Sam Harvey Boyce Sr.

Sam Harvey Boyce Sr., 81, of Newport, Ark., died Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Wayne Boyce Sr. and Sylla (Harvey) Boyce. He is survived by his wife, Jean; son, Sam Harvey Boyce Jr. and wife, Roxanne of Newport; son, Henry Harrison Boyce and Adrienne Freeman of Newport; daughter, Allison Boyce Hudson and husband, Dean of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; three grandsons, Harrison Boyce and wife Haley, Will and Joe Hudson; a great-granddaughter, Braylynn; brother, Wayne Boyce Jr. of Newport and a host of nieces and nephews. He was in the purest sense a loving family man. His professional life was focused on the practice of law and politics. He was an intellectual man who loved literature, religion, and history. He possessed great ability for conversation with all ages and walks of life and engaged himself prodigiously while entertaining others as an accomplished amateur magician. He was born Feb. 22, 1932 in Tuckerman, Ark. where he attended Tuckerman High School. At age 11, he was given a magic set and began performing shows at High Schools in the Tuckerman area in his early teens. Later in life, he would put on shows for his young children's birthday parties and as they grew older the "Boyce Family Magic Show" was created. The family performed numerous benefit shows for charity. His young grandson, Harrison Boyce, joined the act when he was in kindergarten. Along with his love for magic, his teenage years were filled with an avid interest in campaign politics. He attended The University of Arkansas in the 50's where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees. While in college, he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and served as its President. Between college and law school, he entered the US Army in 1954 and was stationed in Germany for two years where he wrote and directed segments of the Army public relations film series production, "The Big Picture." After the military and law school, he began his professional career in earnest by pursuing his interest in politics. In 1958, he took his first position in government in Washington, D. C. as Administrative Assistant to Congressman Wilbur Mills, Chairman of The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. While in Washington, he met his wife Jean Chambers of Lynchburg, Va. and they were married in Sept. 1960. He then decided to return to Arkansas to start his family and continue his political career back home. From 1960 to 1962, he served as Assistant Attorney General under Frank Holt in Little Rock. In the Spring of 1962, he made his first race for statewide office by entering the Democratic primary for Attorney General. After that unsuccessful bid, he returned to Jackson County with his family to begin the practice of law. In 1964, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the Third Judicial District and served for two years. During this time he continued his political ambitions for statewide office through the Young Democrats of Arkansas. In 1965, he ran successfully for the Presidency of that organization in a hotly contested and much publicized battle against Sheffield Nelson. Armed with the vigor of that victory he immediately began aiming for his next race. In 1966, Boyce entered the wide field of candidates vying to be the Democratic nominee for Governor. The race was eventually won by Republican Winthrop Rockefeller. At the urging of his beloved Aunt Clara Dowell, Boyce then retired from politics to focus on raising his family. In the next 45 years, Boyce would build a law practice and continued his interest in politics through local support of candidates and extensive involvement with the Democratic Party of Arkansas. He was joined by his son, Henry, in his law practice in 1990. In 1993, he made a comeback to campaign politics and entered a special election in a crowded Democratic field for Lieutenant Governor. Republican Mike Huckabee eventually won the race. Highlights of Sam's career in business and politics include appointments as Associate Justice of The Arkansas Supreme Court, election as President of the National Association of Social Security Claimant's Representatives and service to the Democratic Party of Arkansas as National Committeeman during the Clinton Presidency. He was also very proud of his acceptance into the International Brotherhood of Magician's "Order of Merlin." Probably best known for his voracious support for the Democratic Party, Sam enjoyed attending National Democratic Conventions. His first was in Chicago in 1956; five others followed in Los Angeles, Atlantic City, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles in 2000. He also loved Saturday mornings with his children in bed watching cartoons and those same Saturday afternoons eating junk food and watching old Tarzan movies. A true child at heart, he never lost his fondness for the Circus, which he was oft to claim he wanted to run away with as a boy. Friends may visit at Jackson's Newport Funeral Home, Tuesday evening, 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the First United Methodist Church Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 at 2 p.m. Entombment will follow in Gracelawn Cemetery at Tuckerman. The family requests memorials be made to the Newport Regional Food Pantry, P.O. Box 489, Newport, Ark. 72112. To leave a condolence, view the guestbook, or light a memorial candle, please visit our website at www.jacksonsfh.com Arrangements by Jackson's Newport Funeral Home.