On March 3-4, 2023, the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) convened its 50th annual meeting at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Nearly 50 years earlier, the Department of Political Science at UCA, then known as State College of Arkansas, hosted the first meeting that resulted in the founding of the ArkPSA by political science faculty members in the state of Arkansas. What follows is some of the history of the 50 years of the ArkPSA, including information about the annual meetings, the individuals who have served in leadership positions in the Association, the public officials and scholars who have spoken at the annual meetings, the students and faculty who have been honored with the Association’s awards, and the scholarly achievements of the members of the Association.
We encourage anyone who has information or documents pertaining to the history of the ArkPSA – including conference programs, guest speakers, Executive Board meeting minutes, financial reports, newsletters, awards, constitutional amendments, newspaper articles, and photos – to contact Dr. Mark Mullenbach at markm@uca.edu. Copies or originals of information or documents may be mailed to: Dr. Mark Mullenbach, Department of Political Science, 201 Donaghey Avenue, 217 Irby Hall, UCA, Conway, AR 72035.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1974 – The 1st Annual Meeting of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) was held in the Student Center Ballroom at the State College of Arkansas in Conway on March 1-2, 1974. Nearly 40 faculty members from 14 Arkansas colleges and universities attended the inaugural meeting of the ArkPSA. Dr. Daniel R. Grant, President of Ouachita Baptist University, gave a speech on the topic, “Political Science in Arkansas: Problems and Opportunities”, during the Friday evening dinner at the Ramada Inn in Conway on March 1st. Dr. Grant earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Northwestern University in 1948, and he taught political science at Vanderbilt University from 1948 to 1970. Dr. Grant served as the 12th president of Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) from 1970 to 1988. Attending the dinner was Arkansas Lt. Governor Bob C. Riley, a faculty member in the political science department at OBU. Following the dinner, the Institute of Politics and Government in Little Rock sponsored a reception at the Ramada Inn.
The ArkPSA established four committees prior to and during the first meeting: Constitutional Committee – Tae Y. Nam (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) – Chairperson, Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. (University of Arkansas-Little Rock), Raphael Lewis (Philander Smith College), Simms McClintock (State College of Arkansas), and Robert W. Meriwether (Hendrix College); Curriculum Committee– Thomas J. Bellows (UA-Fayetteville) – Chairperson; Program Committee– Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock) – Chairperson, Kenneth D. Bailey (UA-Fayetteville), Bill Burns (ASU-Jonesboro), Charles D. Dunn (University of Arkansas at Monticello), and Elizabeth Hodge (Ouachita Baptist University); and Nominations Committee– Robert W. Meriwether (Hendrix College) – Chairperson, Thomas J. Bellows (UA-Fayetteville), Peter N. Kidman (ASU-Jonesboro), Tae Y. Nam (UA-Pine Bluff), and William C. Nolan, Sr. (Southern State College).
On Saturday morning, March 2nd, four faculty members presented research papers and four faculty members moderated discussions regarding each paper: Tae Y. Nam (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), “A Manifesto of the Black Student Activists in a Southern Black College Under the Integration Order,” (discussion moderated by Raphael O. Lewis of Philander Smith College); Afak Haydar (ASU-Jonesboro), “Rebuilding Problems in a School District,” (discussion moderated by C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State College); Dr. Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock), “Executive-Legislative Relations in Foreign Policy,” (discussion moderated by J. Maurice Rogers of ASU-Jonesboro); and Dr. Charles D. Dunn (UA-Monticello), “Recruitment and Role Perceptions of Political Party County Chairmen in Arkansas,” (discussion moderated by Kenneth D. Bailey of UA-Fayetteville).
During the organization meeting held later on Saturday morning, Dr. Robert M. McChesney, Chairperson of the Department of Political Science at State College of Arkansas, was elected as the Association’s first President. Dr. Peter N. Kidman of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro was elected Vice-President, and Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) was elected Secretary-Treasurer. The annual membership fee was set at $5.00 for faculty and $1.00 for students. For the first annual meeting of ArkPSA, Peter N. Kidman of ASU-Jonesboro compiled a directory of all political scientists in the state of Arkansas, including 83 faculty members at colleges and universities in the state and 15 other individuals (a total of 98 names in the directory).
Elected Members of the Executive Board of the ArkPSA, March 1974
(l to r): Thomas Bellows, Walter Nunn, Joel Anderson, Robert McChesney, Peter Kidman, and Tae Nam.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1975 – The 2nd Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the Sam Peck Hotel in Little Rock on February 21-22, 1975. Approximately 50 individuals attended the meeting presided over by Dr. Robert M. McChesney of the University of Central Arkansas. Dr. Peter N. Kidman of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Vice-President in 1974-1975, and Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1974-1975. Dr. Joel E. Anderson of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock served as Program Chair for the 1975 annual meeting. Dr. Evron M. Kirkpatrick, Executive Director of the American Political Science Association (APSA), was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on February 21st. Dr. Kirkpatrick earned his Ph.D. in Political Science at Yale University in 1939, and he taught political science at the University of Minnesota in the late-1930s and early-1940s. Dr. Kirkpatrick assisted a former student of his at the University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey, in establishing the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) political party in Minnesota in April 1944. During the 1940s and 1950s, Dr. Kirkpatrick worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and U.S. Department of State in Washington DC. Dr. Kirkpatrick, who served as Executive Director of the APSA from 1954 to 1981, was married to Dr. Jeane J. Kirkpatrick (who served as U.S. Ambassador to the UN from 1981 to 1985). The Honorable T. Ark Monroe III, State of Arkansas Insurance Commissioner (1972-1976), spoke about pending legislation in the Arkansas General Assembly during the Saturday luncheon on February 22nd.
Earlier that morning, Dr. Robert M. McChesney (UCA) convened the business meeting of the membership of the ArkPSA and delivered his presidential address. Tae Y. Nam (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), Chairperson of the Constitutional Committee, presented a draft of the Association’s constitution, which was unanimously adopted with amendments by the full membership. William C. Nolan, Sr. (Southern State College) and Charles D. Dunn (UA-Monticello), members of the Nominations Committee, presented the following nominations for Officers and At-Large Members of the Executive Board: Peter N. Kidman (Arkansas State University-Jonesboro) – President, Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock) – Vice-President, Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) – Secretary-Treasurer, Raphael O. Lewis (Philander Smith College) – At-Large Member (1975-1977), Diane D. Kincaid (UA-Fayetteville) – At-Large Member (1975-1977), William C. Nolan, Sr. (Southern State College) – At-Large Member (1975-1976), and C. Jeddy LeVar (Henderson State College) – At-Large Member (1975-1976). All of the nominations were approved unanimously. Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock), Secretary-Treasurer, reported a balance of $162.31 in the Association’s financial report.
Panel sessions were held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning during the 1975 annual meeting, including paper presentations by Donald E. Whistler (UCA), “The Apparent Impact of Watergate Upon Students’ Attitudes of Trust and Confidence in Government”; Kenneth Bailey (UA-Fayetteville), “Issue Salience an Political Awareness Among Children”; Mrs. Ursula Nunn Polk (UCA), “The Influence of Military Family Background Upon Selected High School Student Political Attitudes”; C. Jeddy LeVar (Henderson State College), “The Burger Court: A Quantitative Study”; Charles Chastain (UA-Little Rock), “The Court in the Political Process”; Terry B. Smith (UCA), “Primary Election Structure and Political Behavior”; Robert L. Savage and Richard Gallagher (UA-Fayetteville), “Regionalism in Arkansas Politics: An Empirical Typology of Arkansas Counties”; and Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. (UA-Little Rock), “The Constitutional Convention of 1917-1918.”
Dr. Robert M. McChesney (standing at podium) presiding over the
1975 annual meeting in Little Rock. Dr. Joel E. Anderson and
Dr. Charles D. Dunn are seated on the far right.
A meeting of the Executive Board of the ArkPSA was held on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Saturday, October 11, 1975. The Executive Board accepted the August 30, 1975 resignation letter submitted by Dr. Peter N. Kidman (ASU-Jonesboro), who had been elected as President of the Association on February 22, 1975. Vice-President Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock) was recognized as the President of the Association. Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) reported that the Association had $313.96 in its account, with 24 dues-paying members. The Executive Board authorized Dr. Joel Anderson to establish an ad hoc committee to review the Constitution of the ArkPSA. Dr. Charles D. Dunn (UCA) was nominated to serve as Chairperson of the Program Committee for the 1976 annual meeting. Robert L. Savage (UA-Fayetteville), Carolyn J. Zinn (ASU-Jonesboro), Tae Y. Nam (UA-Pine Bluff), Dale Enoch (Executive Director, Institute of Politics and Government), and John Zeigler were approved as members of the Program Committee. President Anderson nominated Walter Carr (Arkansas Tech College – ATC) as Chairperson of the Nominations Committee. Tom Slinkard, Diane D. Kincaid (UA-Fayetteville), William Echols (ASU-Beebe), and Merrill R. Pritchett (University of Arkansas at Monticello – UAM) were approved as members of the Nominations Committee.
Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr.’s (UA-Little Rock) manuscript, “The Constitutional Convention of 1917–1918,” was published in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly (volume 24) in Spring 1975. Dr. Terry B. Smith‘s (UCA) co-authored manuscript (along with Dr. James E. Piereson), “Primary Divisiveness and General Election Success: A Re-Examination,” was published in The Journal of Politics in May 1975. Dr. Kenneth D. Bailey (UA-Fayetteville) presented a manuscript, “Political Environment, Issue Saliency, and Systemic Support Among Children: Pre-Watergate/Post-Pardon,” at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) in Chicago in May 1975.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1976 – The 3rd Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas on February 27-28, 1976. The meeting was held in conjunction with the Arkansas Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA). Dr. Joel E. Anderson of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as President of the ArkPSA in 1975-1976. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1975-1976. Dr. Charles D. Dunn (UCA) served as Chairperson of the Program Committee for the 1976 annual meeting. Dr. Robert M. McChesney (UCA) served as Past President ex officio. At-Large members of the Executive Board included Raphael O. Lewis (Philander Smith College, 1975-1977), Diane D. Kincaid (UA-Fayetteville, 1975-1977), William C. Nolan, Sr. (Southern State College, 1975-1976), and C. Jeddy LeVar (Henderson State University, 1975-1976). Dr. John Manley of Stanford University spoke during the Friday evening dinner on February 27th. A well-known political scientist for several decades, Dr. Manley was the author of several scholarly publications, including the articles, “Neo Pluralism: A Class Analysis on Pluralism I and Pluralism H,” in the American Political Science Review (1983), “American Liberalism and the Democratic Dream: Transcending the American Dream” in the Review of Policy Research (1990), and “Marx in America: The New Deal” in Science & Society (2003). The Honorable Jim Guy Tucker, Jr., Attorney-General of the state of Arkansas, spoke during the Saturday luncheon on February 28th. Jim Guy Tucker earned a B.A. degree in Government from Harvard University in 1964 and a J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1968. He served as Attorney-General of the state of Arkansas from 1973 to 1977, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to 1979, Lt. Governor of the state of Arkansas from 1991 to 1992, and Governor of the state of Arkansas from 1992 to 1996.
Panel sessions were held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning during the 1976 annual meeting, including paper presentations by Clyde C. Jones (ASU-Jonesboro), “Status of Civics in Arkansas Public Secondary Schools”; Kurt Tweraser (UA-Fayetteville), “Senator Fulbright, Alternative World Order Futures, and the United Nations, 1943-1973″‘; Peter Vanneman and Allen Davenport (UA-Fayetteville), “The Sale of Arkansas Soybeans to the Soviet Union: Political, Legal, and Economic Problems and Prospects”; Afak Haydar (ASU-Jonesboro), “Lebanon: A House Divided”; Robert Johnston (UA-Little Rock), “Evaluating Change in a Part-Time Legislature: Arkansas, 1965-1975”; Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. (UA-Little Rock), “The Constitutional Convention of 1975 and some Remaining Constitutional Problems”; Donald E. Whistler (UCA), “Substantive and Procedural Norms of the Ways and Means Committee”; Nelwyn Davis (UA-Little Rock), “Comparative Study of the Arkansas House of Representatives”; Robert L. Savage (UA-Fayetteville), “Politics in Fayetteville: Gemeinschaft or Gesellschaft?”; and David Valentine (University of Arkansas at Monticello – UAM), “The Independent Voter: Myth or Reality”.
Dr. Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock) convened the business meeting of the membership of the ArkPSA on Saturday morning, February 28th. The following individuals were nominated for Officers and At-Large Members of the Executive Board: Charles D. Dunn (UCA) – President; Carolyn J. Zinn (ASU-Jonesboro) – Vice-President; Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) – Secretary-Treasurer; Merrill R. Pritchett (University of Arkansas at Monticello) – At-Large Member (1976-1978); and D. Beadle Moore (UA-Little Rock) – At-Large Member (1976-1978). The nominations were approved unanimously.
A meeting of the Executive Board of the ArkPSA was held at Sam Peck Hotel in Little Rock on Saturday, June 12, 1976. Members present included Charles D. Dunn (UCA), Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock), Diane D. Kincaid (UA-Fayetteville), Raphael O. Lewis (Philander Smith College), and D. Beadle Moore (UA-Little Rock). Robert L. Savage (UA-Fayetteville) was selected as Chairperson of the Program Committee for the 1977 annual meeting. Other members of the Program Committee selected were William Burns (ASU-Jonesboro), W. James Megginson (Garland County Community College), Henry Wilkins (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), and George W. Zilbergeld (Arkansas College). The Executive Board approved the establishment of the ad hoc Publication Committee to discuss the feasibility of the ArkPSA publishing a scholarly journal. Another meeting of the Executive Board of the ArkPSA was held at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday, November 13, 1976. Members present included Charles D. Dunn (UCA), Carolyn J. Zinn (ASU-Jonesboro), Diane D. Kincaid (UA-Fayetteville), Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock), Merrill R. Pritchett (UA-Monticello), and Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock). The ad hoc Publication Committee gave a report on the feasibility of and options for publishing the Association’s research papers. Discussion was held on the issue of presenting awards for the best papers presented at the annual meetings. Discussion was held on the issue of advocating legislation in the state legislature to require college students to take a U.S. government course. Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock) was appointed as Chairperson of the Nominations Committee. Other members appointed included Robert M. McChesney (UCA), C. Jeddy Levar (HSU), and Charles W. Hartwig (ASU-Jonesboro).
The manuscript written by Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar (Henderson State University), “The Burger Court, 1973-1974: New Horizons in Human Rights and Judicial Power,” was published by GPSA Journal (volume 4, no. 2) in Fall 1976.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1977 – The 4th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs on February 18-19, 1977. Dr. Charles D. Dunn of the University of Central Arkansas served as President of the ArkPSA in 1976-1977. Dr. Carolyn J. Zinn of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Vice-President in 1976-1977. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1976-1977. Dr. Robert L. Savage of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as the Program Chair for the 1977 annual meeting. Dr. Joel E. Anderson of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Past President ex officio. At-Large members of the Executive Board included D. Beadle Moore (UA-Little Rock, 1976-1978), Merrill R. Pritchett (UA-Monticello, 1976-1978), Raphael O. Lewis (Philander Smith College, 1975-1977), and Diane D. Kincaid (UA-Fayetteville, 1975-1977).
During the Friday evening dinner on February 18th, Dr. Norton E. Long (University of Missouri-St. Louis) spoke on the topic, “A Marshall Plan for Cities”. Dr. Long, who earned his Ph.D. in Political Science at Harvard University in 1937, was a well-known scholar in the fields of urban politics and public administrations until his death at the age of 83 in 1993. During his long career, Dr. Long was employed as a professor and administrator at several U.S. universities during his more than 50-year academic career, including Harvard University (1935-1939), Mount Holyoke College (1939-1940), Queens College (1940-1942), Western Reserve (1948-1955), Michigan State University (1955-1959), Northwestern University (1959-1964), Brandeis University (1964-1968), University of Illinois (1968-1969), University of Missouri-St. Louis (1969-1981), University of California-Berkeley (1987), University of California-San Diego (1988), San Diego State University (1989-1992), and Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1992-1993). From 1942 to 1948, Dr. Long worked for the federal government in the Office of Price Administration (1942-1946) and National Housing Administration (1946-1948). Among his many publications, Dr. Long wrote the seminal article, “Power and Administration,” for the Public Administration Review in 1949.
The Honorable William J. Clinton, Attorney-General of the state of Arkansas, spoke during the Saturday luncheon on February 19th. Bill Clinton earned his B.S. degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 1968 and a J.D. degree from Yale University in 1973. After an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974, Bill Clinton was elected Attorney-General of the state of Arkansas in 1976. He was elected to the first of several terms as Governor of Arkansas in 1978. From 1993 to 2001, Bill Clinton served for two terms as the 42nd President of the U.S.
Panel sessions were held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning during the 1977 annual meeting, including paper presentations by Peter W. Schramm (ASU-Jonesboro), “Citizen Alienation and Democratic Government: Alexis de Tocqueville’s Clarification of the Problem”; Jeffrey D. Wallin (ASU-Jonesboro), “Natural Right and National Prudence: Thomas Jefferson on the Abolition of American Slavery”; Donald E. Whistler (UCA), “Black Political Thought: What is it Now?”; Charles W. Hartwig and Samir Ghali (ASU-Jonesboro), “The Lebanese Conflict in Perspective”; Robert Monson (UA-Fayetteville), “Race and Political Development in the Caribbean: Nation Building in Corporatist Perspective”; James F. Willis (Southern Arkansas University), “The First Effort at Punishing Genocide: The Allies and the Armenian Massacres, 1915-1922”; Diane D. Kincaid (UA-Fayetteville), “Gubernatorial Appointments and Legislative Influence: Some Preliminary Observations”; Donald Leavitt (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), “Comparative Political Cultures: Arkansas and Minnesota”; Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. (UA-Little Rock), “The Office of Governor in Arkansas History”; and Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock), “Voting Behavior in Arkansas on Statewide Ballot Issues, 1964-1976”.
