Dennis Thornton believes it was his civic duty to run for Hot Spring County judge in 2016.
“I felt it was up to me to do things for the community,” said Thornton, 54. “I have been on the board [of directors] of the Central Arkansas Telephone Cooperative for several years and have gotten to know, and help, a lot of people in the rural communities. I love working with people, and when this opportunity to run for county judge opened up, I took it. It was my civic duty.
“I ran as a Democrat in the primary. I had opposition, but I won. I ran against a Republican in the general election, and I won that, too. The good Lord opened many doors for this to happen. I am happy and excited, too. I’ve never looked back.”
During his campaign, Thornton used the phrase “leadership, experience and family values” on many of his yard signs. When he announced his candidacy, he said he would “work diligently to advance the county in all aspects; have an open-door policy in order to hear from the people; and work with all agencies, including county, state and federal [agencies], for the betterment of all citizens of Hot Spring County.
“I’m excited about serving Hot Spring County. I’ve got the two best secretaries in the world — Barbara Key and Brenda Matthews — to keep me on the right path. I’ve been interviewing all of the department heads so I can know more about how the county government works.”
One of his first projects as county judge has been to apply for a grant to do some repair work on the county courthouse, which falls under his purview as county judge, along with the road department, 911 and the Office of Emergency Management.
Thornton spearheaded a team effort to apply for a County Courthouse Restoration Grant through the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Arkansas Department of Arkansas Heritage. The county will be notified in June if it has been awarded the grant.
Thornton said Hot Spring County is one of the six remaining eligible counties in the state that has not yet taken advantage of this grant program. He said county courthouses have received amounts from $14,000 to more than $800,000 in the past. There is no requirement for matching funds from the county; funding comes from money collected from statewide real estate transfer taxes.
According to information from the state agency, the current Hot Spring County Courthouse/Jail construction was started in February 1936, and the first court was held in November 1936. Charles Louis Thompson designed the current courthouse in the Art Deco design. The courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Thornton said architects and technical advisers have surveyed the building and identified reconstruction priorities as roof replacement; exterior stabilization and cleaning to stop leaks; and replacement of the building’s water, electrical and heating and air-conditioning systems.
“I think we’ve got a good chance of getting this grant,” Thornton said.
Thornton was born in Arkadelphia but calls himself a Bismarck native. He lives in the New DeRoche community.
“I lived on the same parcel of land until I was 20, and then I moved next door, where I lived for 10 years,” he said. “Then I bought property that backed up to it.
“I’ve driven down the same path for 54 years. I can’t think of anyplace I would rather call home than New DeRoche, just outside of Bismarck in beautiful Hot Spring County.”
Thornton, a son of Marcille Thornton of Bismarck and the late Gifford Thornton, has two brothers — Bruce Thornton and Gary Thornton, both of Bismarck.
Dennis Thornton graduated from Bismarck High School in 1980.
“I did not go to college,” he said.
“I went to work at Kroger in Hot Springs when I was 16,” he said. “I hired in as a junior in high school. I started out as a bagger. I spent 38 years with The Kroger Co., retiring as the MIC — manager in charge.”
He said he supervised more than 170 people on a daily basis.
Thornton and his wife, Glorie, who is the chief deputy treasurer for Hot Spring County, have been married 33 years.
They have one son, Ryan, 32, who is married to the former Nikki Phillips of Malvern. They live in Hot Springs, where he works for Triumph Fabrications, and she is a nurse at the Garland County Nursing Home.
“They have our two wonderful grandchildren, a boy, Park, 4, and an 8-month-old girl, Peri,” Dennis Thornton said. “They are the joy of our lives.”
Many who know Thornton may know of his love for music.
“I have spent a lifetime playing bluegrass music. I play mandolin, guitar and a few other instruments,” he said.
“I played with local bands through the years,” he said. “I played with the Cansler Brothers gospel group for 25 years, with Summer Harvest for 10 years and with the local band Posey Hill. I’ve also played with Southern Extreme and The Bluegrass Revue.
“I’m not in a band right now, but I do play and sing at church — DeRoche Missionary Baptist Church at Bismarck.”
Thornton said his family was musical.
“I can’t read music,” he said. “I play strictly by ear.”
Thornton said he has written a few songs.
“I’ve written one for my grandson called ‘That Beautiful Boy.’ I have recorded it. Now I’m working on one for my granddaughter called ‘Daddy’s Girl.’ I’ll record it, too,” Thornton said.
“I love to sing harmony. I never play a song the same way twice,” he said.
“I grew up singing church music. Church has always been a big part of my life. I taught Sunday School for many years. I spent many years teaching teenagers and young-married classes. I’ve also been a song director,” Thornton said.
“Over the years, I have traveled to several states in a circuit, played with a lot of people down through the years. I’ve played on the same circuit as the Dixie Chicks and The Cox Family, who are heard on the soundtrack for the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?” he said.
“I’ve met a lot of people who went on to be stars and recorded in the studios at Nashville. I always wanted to stay in Hot Spring County. Hot Spring County is the place I love. That’s why I ran for county judge,” Thornton said.
“I’m looking forward to the future of Hot Spring County,” he said. “I’ve got grandkids. … I want them to grow up here.
“I’d like to stay the Hot Spring County judge for a few years until I reach the point I can’t serve the county further. As I get closer to 65, I’ll think about retiring to the farm and raising cattle. I intend to enjoy life, … play a little bluegrass and take the grandkids hunting and fishing.”