progressive politicians, like preceding governor-turned rival Carl E. Bailey, as well as pro-gambling interests in the Arkansas resort town of Hot Springs.

After leaving office, Adkins remained an influential voice in state politics, assisting later governors Sid McMath and Orval Faubus.

[1] Adkins began working at Snodgrass & Bracy Drug Company in 1910, graduating from the Little Rock College of Pharmacy in 1911 as a licensed pharmacist.

[3] Smith was a Red Cross United States Army nurse, and both were later stationed in France as part of the American Expeditionary Force.

[6] During his time at the Pulaski County Courthouse, Adkins would clash with Sixth Circuit Deputy Prosecutor Carl E. Bailey, igniting a feud that would impact Arkansas politics for the next several decades.

Under the system of political patronage underway at the time, Senator Joseph T. Robinson was responsible for rewarding supporters with statewide positions in Arkansas.

[10][11][12] As the New Deal agencies multiplied under the first 100 days of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency, businesses and individuals required more guidance to navigate the growing federal bureaucracy.

[20] Arkansas' longtime Senator Joe T. Robinson died on July 14, 1937, creating a large void in state politics and a special election to fill the remaining 5+1⁄2-years of his term.

[22] Having lost the Democratic nomination fight, a group of anti-Bailey forces tried to convince Adkins to run against Bailey as an independent.

[33] In the 1940 general election, Adkins defeated the Republican Harley C. Stump, the mayor of Stuttgart and a leader of the Arkansas Municipal League, 91.8 to 8.2 percent.

[citation needed] In his second term, Adkins signed into law a bill that would prevent anyone of Japanese descent from owning land in Arkansas.

[citation needed] In 1948, Adkins was appointed administrator of the Arkansas Employment Security Division, the agency responsible for worker's unemployment insurance.