SILOAM SPRINGS -- M.L. "Moose" Van Poucke, who served as mayor and the face of Siloam Springs for nearly a quarter of a century, died Thursday night. He was 82.
The former mayor was born in Chicago on Feb. 27, 1934, and worked for Jet Stream Plastics, becoming president after 10 years. He also owned Ready Mix Siloam Springs for a few years before moving into the banking industry. He worked at Arvest Bank before retiring about a year ago.
Van Poucke served as Siloam Springs mayor for 22 years and ran for state senate twice.
"I think he's probably by far been the most outstanding citizen that has come out of Siloam Springs in the last 30 or 40 years," said Bob Wasson, who has known Van Poucke since the two went to the University of Arkansas together.
Wasson said Van Poucke did as much as any one person can do for a community. From being the longest-serving mayor in recent city history to his involvement in church and volunteer groups, Van Poucke did it all, Wasson said.
"I don't know what more you could do," he said.
Wasson said when dealing with Van Poucke, one always knew where they stood with him.
"He had a lot of personality," Wasson said. "He looked you in the eye and told you what he thought."
Bob Gray, another of Van Poucke's college friends, agreed.
"He's an awful nice guy," Gray said. "He was a little bit gruff, but he really inside was not, and I can tell you that if I needed anything I would not hesitate to ask him and he would not hesitate to help."
John Mark Turner, Siloam Springs' mayor, was elected to the Siloam Springs Board of Directors while Van Poucke was in 2006.
"I learned that first of all, Moose really loved Siloam Springs," Turner said. "There's really no doubt about that."
In the two years he served with Van Poucke, Turner said he learned a lot about running board meetings and the duties of mayor. Van Poucke liked to make sure everyone on the board had a chance to speak and ask questions, Turner said.
"He understood the role of mayor and was a good representative to Northwest Arkansas and to Siloam Springs," Turner said.
Turner said Van Poucke was involved in city affairs even after he stopped being mayor. Van Poucke decided to get out of city government because of memory problems, according to a 2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette story. He worked closely with the Chamber of Commerce and always welcomed people to Siloam Springs, Turner said.
"It's a loss for our city," Turner said. "He's not someone you can replace easily, that's for sure. It's somebody we're going to miss. There's no doubt about it."
Van Poucke attended the University of Arkansas, where he had a football scholarship. Van Poucke met Nancy Stone while in college and married her after a short engagement in 1956. He graduated the next year. Van Poucke was a member of the ROTC and joined the Army after graduation, serving two months of active duty and seven years in the reserve. He received an honorable discharge as a captain in 1965.
He was named one of 10 Outstanding Young Men in Arkansas by Arkansas Junior Chamber of Commerce. Van Poucke was once the chairman of the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce board . The local Volunteer of the Year Award is named in his honor, according to a 2006 Siloam Springs Herald-Leader article. He was a 50-year member and former master of the Siloam Springs Key Lodge and a 33rd-degree member of the Scottish Rite, the highest level of Free Masonry.
NW News on 07/02/2016