Dr. Charles D. Dunn (UCA) convened the Business Meeting of the membership of the ArkPSA on Saturday morning, February 19, 1977. In his presidential address, Dr. Dunn spoke about the possibility of requiring American National Government for all Arkansas college graduates. The members decide to postpone action on the issue until further study by the Executive Board. Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) reported that the Association had a balance of $475.17 in its account at start of the year. Dr. Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock), Chairperson of the Nominations Committee, presented the following nominations for officers and at-large members of the Executive Board: Carolyn J. Zinn (ASU-Jonesboro) – President; Robert L. Savage (UA-Fayetteville) – Vice-President; Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) – Secretary-Treasurer; Walter P. Carr, Jr. (Arkansas Tech College – ATC) – At-Large Member (1977-1979); and William James Megginson (Garland County Community College) – At-Large Member (1977-1979). The nominations were approved by the members. Carolyn J. Zinn (ASU-Jonesboro) appointed Charles W. Hartwig (ASU-Jonesboro) as Chairperson of the Program Committee for the 1978 annual meeting. Other members of the Program Committee selected were Glen W. Sparrow (UA-Little Rock), Kenneth D. Bailey (UA-Fayetteville), C. Jeddy LeVar (Henderson State University), and George Zilbergeld (Arkansas College).
Dr. Tae Y. Nam‘s (UA-Pine Bluff) manuscript, “A Manifesto of the Black Student Activists in a Southern Black College Under the Integration Order,” was published in the Journal of Negro Education (vol. 46, no. 2) in Spring 1977. In Ronald W. Walters & Cedric Johnson’s Bibliography of African American Leadership: An Annotated Guide (2000), the article is summarized as the following: “This article examines the germination of protest at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (formerly Agricultural, Mechanical, and Normal College) during the process of an imminent merger with the state’s majority white universities. Dr. Nam attempted to ascertain the motives and purposes of the students’ actions through intensive oral interviews with key activists. The main thesis is that student activism was a manifestation of an “identity crisis” and an effort to advance “self-imposed segregation” in Black higher education administration.” Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar‘s (HSU) manuscript, “The Nixon Court: A Study of Leadership,” was published by The Western Political Quarterly (volume 30, no. 4) in Winter 1977. The manuscript written by Dr. Robert L. Savage (UA-Fayetteville) and Dr. Richard J. Gallagher (City of West Memphis), “Politico-Cultural Regions in a Southern State: An Empirical Typology of Arkansas Counties,” was published by Publius: The Journal of Federalism (volume 7, no. 1) in Winter 1977.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1978 – The 5th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at DeGray Lake State Park near Arkadelphia on February 24-25, 1978. Dr. Carolyn J. Zinn of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as President of the ArkPSA in 1977-1978. Dr. Robert L. Savage of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as Vice-President in 1977-1978. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1977-1978. Dr. Charles W. Hartwig of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Program Chair for the 1978 annual meeting. Dr. Charles D. Dunn of the University of Central Arkansas served as Past President ex officio. At-large members of the Executive Board included Walter P. Carr, Jr. (Arkansas Tech College, 1977-1979); W. James Megginson (Garland County Community College, 1977-1979); Merrill R. Pritchett (University of Arkansas-Monticello, 1976-1978); and D. Beadle Moore (University of Arkansas-Little Rock, 1976-1978).
Carol Griffee (Arkansas Gazette), Don Harrell (Press Secretary to Governor David Pryor), and Cal Wasson (KAIT-TV, Jonesboro) participated in a panel discussion, “The Media and the 1978 Elections,” during the Friday evening dinner on February 24th. Dr. Jewell L. Prestage (Southern University in Baton Rouge) spoke on the topic, “Women in the American Political System,” during the Saturday afternoon luncheon on February 25th. In 1953, Jewell Prestage became the first African-American women to earn a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Iowa. Dr. Prestage taught political science and served as Chairperson of the Department of Political Science at Southern University from 1956 to 1989. In 1977, Dr. Prestage co-authored the book A Portrait of Marginality: The Political Behavior of the American Woman, with Marianne Githens. In 1989, Dr. Prestage was chosen as Dean of the Benjamin Banneker College at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas.
Several research papers written in 1977 on Arkansas government and politics were honored during the Saturday luncheon. The awards were sponsored by Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) and the Rose Publishing Company. Professor Diane D. Kincaid‘s (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville) paper, “The Arkansas Plan: Coon Dogs or Community Services,” was the recipient of the “Best Faculty Paper” award. Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) presented the award, including a check for $50.00, to Professor Kincaid during the Saturday luncheon. William Onopa‘s (University of Arkansas at Little Rock) paper, “Improving State/Local Relations in Arkansas,” was the recipient of the “Best Graduate Student Paper” award, and Adrienne Brietzke‘s (UA-Little Rock) paper, “The Issue of Appellate Review of Sentencing: Some Preliminary Findings from the States” was the recipient of the “Best Undergraduate Student Paper” award.
Panel sessions were held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning during the 1978 annual meeting, including paper presentations by Michael Kelley (UCA), “An Examination of the Relationship Between National Power and Imperial Success, 1870-1914”; Stanford McConkie (ASU-Jonesboro), “The Study of Public Administration”; Jack D. Jackson (State of Arkansas), “The Development of the Congressional Public Affairs Program”; Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr., Glen Sparrow, and D. Beadle Moore (UA-Little Rock), “Governor Pryor’s Arkansas Plan: Historical Perspective”; Charles D. Dunn (UCA), “The Impact of Amendment 55 on Quorum Court Membership in Arkansas”; Donald Leavitt and Henry Wilkins III (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), “The Arkansas Legislature: Patterns of Norms and Roll Call Voting”; Donna Hudspeth (ASU-Jonesboro), “Party in Office and Party Organization: The Arkansas Legislature and the Democratic Party”; Arthur “Art” English (UA-Little Rock) and John Carroll (University of Detroit), “Rules of the Game in a Constitutional Convention Setting: An Aggregate Analysis”; Peggy Gravning and Ken Bailey (UA-Fayetteville), “Relative Influence of IQ on the Development of Political Awareness in Children: A Longitudinal Analysis”; Adrienne Brietzke (UA-Little Rock), “The Issue of Appellate Review of Sentencing: Some Preliminary Findings from the States”; Susan Power (ASU-Jonesboro), “John Locke and the Rights of Rebellion, Resistance, and Opposition”; Donald E. Whistler (UCA), “Democracy in Principle and Practice Among Blacks”; Conrad Waligorski (UA-Fayetteville), “Efforts to Institutionalize a Right to Resist within Democratic Theory”; and George Zilbergeld (Arkansas College), “Equality and Experience”.
Dr. Carolyn Zinn convened the business meeting of the membership of the ArkPSA on Saturday morning, February 25, 1978. President Zinn reviewed the first five years of the ArkPSA, and she appointed an ad hoc committee to explore the possibility of holding a “social science” meeting with geography and sociologist professors in the state of Arkansas. A motion to establish an academic journal was adopted, including a provision authorizing the president to appoint an editorial review board. Dr. Charles D. Dunn, Chairperson of the Nominations Committee, recommended the following for officers and at-large members of the Executive Board: Robert L. Savage (UA-Fayetteville) – President; Charles W. Hartwig (ASU-Jonesboro) – Vice-President; Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) – Secretary-Treasurer; Robert W. Meriwether (Hendrix College) – At-Large Member (1978-1980); and Glen Sparrow (UA-Little Rock) – At-Large Member (1978-1980). The nominations were approved unanimously. President Robert L. Savage appointed the following individuals as committee chairpersons for 1978-1979: Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. (UA-Little Rock) – Program Committee; Carolyn Zinn (ASU-Jonesboro) – Nominations Committee; William C. Nolan (Southern Arkansas University) – Constitutional Revisions Committee; Glen Sparrow (UA-Little Rock) – Membership Committee; and Simms McClintock (UCA) – Awards Committee.
The ArkPSA Executive Board met on December 2, 1978. Members present included Robert L. Savage (UA-Fayetteville), Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock), W. James Megginson (GCCC), Charles W. Hartwig (ASU-Jonesboro), Robert W. Meriwether (Hendrix College), and Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. (UA-Little Rock). Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) reported that the Association had a balance of $491.65 in its account. Among other issues, the Executive Board discussed proposed changes to the constitution and nominations for officers and Executive Board members. The Executive Board also discussed Dr. Joel E. Anderson’s (UA-Little Rock) decision to conditionally accept (depending on the finances) the appointment as Chairperson of the Editorial Board of the proposed journal of the ArkPSA.
Dr. Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock) was appointed as Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1978. Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) replaced Dale Enoch as Executive Director of the Institute of Politics and Government (IPG) in Little Rock in 1978. The manuscript written by Dr. Robert L. Savage (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Policy Innovativeness as a Trait of American States,” was published in The Journal of Politics in February 1978. The manuscript written by Dr. Merrill R. Pritchett and Dr. William L. Shea (University of Arkansas-Monticello), “The Afrika Korps in Arkansas, 1943-1946,” was published in The Arkansas Historical Quarterly in Spring 1978. The manuscript written by Dr. Glen W. Sparrow (UA-Little Rock), “Arkansas Local Governments Begin to Take Control,” was published by the National Civic Review in November 1978.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1979 – The 6th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the Holiday Inn and Hendrix College in Conway on February 23-24, 1979. Dr. Robert L. Savage of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as President of the ArkPSA in 1978-1979. Dr. Charles W. Hartwig of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Vice-President in 1978-1979. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1978-1979. Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock served as Program Chair for the 1979 annual meeting. Dr. Carolyn J. Zinn (ASU-Jonesboro) served as Past President ex officio. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Robert W. Meriwether (Hendrix College, 1978-1980); Glen Sparrow (University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 1978-1980); Walter P. Carr, Jr. (Arkansas Tech University, 1977-1979); and W. James Megginson (Garland County Community College, 1977-1979).
