Longtime Russellville attorney Alex Streett, who took on then-Conway County Sheriff Marlin Hawkins and an old-guard political machine as a young prosecutor, died Thursday morning, his son, Jimmy Streett, said.
Streett, who at 80 was still a practicing attorney after more than 50 years, died from complications from myelodysplastic syndrome, a bone-marrow disorder, said his son, who was also his partner in the Streett Law Firm.
Alex Streett was the elected prosecuting attorney from 1971 to 1982 for the 5th Judicial District composed of Pope, Johnson, Yell, Conway and Faulkner counties. It was during his time as a prosecutor that he relentlessly investigated corrupt election practices, indicting judges and Hawkins, who later wrote an autobiography titled How I Stole Elections.
"It went on for years and years, the institutional election fraud in Conway County run by the sheriff's office," Jimmy Streett, one of Streett's five children, said Thursday. His father "was one of the first persons to step up against it."
State Sen. Guy "Mutt" Jones of Faulkner County responded by introducing a bill in 1973 to split the 5th Judicial District in two, putting Conway and Faulkner counties out of Streett's jurisdiction. Then-Gov. Dale Bumpers, however, vetoed the bill.
"It was a real fascinating time," Jimmy Streett said. "It closed that chapter in the state's history."
Street's longevity as an attorney and political connections resulted in close relationships with some of the state's most influential politicians, including former Gov. and President Bill Clinton as well as former Gov. and U.S. Sen. David Pryor.
"I remember the first time I walked into Alex Streett's law office in 1974 when I was running for Congress," Clinton said in a statement released through the Clinton Foundation. (Stephanie Streett, Streett's daughter, is the foundation's executive director.) "From that day to this, I liked and admired him and found him fascinating to talk to about anything, from law and politics to family and the future.
"He excelled in every role he ever had -- public servant, lawyer, citizen, and family man," Clinton said. "I'll always be grateful for the friendship and unwavering support he -- and his family -- have given over so many years."
"I was so sorry to learn of the tragic death of Alex Streett," Pryor said in a statement released through The Peacock Group communications firm. "I've known Alex a long time, and I believe he is one of the finest lawyers and civil servants I have ever known. He will be sorely missed by his family, community and many friends. I feel very fortunate to have known him these many years."
Streett was a native of Camden and an Army veteran. After his completion of military service and undergraduate work at both Henderson State University in Arkadelphia and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, he received his law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1965 and began his law career as a clerk for Justice Paul Ward of the Arkansas Supreme Court, according to his biography on the law firm's website.
After his time as prosecuting attorney, Streett opened a private law practice in Russellville, through which he was involved in thousands of criminal trials, his biography said.
Metro on 04/26/2019