Ex-leader of Farm Bureau dies in wreck

1-car crash claims Reed day after UA System interview

— Farm leader, businessman and former U.S. Senate candidate Stanley Reed died in a one-car accident near Augusta on Friday, one day after he interviewed for the University of Arkansas System president position.

The 59-year-old Marianna farmer’s death shocked many Arkansas political and education leaders, who quickly sent their condolences.

Mark Waldrip, a University of Arkansas trustee, said he spoke with Reed at 8:30 a.m. Friday when Reed was departing Little Rock to buy farming supplies in Augusta.

Reed had stayed in Little Rock overnight after his interview for the UA System presidency Thursday, said Waldrip, Reed’s friend of 35 years. Reed was among four finalists. Ultimately, the board hired Donald Bobbitt, provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington, as UA System president.

“He seemed happier than he has in a long time,” Waldrip said of his Friday morning phone call with Reed. “... He told me he was completely at peace with the decision that was made and with himself.

“He was ready to continue on with his life, and he was looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren, and maybe not working so hard in the future.”

Arkansas State Trooper Kurt Zigenhorn found Reed dead in his crashed Cadillac Escalade one mile east of Augusta at 9:53 a.m. Reed’s sport utility vehicle left the road “without any evidence of attempting to brake or skid, crossed a ditch” and crashed into a tree 300 feet from U.S. 64, the ArkansasState Police said. A final investigative report won’t be completed until at least next week, authorities said.

HIS CAREER

Reed was president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau from 2003 to 2008 and had been involved with the nonprofit organization since 1987, when he was elected to the board of directors. In 2009, Reed announced he would run as a Republican in the 2010 U.S. Senate race, but he quickly dropped out, citing health reasons. On Thursday, in an interview with reporters at the UA System office in Little Rock, Reed recounted his regret for throwing his name in the hat for Senate.

“After a week of sleepless nights and elevated blood pressure, I knew that that was not the right decision for me,” Reed said Thursday while discussing his qualifications and interest for the UA System presidency. “I did not have the passion for [the Senate] job that I’ve got for this one. I’ve had perfect sleep and comfort about my decision to pursue this position.”

In preparation for his interview, Reed consulted UA System President B. Alan Sugg to discuss issues facing the university system.

Sugg has been UA System president for 21 years and will hand over the reins to Bobbitt by Jan. 1.

Reed and Sugg developed a friendship while Reed served on the UA Board of Trustees from 1996-2008.

“He is one of the most outstanding human beings I have ever known,” Sugg said.

On Thursday, Reed called Bobbitt to congratulate him on his new job as system president. He thanked Bobbitt for applying for the position and told Bobbitt not to hesitate to ask if he needed help with anything.

“His call last night really meant a great deal to me,” Bobbitt said on Friday, “and I had planned to take him up on that offer.”

Reed has far-reaching recognition across the state for his brilliance and compassion, Waldrip said.

Reed earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering in 1973 from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. In 1976, he graduated from the UA School of Law in Fayetteville, and his score on the state’s bar exam that year was the highest.

After practicing law briefly in the late 1970s, Reed decided to chase his dream of owning and working on a farm. It didn’t take long for his dream to come true.

Waldrip worked on Reed’s farm during the late 1970s and 1980s, surveying Reed’s cash crop. Reed owned and operated a 6,000-acre cotton and soybean farm in Marianna with his son, Nathan Reed. Waldrip said he and Reed shared an interest in farming, education and the Christian faith.

“Stanley was a person who made you better just by being around him,” Waldrip said. “He was a person who thought and functioned at a level that most of us aspire to.”

STATE’S LEADERS MOURN

News of Reed’s death spread quickly Friday, from the governor’s off ice to the far corners of the state, where the lifelong farmer was known for his years as a UA trustee and decades long devotion to the Arkansas Farm Bureau.

“Like everyone else, I was shocked to hear the sad news of Stanley’s death,” Gov. Mike Beebe said in a statement.

“He was known for his dedication and commitment, and his voice will be missed.”

Arkansas Farm Bureau members grieved as news of his death reached their offices and the Delta’s farming communities.

“Stanley Reed stood for everything that is good and just about this organization,” said current president Randy Veach, who was in San Antonio for a convention when he learned about the accident.

Friday afternoon, Veach issued a news release in which he praised Reed for his many years of service. Reed served as a member of the state board of directors for 21 years.

A lifelong farmer, Reed showed foresight and wisdom during the many years he worked for the bureau, Veach said.

“He guided our organization through a time of challenging change, particularly as we restructured our business interests to better support the needs of our membership. His legal background and awareness were vital during this process,” Veach said.

UA-Fayetteville Chancellor G. David Gearhart, also stunned by Reed’s death, praised the former UA trustee for his many years of service in various state roles.

“Jane and I are shocked and heartbroken about the tragic loss of Stanley Reed,” Gearhart said. “He served our state so well, for so long, and in so many ways. Whether it was in business, higher education, at the Capitol, or in civic and community life, Stanley got things done.”

U.S. Sens. Mark Pryor and John Boozman issued statements Friday afternoon.

“Stanley Reed was a longtime champion for rural Arkansas and farm families in our state,” Pryor said. “He will be sorely missed.”

Said Boozman: “Stanley Reed exemplified what it means to be an Arkansan through his love of Christ and his family, his service to the state, and his passion for all things Razorback. The state of Arkansas lost a true friend and champion.” Information for this article was contributed by Evie Blad of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Arkansas, Pages 11 on 07/16/2011

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