Dr. Dan D. Nimmo, Professor in the Department of Political Science and College of Communications at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, spoke on the topic, “Politics and Media,” during the Friday evening dinner on February 23rd. Dan Nimmo earned his Ph.D. in Political Science at Vanderbilt University in 1962. Among his numerous authored and co-authored publications in the field of political communications at the time include Political Persuaders: The Techniques of Modern Election Campaigns (1970); Candidates and Their Images: Concepts, Methods, and Findings (1976); and Political Communication and Public Opinion in America (1978). The Honorable Steven Clark, Attorney-General of the state of Arkansas, spoke on the topic, “Reflections on Political, Administrative, and Academic Roles,” during the Saturday morning breakfast on February 24th. Steven Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Arkansas State University-Jonesboro in 1968 and a J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 1971. Steven Clark was elected Attorney-General of the state of Arkansas in 1978.
The following individuals were appointed as the Panel Moderators for the 1979 annual meeting – Robert W. Meriwether (Hendrix College) – Teaching Political Science to Undergraduates; Jeff Wallin (ASU-Jonesboro) – Political Theory; Norman Hodges, Jr. (Southwest Missouri State University) – Arkansas Government & Politics; Arthur “Art” English (UA-Little Rock) – Law & Society; Bill Galante (Arkansas Society of Public Administration) – Public Administration; Jane Fagg (Arkansas College) – Comparative Politics/International Relations; and Kenneth D. Bailey (UA-Fayetteville) – Political Behavior. Bill Galante was later replaced by Dr. Neil Snortland (UA-Little Rock), who was the President of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
Panel sessions were held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning during the 1979 annual meeting, including paper presentations by Charles D. Dunn (UCA), “Reaction to Reform: Arkansas County Officials Under Amendment 55”; Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr., D. Beadle Moore, and Glen W. Sparrow’s (UA-Little Rock), “The Arkansas Plan: A Case Study in Public Policy”; Arthur “Art” English (UA-Little Rock) and John Carroll (University of Detroit), “Continuing Constitutional Convention Activists: The Case of the 1970 Arkansas Convention Delegates”; Donald E. Whistler (UCA), “Hannah Arendt: The Foundations of Her Political Philosophy”; Mary Susan Power (ASU-Jonesboro), “John Winthrop: Charity or Covenant”; Stanford McConkie (ASU-Jonesboro), “Public Administration and Virtue”; W. James Megginson (Garland County Community College-GCCC), “Fiftieth Anniversary Reflections: Current Parallels to American Recognition of China in 1928”; Charles W. Hartwig (ASU-Jonesboro) and Samir Ghali (University of Nebraska at Omaha), “The French Connection: The French Role in Lebanon”; Kurt Tweraser (UA-Fayetteville), “Member Goals, Environmental Constraints, and Decision Rules: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Under Fulbright, 1959-1974”; Donald Leavitt (Southwestern/Memphis), “The 1978 Class Polarization of Electoral Politics in One-Party Arkansas”; Kenneth D. Bailey and Peggy Gravning (UA-Fayetteville), “Political Crisis and IQ in the Development of Political Orientations in Pre- and Early-Adolescence: A Test of the Environment/Maturation Questions on a Four-Year Longitudinal Sample”; Donald E. Whistler (UCA), “Future Black Elites’ Systemic Legitimacy/Effectiveness and Stability”; Denny Pilant (Southwest Missouri State University), “Reflections on the Administration of Municipally Owned Utility Systems”; Glen W. Sparrow (UA-Little Rock), “Metropolitan Reorganization: An Agenda for Future Study”; Myra Masters (UA-Little Rock), “Dilemmas in Arkansas Juvenile Law”; Donald Leavitt (Southwestern/Memphis), “Supreme Court Decision Making from Jay to Taney”; and Robert Berry (UA-Little Rock), “The Discrepancy between Official and Victimization Statistics as a Function of City Size”.
Dr. Robert L. Savage (UA-Fayetteville) convened the business meeting of the membership of the ArkPSA during the Saturday luncheon on February 24, 1979. Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) reported that the Association had a balance of $496.65 in its account. William C. Nolan, Chairperson of the Constitution Revisions Committee, submitted three proposed amendments to the Association’s constitution and two by-laws. Each of the items was approved unanimously. Dr. Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock) announced the membership of the Editorial Board for the Association’s journal: Charles D. Dunn (UCA), Daniel R. Grant (Ouachita Baptist University), Norman Hodges, Jr. (Southwest Missouri State University), Diane D. Kincaid (UA-Fayetteville), C. Jeddy LeVar (HSU), Carolyn Zinn (ASU-Jonesboro), and Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock). Simms McClintock (UCA), Chairperson of the Awards Committee, presented Kurt Tweraser (UA-Fayetteville) the “Best Faculty Paper” award for his research paper, “Member Goals, Environmental Constraints, and Decision Rules: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Under Fulbright, 1959-1974” presented during the 1979 annual meeting. Honorable mention awards were presented to Donald E. Whistler (UCA) and W. James Megginson (GCCC). Simms McClintock also presented awards for student papers written in 1978: Danny Richey (ASU-Jonesboro) – “Best Undergraduate Paper” and Mike Brown (UA-Fayetteville) – “Best Graduate Student Paper”. Carolyn Zinn, Chairperson of the Nominations Committee, submitted the following nominations for officers and members of the Executive Board: Charles W. Hartwig (ASU-Jonesboro) – President; Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. (UA-Little Rock) – Vice-President; Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) – Secretary-Treasurer; Gene Goss (Arkansas Oil Marketers Association) – At-Large Member (1979-1981); and Simms McClintock (UCA) – At-Large Member (1979-1981). The nominations were approved unanimously.
Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr.‘s (UA-Little Rock) manuscript, “The Anti-Evolution Law: Church and State in Arkansas,” was published in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly (volume 38) in Winter 1979. Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr., Dr. D. Beadle Moore (UA-Little Rock), and Dr. Glen W. Sparrow‘s (UA-Little Rock) manuscript, The Arkansas Plan: A Case Study in Public Policy, was published by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Press in 1979. Dr. Thomas J. Bellows‘ (UA-Fayetteville) manuscript, “Normalization-A Taiwan Perspective,” was published in Asian Affairs: An American Review (vol. 6, no. 6) in July/August 1979. Dr. Thomas J. Bellows‘ (UA-Fayetteville) manuscript, “The Vietnamese-Cambodian War,” was published in the Asian Perspective (vol. 3, no. 2) in Fall 1979. Dr. Charles W. Hartwig (ASU-Jonesboro) and Samir Ghali‘s manuscript, “France and the Lebanese Conflict,” was published in the Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies in Fall 1979.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1980 – The 7th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at Indian Rock Resort in Fairfield Bay on February 29-March 1, 1980. Dr. Charles W. Hartwig of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as President of the ArkPSA in 1979-1980. Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Vice-President in 1979-1980. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1979-1980. Dr. William James Megginson of Garland County Community College served as Program Chair for the 1980 annual meeting. Dr. Robert L. Savage of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as President ex-officio. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Gene Goss (Arkansas Oil Marketers Association, 1979-1981), Simms McClintock (UCA, 1979-1981), Robert W. Meriwether (Hendrix College, 1978-1980) and Glen Sparrow (University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 1978-1980). Dr. Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock) served as Editor of the Arkansas Journal of Political Science (AJPS).
Professor Robert A. Leflar (University of Arkansas School of Law) spoke on the topic, “The Proposed Arkansas Constitution,” during the Friday evening dinner on February 29th. The Honorable Raymond H. Thornton, Jr., a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, spoke during the Saturday morning breakfast on March 1st. Ray Thornton, Jr. earned a Bachelor of Art’s degree in International Relations and Engineering from Yale University in 1950 and a law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 1956. He served as Attorney-General of the state of Arkansas from 1971 to 1973 and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973 to 1979. He unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 1978, losing to Governor David Pryor in the Democratic Party primary election.
