Obituaries

Robert L. (Bob) McGinnis

Photo of Robert L. (Bob) McGinnis
Robert L. (Bob) McGinnis, 84, former Arkansas State Representative, left this world Dec. 23, 2015, after a hard fought battle with Alzheimer's. Bob was born April 25, 1931 in Rondo, Ark. to Robert Lee and Leta (Hunt) McGinnis. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Patsy McGinnis Bates. Bob is survived by his wife, Barbara Jean McGinnis, of West Memphis, Ark.; three daughters, Susanne (Phillip) Sorrell of West Memphis, Ark., Catherine McGinnis of Crawfordsville, Ark. and Ellen Speak of Heafer, Ark.; three grandchildren, Elisabeth (John) Calcote of Memphis, Tenn., Robert McGinnis Sorrell of Dallas, Texas and Alex Speak of Heafer, Ark.; and brother, George (Billy) McGinnis of Hot Springs Village, Ark. Bob was born and raised in Rondo, Ark., where he grew up on a cotton farm and graduated from T.A. Futrall High School of Marianna, Ark. in 1949. Bob attended Mississippi State University for two years and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Bob was also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and an avid Arkansas Razorback fan. In 1954, Bob married Barbara Jean Chadwick of Hughes, Ark.; then began service in the United States Army until December 1956. Stationed in Washington D.C., Bob served in the Signal Corp and completed his service as a 1st Lieutenant US Army. Bob began farming in 1959 and continued for 40 years raising cotton, rice and soy beans. Bob partnered with his brother George operating a cotton gin in the little town of Rondo. As a public servant and private citizen, Bob is best remembered for the good he accomplished in this world exhibited through his leadership and compassion for his fellow man. One of the most important achievements was his service in the Arkansas State Legislature representing District 97 from 1979 to 1999. Bob's many committee assignments were the Joint Budget, Agriculture and Economic Development, Higher Education and Oversight and Chair of Education Committee. He was also chair of the Advisory Council of Retirement, started Reading Recovery in Arkansas in 1990, and received the National Reading Recovery Teacher Leader Award in 1996. In 2000, Bob was appointed by the Governor to Co-Chair the Arkansas Blue Ribbon Committee for Education and in 2004 chaired the Joint Committee of Education Facilities. In 2006, Bob was honored as an Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame recipient. Bob served in various capacities on Cotton Incorporated for seventeen years and served as President of Cotton Board from 2008-2009. Bob also served on the Marianna School Board for 10 years and was the President for two years. Bob was dedicated to his church as was demonstrated by his participation in the First United Methodist Churches in Marianna and West Memphis. He served as lay leader of Forrest City District and taught Sunday School for many years. Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday Dec. 27, 2015 at First United Methodist Church, West Memphis, Ark. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to First United Methodist Church Marianna, Ark., First United Methodist Church West Memphis, Ark. or Alzheimer's Association.

Published December 26, 2015

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