Obituaries

Rudy Moore

Photo of Rudy Moore
Judge Rudy Moore, age 69, of Fayetteville died Thursday, April 11, 2013. He was born May 31, 1943, in Fort Smith, Ark., to Louise Burrow Moore and Rudy Moore, Sr. Rudy graduated from Springdale High School and received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Southern Methodist University in 1965, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and was named a 1966 Rotary Foundation Fellow at American University in Cairo, Egypt. He received his Juris Doctorate in 1969 from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Rudy was known for his sharp mind, quick wit, sincerity, sound judgment, and his commitment to community and family. At the age of 27, Rudy was elected to represent Washington County in the Arkansas House of Representatives, where he served from 1971 to 1975. In 1978, Rudy served as the Campaign Manager for Bill Clinton's successful gubernatorial campaign, and served as Governor Clinton's Chief of Staff and Senior Executive Assistant from 1979 to 1981. He was a strong advocate for public schools and higher education, serving on the Fayetteville Board of Education from 1978 through 1984, and thereafter as the Board's attorney and as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of School Attorneys. From 1976 through 1992, Moore served as a Lecturer at the University of Arkansas, teaching courses in State and Local Government, Constitutional Law, American National Government, and Administrative Law; and in 1994 he was an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at the University of Arkansas School of Law. Rudy was a respected jurist, serving the people for 22 years as Fayetteville District Judge. When he met people, and they invariably asked what he did for a living, the answer was never that he was an attorney or a judge, but rather he would proudly reply, "I work for the City of Fayetteville." This week, President Bill Clinton said, "Even as a young man, Rudy Moore was strong, smart, funny and fair. And he got better with age, never losing his enthusiasm for good causes, but growing in wisdom and judgment. He was much loved and will be sorely missed. I will always be grateful for the work we did together and the decades of friendship we shared." Rudy is survived by his wife, Rhonda Williams Moore; one daughter, Kristen Clark (Kristy) of Columbia, Missouri; two sons, Jason Moore of Los Angeles, California and Ross Clark (Melissa) of Fayetteville; one sister, Margaret Whillock of Little Rock; one granddaughter, Elley Clark; and two grandsons, Caden Stevens and Koby Stevens. He was preceded in death by his son, Matthew Moore, and one sister, Patricia Lomax. A memorial celebration was held on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the Fayetteville High School Performing Arts Center under the direction of Moore's Chapel. Memorials may be made to: Fayetteville Public Education Foundation, P.O. Box 871, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72702 – Matthew Moore Memorial Grant Fund.

Published April 14, 2013

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