Panel sessions were held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning during the 1980 annual meeting, including paper presentations by Robert Johnston (UA-Little Rock), “Arkansas Electoral Patterns, 1960-1978”; Gail Ponder (UCA), “Political Campaigns in Arkansas: The 1978 Democratic Senatorial Primary”; Donald E. Whistler (UCA), “Democracy in Practice and Principle Among Students”; Conrad Waligorski (UA-Fayetteville), “The Context of American International Economic Policy”; Gene E. Bigler (Hendrix College), “Practical and Structural Barriers to the Expansion of Arkansas’ International Exports”; Gene Goss (Arkansas Oil Marketers Association), “Arkansas’ Energy Needs and Supply Potentials in the 1980s”; Rhonda Weaver (Office of Senator Dale Bumpers), “Arkansas’ Agricultural Exports in the 1980s”; Gary Smith (Arkansas Department of Economic Development), “Exporting Arkansas Products on a Practical Basis: The Experience of the Marketing Division”; Patrick Hollingsworth (UA-Fayetteville), “Public Education in Arkansas: A Brief Comparative Analysis”; Richard D. Roblee and Mark Schlesinger (UA-Fayetteville), “The Changing Influence of AP&L on Arkansas Politics”; Jannell Dillon (UA-Little Rock), “Constitutional Revision in Arkansas”; Clay Sloan (Arkansas College), “Campaign Contributions and Expenditures of 1978 Legislative Candidates in Arkansas”; Wesonga Isaac Luboti, Jr. (ASU-Jonesboro), “An Analysis of Kenyan Public Administration”; Dan Durning, “Implementing Change in a Public Organization: The Case of the City of Texarkana’s Public Safety Officer Program”; George Zilbergeld (Arkansas College), “Political Philosophy and Public Administration: The Problem of Welfare Reform”; Harry J. Hammer (UA-Fayetteville), “Improving Probation Administration”; Fred Jewell (Harding University), “The Evolution of the ‘Public Person’ Doctrine from New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) to Wolton v. Reader’s Digest (1979)”; Charles Chastain (UA-Little Rock), “The Effects of Jury Experience on Jurors’ Attitudes”; and Donald Leavitt (UA-Pine Bluff), “Attitudes on the Post-Civil War Supreme Court, 1863-1888”.
Dr. Charles W. Hartwig (Arkansas State University-Jonesboro) convened the business meeting of the membership of the ArkPSA during the Saturday luncheon on March 1st. Reports were given by the chairpersons of the Awards, Program, and Nominations committees. Conrad Waligorski (UA-Fayetteville), Chairperson of the Awards Committee, announced awards for research papers presented during the 1979 annual meeting. Dr. C. Jeddy Levar (Henderson State University) and Gayle Avant’s (Baylor University) research paper, “Arkadelphia Changes its Water Rate: A Learning Design,” was presented the “Best Faculty Paper” award. Mary Elizabeth Dobb’s (ASU-Jonesboro) research paper was presented the “Best Undergraduate Student Paper” award. Dr. Robert L. Savage (UA-Fayetteville), Chairperson of the Nominations Committee, submitted the nominations for Executive Board Officers and At-Large Members for 1980-1981: Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. (UA-Little Rock) – President; W. James Megginson (GCCC) – Vice-President; Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) – Secretary-Treasurer; James F. Willis (Southern Arkansas University) – At-Large Member (1980-1982); and Kurt Tweraser (UA-Fayetteville) – At-Large Member (1980-1982). The nominations were approved unanimously. The membership approved a recommendation by the Executive Board to increase the annual membership fee from $5.00 to $10.00.
The Executive Board held a meeting at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Saturday, April 5, 1980. Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. submitted the following appointments for committee chairpersons and members: Program Committee – James F. Willis (Southern Arkansas University) – Chairperson, Peggy Scranton (UA-Little Rock), Kenneth Walker (Arkansas Tech University), Donald E. Whistler (UCA), R. Lawson Veasey (UCA), Mary Susan Power (ASU-Jonesboro), Genevieve Mills (Arkansas Tech University) and D. Beadle Moore (UA-Little Rock); Clearinghouse Committee – Diane Kincaid Blair (UA-Fayetteville) – Chairperson, Robert McChesney (UCA), Charles Chastain (UA-Little Rock), Carolyn Zinn (ASU-Jonesboro), William C. Nolan, Sr. (Southern Arkansas University), and Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock); Nominations Committee – Charles Hartwig (ASU) – Chairperson, Walter P. Carr, Jr. (ATU), and Robert Johnston (UA-Little Rock); Awards Committee – Norman Hodges, Jr. (Southwest Missouri State University) – Chairperson, Robert W. Meriwether (Hendrix College), Stan McConkie (ASU-Jonesboro), and C. Jeddy LeVar (Henderson State University); Membership Committee – Mary Weiner (East Arkansas Community College) – Chairperson, Robert L. Savage (UA-Fayetteville), Arthur “Art” English (UA-Little Rock), Gene Bigler (Hendrix College), Darwin Gamble (ASU-Jonesboro), and Jane Fagg (Arkansas College); and Journal Editorial Board – Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock) – Chairperson, Conrad Waligorski (UA-Fayetteville), Charles D. Dunn (UCA), Kay Goss (Association of Arkansas Counties), Daniel R. Grant (OBU), and Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock). The appointments were approved by the Executive Board. The Executive Board also approved the tentative location, date, and speakers for the 1981 annual meeting. Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock), Secretary-Treasurer, submitted a financial report including proposed budget expenditures and expected revenues.
Dr. Robert L. Savage (UA-Fayetteville) and John P. Price‘s manuscript, “Regionalism in Two Southern States: An Exploratory Study of Intrastate Politico-Cultural Cleavages,” was published in the Arkansas Political Science Journal (vol. 1) in February 1980. Dr. Arthur “Art” English‘s (UA-Little Rock) manuscript, “Teaching Constitutional Conventions in Legislative Process and State & Local Government Courses,” was published in Teaching Political Science (vol. 7, no. 3) in April 1980. Dr. Gary H. Brook‘s (UA-Little Rock) manuscript, “Correlates of Progressive Taxation in the American States,” was published in the Journal of Political Science (vol. 7) in Spring 1980. Dr. C. S. Tai‘s (University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff) manuscript, “Trends in Japan’s Import Diversification: Some Quantitative Evidence,” was published in Asian Profile (vol. 8, no. 5) in October 1980. Dr. Neil Snortland (UA-Little Rock) and Robert D. Pursley‘s (UA-Little Rock) manuscript, Managing Government Organizations, was published by Duxbury Press in 1980.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1981 – The 8th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at DeGray Lake State Park near Arkadelphia on February 27-28, 1981. Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock served as President of the ArkPSA in 1980-1981. W. James Megginson of Garland County Community College served as Vice-President in 1980-1981. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1980-1981. Dr. James F. Willis of Southern Arkansas University served as Program Chair for the 1981 annual meeting. Dr. Charles W. Hartwig of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Past President ex officio. At-Large members of the Executive Board included James F. Willis (Southern Arkansas University, 1980-1982), Kurt Tweraser (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, 1980-1982), Gene Goss (Arkansas Oil Marketers Association, 1979-1981), and Simms McClintock (UCA, 1979-1981). Joel Anderson (UA-Little Rock) served as Editor of the Arkansas Journal of Political Science (AJPS).
The ArkPSA Executive Board held a luncheon meeting on Friday, February 27th. Reports were presented by Walter H. Nunn (financial) and Dr. Joel E. Anderson (journal). The committee agreed that the president should appoint a newsletter editor and a membership directory member for 1981-1982. Nominations for Executive Board Officers and At-Large Members for 1981-1982 were approved, including W. James Megginson (President), James F. Willis (Vice-President), Walter H. Nunn (Secretary-Treasurer), Gene Bigler (At-Large Member, 1981-1983), and Genevieve Miles (At-Large Member, 1981-1982). Dr. Daniel R. Grant, President of Ouachita Baptist University, spoke on the topic, “Political Action, Teaching, and Research: Which Hat(s) for Arkansas Political Scientists?”, during the Friday evening dinner on February 27th. The Honorable William Fewell “Casey” Laman, former mayor of North Little Rock, spoke on the topic, “Reflections on Local Politics,” during the Saturday morning breakfast on February 28th. William F. Laman was born to James N. and Anna (Fewell) Laman in Pulaski County on October 20, 1913. He attended Little Rock Junior College and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville during the Great Depression. He earned a B.S. degree in Botany and Chemistry from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in May 1939. He worked as a deputy assessor for Pulaski Academy, and he served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. After his military service, William F. Laman became manager of Laman Furniture Company. He served on the North Little Rock school board from 1949 to 1958 and as Mayor of North Little Rock from 1958 to 1972. Later, he served as a non-voting member of the North Little Rock Park and Recreation Commission, and he died at the age of 98 on April 16, 2012.
