Ingram, WM Council pay tribute to Bob McGinnis

Ingram, WM Council pay tribute to Bob McGinnis

Former legislator remembered for contributions to community

ralphhardin@gmail.com State Senator Keith Ingram was on hand at the West Memphis City Council’s March 17 meeting to pay tribute to one of the region’s all-time greats.

Robert L. “Bob” McGinnis, passed away just before Christmas last year, following a long battle with Alzheimer's. He was 84. Ingram, along with members of the City Council, invited the McGinnis family to the council chamber to accept a commemorative plaque in honor of the longtime fixture in the East Arkansas community.

McGinnis’ wife, Barbara Jean McGinnis, accepted the plaque on the council floor.

McGinnis was born and raised in Rondo, where he grew up on a cotton farm.

He and graduated from T.A. Futrall High School in Marianna before attending Mississippi State University and the University of Arkansas, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the latter.

Bob was also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and an avid Arkansas Razorback fan.

After a stint in the military, McGinnis began farming in 1959 and continued for 40 years raising cotton, rice and soy beans in a partnership with his brother George.

McGinnis spent two decades in the Arkansas State Legislature, representing then-District 97 from 1979 to 1999. As a state legislator, he served in many committee assignments, including the Joint Budget, Agriculture and Economic Development, Higher Education and Oversight and Chair of Education Committee and a stint as chair of the Advisory Council of Retirement. McGinnis helped start 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, he chaired the Joint Committee of Education Facilities.

In 2006, he was honored as an Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame recipient.

McGinnis served in various capacities on Cotton Incorporated for seventeen years and served as President of Cotton Board from 2008-2009. He 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.

By Ralph Hardin