Archie Newport

Archie Max Newport (1908-1968) was a bank president and manager of Cooper Stores in Oneida who served as the town’s mayor from 1939 to 1941.

See Also: Mayors of Oneida
Preceded By: Arnold Colditz • Succeeded By: C. Lee Smith

Early Life

Born July 17, 1908, Archie Newport was the son of Calvin C. Newport and Vicie Cooper Newport. His mother was a sister to prominent Oneida businessman H.F. Cooper. His grandfather, Eli Cooper, owned the City Hotel, which was located at the corner of Main and Depot streets where First National Bank’s main office would later be located from 1921 until the 1960s.

Newport was the oldest of six children. He married Reba Sexton, and they had two children: Daughter Visa Lou, born in 1937, and son Charles Max, born in 1943.

Business Contributions

Newport served as manager of Cooper Stores, owned by his uncle, H.F. Cooper, for nearly 40 years. He also served as president of First Trust & Savings Bank. (His son, Charles Max Newport, would later play a prominent role at First Trust & Savings Bank, as well.)

Newport was a second-generation banker. His father, Calvin C. Newport, worked at Robbins Bank & Trust Company, which closed in 1937. Later, C.C. Newport served as president of First Trust & Savings Bank from 1923 to 1953. He was succeeded by his son, and Archie Newport served in that role until his death in 1968.

Mayor of Oneida

Newport was elected mayor of Oneida in 1939, succeeding Arnold Colditz. He served in that role for one term, leaving office in 1941 and being replaced by C. Lee Smith.

It was during Newport’s term as mayor, in 1941, that the first Oneida city hall and jail were built. They were located on North Main Street, where the Scott County Senior Citizens Center is presently located. The city hall was used until a new building was constructed in the 1970s.

Death

Newport died suddenly of a heart attack on Aug. 16, 1968, at the age of 60.

Serving as pallbearers at his funeral were former Oneida mayors Arnold Colditz and Sam Blair.

Newport was buried at Cooper Memorial Gardens in West Oneida.