Panel sessions were held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning during the 1981 annual meeting, including paper presentations by Charles D. Dunn (UCA) and Lawson Veasey (UCA), “Influencing State Legislatures: A Typology of Interest Groups”; Denny Pilant (SWMS), “On Revolution: Aristotle and Arendt”; Susan Power (ASU), “Thomas Hooker and Eric Voegelin: Protestantism and Gnosticism”; Ladonna Cowart (Ouachita Baptist University) and Rex Nelson (Ouachita Baptist University), “The Use of Terrorism as a Weapon and Its Effects on International Relations”; Jeff Stahoviak (UA-Little Rock), “The UALR Citizen Survey and the 1980 General Election”; Dee S. Davis (Hendrix College), “An Examination of Resolution SA, Concerning the Apartheid Problem in South Africa, To be Submitted to the Security Council of the United Nations by the USA”; Sallie L. Laux (UCA), “Preferential Treatment and Reverse Discrimination”; Harry J. Hamner, “The Rehabilitation Act: Effects on Local Government”; John Putman, “The Dilemma of Service Delivery in Rural Arkansas: A Proposed Consolidation of Fire Departments and Police Departments in Faulkner County”; C. S. Tai (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), “Economic Development and Social Equality in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan”; Charles W. Hartwig (ASU), “Rhodesia to Zimbabwe: Nationalism, Diplomacy, and Power”; John Ziegler (Hendrix College), “Attempts by LaFollette’s Magazine to Shape Isolationist Attitudes on Foreign Affairs: A Content Analysis of Editorial Opinion”; Gene Bigler (Hendrix College) and Chris Collier (Hendrix College), “The World is Closing in on Arkansas: International Relations and Public Opinion in the Heartland”; Robert Johnston (UA-Little Rock), “The 1980 Election in Arkansas: What Happened?”; Don Leavitt (UA-Pine Bluff), “The 1980 Arkansas Democratic Party: What Is It?”; Charles Chastain (UA-Little Rock), “Effect of Juror Experience Revisited”; Jim Thompson, “Issue Campaigns vs. Candidate Campaigns”; and Mike Niggel, Ferris Baker, and Gene Bigler (Hendrix College), “Some Determinants of Split-Ticket Voting in Arkansas Elections.”
Norman Hodges, Chairperson of the Awards Committee, presented the “Best Faculty Paper” award to Gene Bigler (Hendrix College) and Chris Collier (Hendrix College) for their paper, “The World is Closing in on Arkansas: International Relations and Public Opinion in the Heartland”. The “Best Undergraduate Paper” award was presented to Sallie L. Laux (UCA) for her paper, “Preferential Treatment and Reverse Discrimination”. The “Best Arkansas Paper” award was presented to Mike Niggel, Ferris Baker, and Gene Bigler (Hendrix College) for their paper, “Some Determinants of Split-Ticket Voting in Arkansas Elections.”
Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. of the University of Arkansas at
Little Rock served as the 8th President of the ArkPSA in 1980-1981
(Photo courtesy of the UALR Center for Arkansas History and Culture)
The Executive Board held a meeting in Little Rock on April 25, 1981. The Executive Board approved a resolution expressing its strong support for Robert Meriwether (Hendrix College) as Director of the Arkansas Governor’s School. R. Lawson Veasey (UCA) was appointed to complete the remaining year in the James F. Willis’ two-year term as an At-Large Member of the Executive Board. Norman L. Hodges, Jr. was appointed as Program Chair for the 1982 annual meeting.
Dr. Mary Susan Power‘s (ASU) manuscript, “Return to Rhetoric: A Case for Cooperative Discussion,” was published in the Journal of Political Science in Spring 1981. Professor Diane K. Blair (UA-Fayetteville) and Ann Henry‘s (UA-Fayetteville) manuscript, “The Family Factor in State Legislative Turnover,” was published in Legislative Studies Quarterly in February 1981. Dr. Arthur “Art” English (UA-Little Rock) and John J. Carroll’s manuscript, “Rules of the Game in Ephemeral Institutions,” was published in the Legislative Studies Quarterly in May 1981. Dr. Robert L. Savage‘s (UA-Fayetteville) manuscript, “Looking for Political Subcultures: A Critique of the Rummage-Sale Approach,” was published in the Political Research Quarterly in June 1981. In July 1981, Dr. Thomas J. Bellows (UA-Fayetteville) was hired as Director of the Division of Social Sciences at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1982 – The 9th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the Hilton Hotel in Fayetteville on February 26-27, 1982. Dr. William James Megginson of Garland County Community College served as President of the ArkPSA until his resignation effective on September 1, 1981. Dr. Megginson resigned to accept a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellowship for the College Faculty at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York. Dr. James F. Willis of Southern Arkansas University served as Vice-President until September 1, 1981, when he became Acting President. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1981-1982. Dr. Norman L. Hodges, Jr. of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as the Chairperson of the Program Committee for the 1982 annual meeting. Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr. of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock served as Past President ex officio. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Gene Bigler (Hendrix College, 1981-1983), Kurt Tweraser (UA-Fayetteville, 1980-1982), and R. Lawson Veasey (UCA, 1981-1982). Genevieve Miles (ATU) had resigned her At-Large position on the Executive Board. Dr. Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock) served as Editor of the Arkansas Political Science Journal (APSJ). Members of the Editorial Board for the APSJ included Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock), Gary Brooks (UA-Little Rock), Daniel R. Grant (Ouachita Baptist University), Kay Goss (Office of the Governor), and Raphael O. Lewis (Philander Smith College-PSC). The Executive Board held a noon luncheon meeting in the Hilton Hotel on Friday, February 26th.
Panel sessions were held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning during the 1982 annual meeting, including paper presentations by Denny Pilant (Southwest Missouri State University), “Aristotle’s Ideal State”; Conrad Waligorski (UA-Fayetteville), “The Elements of Democratic Theory”; Donald E. Whistler and Charles D. Dunn (UCA), “The Arkansas General Assembly and Interest Groups”; Kurt Tweraser (UA-Fayetteville), “How Have You Looked to Me Lately, Senator? J. William Fulbright, Models of Representation and Re-election Strategies”; Adolph Reed (UA-Fayetteville), “Orval E. Faubus: On the Spectrum of American Liberalism-An American Liberal?”; Beka Miles-DeLony (Philander Smith College), “Destroying Barriers: Little Rock Sit-Ins and the Participation of Philander Smith College Students”; Walter Carr (ATU), “Sharing Governmental Functions in an Arkansas City”; Donald E. Whistler (UCA), “Reapportionment in Arkansas: A Historical and Legal Perspective”; Robert Johnston (UA-Little Rock) and Mary Storey (UA-Little Rock), “The Arkansas Senate: Senatorial Attitudes, Behavior, and Power”; Mark Ellickson (UCA), “Success in the Arkansas State Legislature”; R. Christopher Perry (Tennessee State Energy Office), “Patterns of Intellectual Deference: Personal and Proxy Influence of Chief Justice Burger, 1976-1979”; Mary Weiner (EACC), “Television in the Courtroom: Can Fair Trial and Free Press Exist in Modern Society”; Martin Greenberg (ASU-Jonesboro), “Check Points on the Reform of Law Enforcement Curricula”; and Kelly Hughes (UA-Fayetteville), “The Rationale for Soviet Involvement in the Third World: An Emphasis on Africa.”
The ArkPSA membership meeting was held at the Hilton Hotel in Fayetteville on Saturday noon, February 27th. President James F. Willis presented the “Best Undergraduate Student Paper” award to Gary Perkey (ASU-Jonesboro) for his paper, “Congressional Reform: The Impact of the Legislative Reorganization Acts of 1946 and 1970 on the American Legislative Process,” presented during the 1981 annual meeting. The “Best Faculty Paper” award was presented to R. Christopher Perry (Tennessee State Energy Office) for his paper, “Patterns of Intellectual Deference: Personal and Proxy Influences of Chief Justice Burger, 1976-1979,” presented during the 1981 annual meeting. Nominations for Executive Board Officers and At-Large Members for 1982-1983 were approved – James F. Willis (Southern Arkansas University) – President, Norman Hodges (UA-Fayetteville) – Vice-President, Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) – Secretary-Treasurer, Harry Hamner (Arkansas Municipal League) – At-Large Member (1982-1983), Donald Kelley (UA-Fayetteville) – At-Large Member (1982-1984), and Gary Brooks (UA-Little Rock) – At-Large Member (1982-1984).
The Executive Board held a meeting at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on April 24, 1982. The Executive Board approved the appointment of C. Jeddy LeVar (Henderson State University) as Chairperson of the Program Committee for the 1983 annual meeting on the campus of Henderson State University (HSU) on February 25th and 26th. Dr. Donald E. Whistler (UCA) was appointed as the new Editor of the Arkansas Journal of Political Science (AJPS). The Executive Board approved a motion to commend Dr. Joel E. Anderson (UA-Little Rock) for his service as the first Editor of the AJPS.
Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr.‘s (UA-Little Rock) manuscript, co-authored with C. Fred Williams, “Arkansas Governors in the Twentieth Century: A Ranking and Analysis,” was published in the Arkansas Political Science Journal (volume 3) in 1982. Also, Dr. Ledbetter’s manuscript, “The Constitution of 1836: A New Perspective.” was published in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly (volume 41) in Autumn 1982. Dr. Carolyn J. Zinn (ASU), Chairperson of the Department of Political Science at ASU from 1973 to 1982, was appointed as Academic Dean and Professor of Political Science at Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, West Virginia beginning on July 1, 1982. Professor Diane K. Blair (UA-Fayetteville) was selected for the 1981-1982 “Outstanding Teacher” Award in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Dr. James F. Willis’ (SAU) book manuscript, Prologue to Nuremberg: The Politics and Diplomacy of Punishing War Criminals of the First World War by Greenwood Press in May 1982.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1983 – The 10th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia on February 25-26, 1983. Dr. James F. Willis of Southern Arkansas University served as President of the ArkPSA in 1982-1983. Norman L. Hodges, Jr. of the State Claims Commission served as Vice-President in 1982-1983. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1982-1983. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Gene Bigler (Hendrix College, 1981-1983), Harry Hamner (Arkansas Municipal League, 1982-1983), Donald Kelley (UA-Fayetteville, 1982-1984), and Arthur English (UA-Little Rock, 1982-1984). Arthur English (UA-Little Rock) had been appointed to replace Gary Brooks (UA-Little Rock), who resigned his At-Large position in August 1982. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as the Chairperson of the Program Committee for the 1983 annual meeting. Retired State Senator Robert Harvey from the town of Swifton in Jackson County spoke during the Friday evening dinner on February 25th. Dr. Robert McChesney (UCA) spoke during the Saturday morning breakfast meeting in HSU cafeteria on February 26th. Kay Goss (Office of the Governor), Chairperson of the Awards Committee, presented the “Best Faculty Paper” award to Diane K. Blair (UA-Fayetteville) and Robert Savage (UA-Fayetteville) for their paper, “Regional Patterns in the Distribution of Political Opinions Among Arkansans.” An amendment to the Constitution was approved, providing for the Program Chair to serve as an ex officio member of the Executive Board. Nominations for ArkPSA Executive Board Officers and At-Large Members for 1983-1984 were approved: Norman Hodges (State Claims Commission) – President, Jeddy LeVar (HSU) – Vice-President, Walter H. Nunn (UA-Little Rock) – Secretary-Treasurer, Raphael Lewis (Philander Smith College) – At-Large Member (1983-1985), and Mary Susan Power (ASU) – At-Large Member (1983-1985). Jerome Bill Becker, President of Arkansas AFL-CIO, spoke during the Saturday afternoon luncheon on February 26th.
Panel sessions were held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning during the 1983 annual meeting, including paper presentations by Walter Carr (ATU), “Sharing of Governmental Functions in an Arkansas City: A Case Study of Russellville, Arkansas”; David Levenbach (ASU), “Local Leadership Perspectives on Economic Development”; Eldon Eisenach (UA-Little Rock), “The Place of Politics and Culture in J. S. Mill’s Science of Society”; Gilda Macksam (UA-Little Rock), “Arkansas: Options Under Reaganomics”; David A. Smith (Harding University), “The Marxian Conception of Alienation: An Overview”; Lance Thornton (Hendrix College), “The Supreme Court and the American Public: An Analysis”; Carlene Wyatt (UA-Little Rock), “The Election Laws Institute, Inc.”; Diane K. Blair (UA-Fayetteville) and Robert Savage (UA-Fayetteville), “Regional Patterns in the Distribution of Political Opinions Among Arkansans”; Robert Johnston (UA-Little Rock), “The 1982 Elections in Arkansas”; and James L. Larson (UA-Little Rock), “Fraud in Government Programs: A Secondary Analysis”.
The Executive Board met in the State Capitol Building in Little Rock on May 13, 1983. The president of the ArkPSA, Norman Hodges (State Claims Commission), appointed Kay Goss (Office of the Governor) as the Program Chair for the 1984 annual meeting. Diane K. Blair (UA-Fayetteville) was appointed as Chairperson of the Awards Committee, James Willis (SAU) as Chairperson of the Nominations Committee, and Robert Meriwether (Hendrix College) as Chairperson of the Membership Committee.
Lance Thornton’s paper, “The Supreme Court and the American Public – An Analysis,” was awarded the Best Student Paper presented during the 1983 conference.
The manuscript written by Dr. Steven Neuse (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “TVA at Age Fifty–Reflections and Retrospect,” was published in Public Administration Review in November/December 1983, and his manuscript, “From Grass Roots to Citizen Participation: Where We’ve Been and Where We Are Now,” was published in Public Administration Quarterly in Fall 1983. The manuscript written by Dr. Robert Savage (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Policy Traditions in American State Politics,” was published in the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare in June 1983. The manuscript written by Dr. Charles D. Dunn and Dr. Donald E. Whistler (University of Central Arkansas), “Institutional Representation as Institutional Accountability in the Arkansas General Assembly,” was published in the Arkansas Political Science Journal in Winter 1983.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Charles Clyde Jones, a professor and chair of the political science department at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, died in Jonesboro on November 18, 1983. Charles Clyde Jones was born in East Lynn, West Virginia on February 9, 1926. Staff Sgt. Jones served in the U.S. Army in Europe during the Second World War. He earned a B.A. degree (1949) and M.A. degree (1950) from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. He earned a Ph.D. in Public Administration from West Virginia University in 1965. Dr. Jones’ dissertation, The Peace Corps: An Analysis of Development Problems, Preliminary Education, and Future was published in 1967. Dr. Jones was survived by his wife Francis Elkins Jones, daughter Toni R. Jones, and son Keith A. Jones.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1984 – The 11th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro on February 24-25, 1984. Norman L. Hodges, Jr. of the Arkansas State Claims Commission served as President of the ArkPSA in 1983-1984. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Vice-President in 1983-1984. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1983-1984. Dr. James F. Willis of Southern Arkansas University served as Past President ex officio. Kay Goss (Arkansas Governor’s Office) served as Program Chair for the 1984 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board were Raphael Lewis (Philander Smith College, 1983-1985), Mary Susan Power (ASU, 1983-1985). Donald E. Whistler (UCA) served as Editor of the Arkansas Journal of Political Science (AJPS).
Panel sessions were held on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning during the 1984 annual meeting, including paper presentations by Charles D. Dunn (UCA) and Donald E. Whistler, (UCA) “Insiders and Outsiders: Lobbyists in the Arkansas General Assembly”.
Dr. Mary Susan Power’s (ASU) manuscript, Before the Convention: Religion and the Founders, published by the University Press of America in 1984. Dr. Conrad Waligorski‘s (UA-Fayetteville) manuscript, “Conservative Economist Critics of Democracy,” was published in Social Science Journal in April 1984. Dr. Harold “Hal” Bass (Ouachita Baptist University) and Dr. Andrew Westmoreland‘s (Ouachita Baptist University) manuscript, “Parties and Campaigns in Contemporary Arkansas Politics,” was published in the Arkansas Political Science Journal (APSJ) in Winter 1984. Dr. Margaret Scranton’s (UA-Little Rock) book, Making United States Foreign Policy: The President, the Congress, and the Panama Canal Treaties, was published by Westview Press in 1984.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1985 – The 12th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at Arkansas Tech University and Holiday Inn in Russellville on February 22-23, 1985. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as President of the ArkPSA in 1984-1985. Kay Goss (Office of the Governor) served as Vice-President in 1984-1985. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1984-1985. Walter P. Carr, Jr. of Arkansas Tech University served as Program Chair for the 1985 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Mary Susan Power (ASU-Jonesboro, 1983-1985); Raphael O. Lewis (Philander Smith College, 1983-1985); Diane K. Blair (UA-Fayetteville, 1984-1986); and Michael Kelley (UCA, 1984-1986). Norman L. Hodges, Jr. of the Arkansas State Claims Commission served as Past President ex officio. Donald E. Whistler of UCA served as Editor of the Arkansas Political Science Journal (APSJ). Section Chairpersons for the 1985 annual meeting included Sharon Robinette (Arkansas Society of Public Administrators) – Public Administration, Carol Griffee (Little Rock) – Public Law/Judicial Process/Criminal Justice, Kurt Tweraser (UA-Fayetteville) – International Relations/Comparative Politics, Mary Susan Power (ASU) – Political Theory, Robert Savage (UA-Fayetteville) – Arkansas Politics, Gary Wekkin (UCA) – Political Behavior/American Government, Raphael O. Lewis (Philander Smith College) – Teaching Political Science, and Arthur “Art” English (UA-Little Rock) – Student Research.
Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter, Jr.‘s (UA-Little Rock) manuscript, “The Constitution of 1868: Conqueror’s Constitution or Constitutional Continuity?” was published in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly (Vol. 44) in Spring 1985.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1986 – The 13th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the Riverfront Hilton Hotel in Little Rock on February 21-22, 1986. Kay Goss (Office of the Governor) served as President of the ArkPSA in 1985-1986. Walter P. Carr, Jr. of Arkansas Tech University served as Vice-President in 1985-1986. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1985-1986. Donald E. Whistler of the University of Central Arkansas served as Program Chair for the 1986 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Diane K. Blair (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, 1984-1986); Michael Kelley (UCA, 1984-1986); Harold “Hal” F. Bass, Jr. (Ouachita Baptist University, 1985-1987); and Myra Masters (UA-Little Rock, 1985-1987). C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Past President ex officio. Donald E. Whistler of UCA served as Editor of the Arkansas Political Science Journal (APSJ).
Dr. John S. Jackson, III (Southern Illinois University-SIU) spoke on the topic, “The Southernization of American Politics,” during the Friday evening dinner. John S. Jackson grew up in Waldo, Arkansas. He earned bachelor degrees in Political Science and Psychology from Ouachita Baptist University in 1962, a master’s degree in Political Science from Baylor University in 1963, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Vanderbilt University in 1971. John S. Jackson worked for the Senator Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Senator J. William Fulbright in 1963, and he served in the U.S. Army’s Intelligence Corps from January 1964 to July 1966. John S. Jackson started teaching in the Department of Government at SIU in 1969, becoming an Assistant Professor in 1970. Dr. Jackson served as Acting Dean of the Graduate School at SIU from 1980 to 1983, and he served as Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at SIU from 1984 to 1985. Dr. Jackson served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at SIU from 1985 to 1996, and he served as Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost of SIU from 1996 to 1999. On June 5, 1999, Dr. Jackson was appointed as the Interim Chancellor of SIU.
