Henry Macmillan Alexander was born in Jackson, Mississippi September 10, 1905. He earned a Β. A. degree from Davidson College, an Μ. A. degree from Princeton University, and a Ph. D. degree from the University of Missouri. Joining the University of Arkansas faculty in 1937, he taught as professor of Economics in the College of Business Administration, as professor of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology in the College of Agriculture, and as professor of Political Science in the Department of History and Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences. He served as chairman of the Department of Political Science from its creation in 1951 until 1966, when he became director of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Division of Public Administration.

Recognized as the leading authority on Arkansas state and local government. Professor Alexander served, at various times, as consultant to many govern mental, research, advisory and other agencies, including: the Little Rock Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, the University of Arkansas’s City Planning Division and Industrial Research and Extension Center, the Arkansas Constitutional Revision Study Commission, Legislative Council, Industrial Development Commission, Economic Expansion Study Commission, Highway Department, Office of Civil Defense, and State Chamber of Commerce.

Long an active advocate of reform in the structures of local and county governments, and in the state’s tax structures, Dr. Alexander published many reports, studies and articles on various aspects of government. His study in post-auditing led to creation of the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee. In addition, his textbook on Arkansas government, a unique work of its kind, has gone through several editions and is widely used in Arkansas schools and colleges.

In 1962, Dr. Alexander became the first University of Arkansas professor to receive the University Alumni Association’s faculty achievement award for research, A member of the Arkansas History Commission for ten years, Alexander also served the Arkansas Historical Association as its Secretary-Treasurer, 1944-1945, and as President, 1960-1961, In 1966, the Association presented him its distinguished service award.

Alexander died in Fayetteville on May 18, 1969.