Cliff Cheatwood

Cliff Cheatwood, 72, of Pine Bluff, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Born Charles Clifton Cheatwood March 23, 1944 in Lakeland Fla., he was the son of Robert Clifton and Ruth Evelyn Hall Cheatwood. As a military kid, Cliff was reared and received his early education in a few countries, including Germany, Japan, and England. He graduated from Lincoln Way High School in Mokena, Ill. He earned his bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University and his engineering training from Purdue University. It is hard to talk about Cliff without talking about his career with Arkansas Mill Supply. The two became synonymous over the years due his commitment to the company. Cliff Cheatwood began his career at Arkansas Mill Supply in 1970 at the young age of 26 after a successful sales career with Link-Belt Corporation. Cliff was hired as the manager of Power Transmissions initially. He became Sales Manager in 1976, Elected to the Board of Directors in 1978, made Executive Vice President in 1980, and President/C.E.O. in 1985. Cliff also served as Chairman of AMSCO Corporation which he later spun off as a successful Engineering, Design, Fabrication and Erection Company covering the entire United States. After his retirement from Arkansas Mill, He remained an active Chairman/C.E.O. of AMSCO. He played a key part in many roles throughout the history of Arkansas Mill Supply. He started the company's profit sharing program in 1973 which provided a structured retirement for Arkansas Mill's employees. He also purchased the first computer ever used at Arkansas Mill Supply. In 1985, as the new President, Cliff led the expansion of Arkansas Mill into the Little Rock market. Cliff felt it was critical that Arkansas Mill remain up to date with the latest technology. In order to keep Arkansas Mill on the "cutting edge" as Cliff referred to it, he drove us into the future with an Integrated Supply business model. In 1988, Cliff introduced more technology into the business with the first fax machine, only the second in Pine Bluff at the time. Cliff Cheatwood was always looking ahead and after proving that he could be successful in two markets, he drove Arkansas Mill to expand into Fort Smith in 1991, Rogers in 1995, and eventually Texarkana in 2005. He was instrumental in the building of the new corporate office in Pine Bluff in 1993. Cliff Cheatwood was the momentum… the engine that drove Arkansas Mill ever forward. This essential engine of Arkansas Mill was made the Chairman of the Board in 2007. He served on many different committees and boards through the years due to his experience and leadership qualities. As a Rotarian, Cliff was honored with the Paul Harris award. He also pioneered groups like I.D. One, a buying group which became Affiliated Distributors in 2000. Affiliated Distributors is now the largest buying group in the country with over $32 Billion in annual purchases. He served on network chairs and lent his knowledge with AD whenever possible. Cliff also served as the President of the Industrial Distributors Association from 1996 to 1997 and also served on the ARKCO board right up till 2016. He served as President of the Pine Bluff Boy's Club (now Seabrook), Past President of the Pine Bluff Downtown Rotary Club and an Honorary member of the West Pine Bluff Rotary Club, a United Way Contributing Pillar, member of Jefferson County Manufacturing Council, served on various committees for the Economic Development Alliance of Jefferson County and the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce along with so many others. In January of 2014, after 44 years of leading and nurturing Arkansas Mill Supply, Cliff eventually retired from Arkansas Mill. The really ironic thing about Cliff's beautiful story is that way back in 1970, when he first hired on… Cliff stated that he was hired on a two year contract to reorganize the sales force and he would be moving on to other opportunities. How glad we are that he got that part wrong. Cliff had a wonderful personal side that loved to collect old cars, in 1992, the family formed Gentlemen's Classics Antique and Classic Automobiles to manage Cliff's personal collection. He loved to fly, becoming a pilot in 1974, owning two private aircraft. While Cliff's accomplishments were many in the business world, he received the most joy and satisfaction from the successes, accomplishments and love of his wife, Kayla and his children and grandchildren. His retirement in 2014 gave he and Kayla the opportunity to travel and spend time with the children, and especially the grandchildren that he loved so much. Cliff was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Bobbie Diane Dorman. Survivors include his loving wife, Kayla Grimes Cheatwood, whom he married Dec. 18, 1964 in Robinson, Illinois; two sons, Rob Cheatwood and his wife, Stacy, and Cliff Cheatwood and his wife, Shaina, all of Pine Bluff; six grandchildren, Logan, Cody, Kathryn, Cliff, Kayla and Carley Cheatwood, all of Pine Bluff; two step-grandchildren, Jenna and Aly Parks of Pine Bluff; his beloved labrador retriever, Remmy; and black cat, Booger. Visitation will be Monday, June 20, 2016 from 5-7 p.m. at Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors in Pine Bluff, Ark. Services will be 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at First Baptist Church in Pine Bluff with Reverend Kenneth Thornton officiating. Graveside services will be 10 a.m., Thursday, June 23, 2016 at Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston, Illinois with nephews Jerry Sweeney, Justin Grimes and Scott Simms officiating. Charleston services are being arranged by Adams Funeral Chapel. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church 6501 S. Hazel, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and Jefferson County Humane Society, PO Box 2233, Pine Bluff, Ark. 71613. Charleston, Ill. Memorials may be made to Antioch Separate Baptist Church, Salisbury Church, Local chapters of American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.