Former NLR mayor William F. 'Casey' Laman dies at 98

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/RICK MCFARLAND--10/15/11-- William F. Laman, former North Little Rock mayor, talks with Dillon Leicht, of Conway, his great grand nephew, about his missing front teeth at the 50th anniversary celebration for the North Little Rock Animal Shelter in Burns Park Saturday. He was mayor and instrumental in getting the shelter built 50 years ago.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/RICK MCFARLAND--10/15/11-- William F. Laman, former North Little Rock mayor, talks with Dillon Leicht, of Conway, his great grand nephew, about his missing front teeth at the 50th anniversary celebration for the North Little Rock Animal Shelter in Burns Park Saturday. He was mayor and instrumental in getting the shelter built 50 years ago.

William F. (Casey) Laman, the former North Little Rock mayor credited with modernizing the city while governing with an iron-fisted style during 16 years in office, died early Monday. He was 98.

Laman , who died while in hospice care in Little Rock following a fall almost two weeks ago, served as North Little Rock’s mayor for four terms from 1958 through 1972 and from September 1979 through 1980.

During his tenure, he oversaw the development of Burns Park, the city’s first municipal hospital and its first public library (named for him), a city animal shelter, renovation of city electric and sewer facilities, a street paving program, the construction of a police and courts building, fire stations, a public health clinic and several community recreation centers.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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