Caple, Gus, 1893-1981

Lee Augustus "Gus" Caple was born 16 Jan. 1893 in Saline County, Ark., the son of Frank and Lela Rowland Caple. At age nineteen he moved to Little Rock and began work for the Hays Grain and Commission Company. Except for service in World War I he operated a grain brokerage business from 1916 through 1930. His career also included representing Marquette Cement Company and selling automobiles and insurance. He served one term in the Arkansas House of Representatives before becoming sheriff in 1940. During his three terms as sheriff he was president of both the Arkansas and National Sheriffs' associations. He did not seek a fourth term as sheriff. After leaving office Caple owned the Caple Tractor Company which he sold in 1961. He was a member of Trinity Methodist Church in North Little Rock, the M.M. Eberts American Legion Post 1, the Little Rock Lions Club of which he served as president, and the Scimitar Shrine Temple. He died on 28 June 1981 at the age of eighty-eight. He is buried at Roselawn Memorial Park.