Dr. Charles D. Dunn (UCA) and Dr. Donald E. Whistler‘s (UCA) manuscript, “Lobbying in a State Legislature: Another Look at Communications Techniques,” was published in Southeastern Political Review in Fall 1986. Dr. Charles D. Dunn (UCA), who served as 4th President of the Arkansas Political Science Association in 1976-1977, was selected as the 14th President of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia in 1986. Dr. Dunn taught political science at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (1969-1971 and 1973-1975) and the University of Central Arkansas (August 1975-1982). Dr. Dunn served as Chairperson of the UCA Department of Political Science from 1976 to 1982. From 1982 to 1986, Dr. Dunn served as Director of Governmental Relations at UCA.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1987 – The 14th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held in Little Rock in March 1987. Walter P. Carr, Jr. of Arkansas Tech University served as President of the ArkPSA in 1986-1987. Dr. Donald E. Whistler of the University of Central Arkansas served as Vice-President in 1986-1987. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1986-1987 and as Program Chair for the 1987 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Harold “Hal” F. Bass, Jr. (Ouachita Baptist University, 1985-1987); Myra Masters (University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 1985-1987); William C. Nolan, Sr. (Southern Arkansas University, 1986-1988); and Steven M. Neuse (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, 1986-1988). Kay Goss (Office of the Governor) served as Past President ex officio. Donald E. Whistler of UCA served as Editor of the Arkansas Political Science Journal (APSJ).
Dr. F. David Levenbach, Dr. Charles W. Hartwig (ASU) and Dr. David E. England‘s (ASU) research paper, “Introduction to U.S. Government: Prior Levels and Correlates of Political Knowledge,” was chosen as the Best Faculty Paper presented at the 1987 annual meeting.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1988 – The 15th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held in March 1988. Dr. Donald E. Whistler of the University of Central Arkansas served as President of the ArkPSA in 1987-1988. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Vice-President in 1987-1988. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1987-1988. Dr. Harold “Hal” F. Bass, Jr. of Ouachita Baptist University served as Program Chair for 1988 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Elizabeth Hodge (1987-1988); Steven Neuse (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, 1986-1988); Arthur “Art” English (University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 1987-1989); and David Levenbach (ASU-Jonesboro, 1987-1989). Walter P. Carr, Jr. of Arkansas Tech University served as Past President ex officio. The Arkansas Political Science Journal (APSJ) was renamed the Midsouth Political Science Journal (MPSJ) in 1988. Donald E. Whistler of UCA served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Journal (MPSJ).
Dr. Harold “Hal” Bass‘s (Ouachita Baptist University) manuscript “Presidential Party Leadership and Party Reform: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Abrogation of the Two-Thirds Rule,” was published in the Presidential Studies Quarterly in Spring 1988.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1989 – The 16th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville on March 3-4, 1989. Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock served as President of the ArkPSA in 1988-1989. Dr. Harold “Hal” F. Bass, Jr. of Ouachita Baptist University served as Vice-President in 1988-1989. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1988-1989. Dr. Steven M. Neuse of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as Program Chair for the 1989 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Arthur “Art” English (UA-Little Rock, 1987-1989); David Levenbach (ASU-Jonesboro, 1987-1989); Diane K. Blair (UA-Fayetteville, 1988-1990); and Michael A. Kelley (UCA, 1988-1990). Donald E. Whistler of UCA served as Past President ex officio and Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Journal (MPSJ).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1990 – The 17th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on March 2-3, 1990. Dr. Harold “Hal” F. Bass, Jr. of Ouachita Baptist University served as President of the ArkPSA in 1989-1990. Dr. Steven M. Neuse of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as Vice-President in 1989-1990. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1989-1990. Dr. John N. Short of the University of Arkansas at Monticello served as Program Chair for the 1990 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Diane K. Blair (UA-Fayetteville, 1988-1990); Michael A. Kelley (UCA, 1988-1990); Mary Susan Power (ASU-Jonesboro, 1989-1991); and Daryl Rice (UA-Little Rock, 1989-1991). Walter H. Nunn of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Past President ex officio. Donald E. Whistler (UCA) served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Journal (MPSJ).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1991 – The 18th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the Hilton Hotel in Little Rock on March 1-2, 1991. Dr. Steven M. Neuse of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as President of the ArkPSA in 1990-1991. Dr. John N. Short of the University of Arkansas at Monticello served as Vice-President in 1990-1991. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1990-1991. Dr. Arthur “Art” English of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock served as Program Chair for the 1991 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Mary Susan Power (ASU-Jonesboro, 1989-1991); Daryl Rice (UA-Little Rock, 1989-1991); Sherry Dahlstrom (UA-Fayetteville, 1990-1992); and W. Martin James (Henderson State University, 1990-1992). Dr. Harold F. Bass, Jr. of Ouachita Baptist University served as Past President ex officio. Gary Wekkin and Donald E. Whistler of the University of Central Arkansas served as Co-Editors of the Midsouth Political Science Journal (MPSJ).
Dr. Arthur “Art” English’s (UA-Little Rock) research paper was chosen as the Best Faculty Paper at the 1991 annual meeting. The research paper presented by William J. Topich (ASU-Jonesboro) titled “Revolution and Regression in Cambodia: An Analysis of Khmer Communism” was selected as the Best Graduate Student Paper presented during the 1991 annual meeting. Dr. Harold “Hal” Bass‘s (Ouachita Baptist University) manuscript “Presidential Party Leadership and Party Reform: Lyndon B. Johnson and the MFDP Controversy,” was published in the Presidential Studies Quarterly in Winter 1991. Dr. Harold “Hal” Bass‘s (Ouachita Baptist University) manuscript, “Change and Democratization in One-Party Systems,” was published in Midsouth Political Science Journal in Autumn 1991. Dr. Margaret Scranton’s (UA-Little Rock) book, The Noriega Years: U.S.-Panamanian Relations, 1981-1990, was published by Lynne Reinner Publishers in 1991.
Dr. Robert M. McChesney, Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of Central Arkansas, was selected as Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs at the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama beginning on July 1, 1991. One year later, Dr. McChesney became the 13th President of the University of Montevallo on July 1, 1992. Robert M. McChesney was born in Offingham, Illinois, and earned his B.A. degree in Political Science and History from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in 1964. Robert M. McChesney earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Woodrow Wilson Department of Government and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia in 1968. Dr. McChesney taught political science at the University of Central Arkansas, and he was elected the first President of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) in March 1974. Dr. McChesney served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at UCA from July 1982 to August 1989, when he returned to teaching political science in the UCA Department of Political Science. Dr. McChesney retired as President of the University of Montevallo on August 1, 2006.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1992 – The 19th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro on February 28-29, 1992. Dr. John N. Short of the University of Arkansas at Monticello served as President of the ArkPSA in 1991-1992. Dr. Arthur “Art” English of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Vice-President in 1991-1992. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1991-1992. Dr. Mary Susan Power of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Program Chair for the 1992 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 1991-1992 included the following individuals: Sherry Dahlstrom (UA-Little Rock, 1990-1992); W. Martin James (HSU, 1990-1992); Douglas Reed (Ouachita Baptist University, 1991-1993); and Jeffrey J. Ryan (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, 1991-1993). Steven M. Neuse (UA-Fayetteville) served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Gary Wekkin (UCA) served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Journal (MPSJ).
Scott Murray‘s research paper was selected as the Best Undergraduate Student Paper presented during the 1992 annual meeting. Dr. Mark Daniels‘ research paper was selected as the Best Faculty Paper presented during the 1992 annual meeting.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1993 – The 20th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on February 19-20, 1993. Dr. Arthur “Art” English of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock served as President of the ArkPSA in 1992-1993. Dr. Mary Susan Power of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Vice-President in 1992-1993. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1992-1993. Dr. Gary Wekkin of the University of Central Arkansas served as Program Chair for the 1993 annual meeting. Dr. George C. Edwards III, University Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M University, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on February 19th. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 1992-1993 included the following individuals: Douglas Reed (Ouachita Baptist University, 1991-1993) and Jeffrey J. Ryan (UA-Fayetteville, 1991-1993). John N. Short of the University of Arkansas at Monticello served as Past President ex officio.
The research paper presented by Dr. Will Miller (UA-Fayetteville) was selected as the Best Faculty Paper presented during the 1993 annual meeting.
Dr. Harold “Hal” Bass‘s (Ouachita Baptist University) manuscript, “Comparing Presidential Party Leadership Transfers: Two Cases,” was published in Presidential Studies Quarterly in Winter 1993.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1994 – The 21st Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at Arkansas College (Lyon College) in Batesville on February 24-25, 1994. Dr. Mary Susan Power of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as President of the ArkPSA in 1993-1994. Dr. Gary Wekkin of the University of Central Arkansas served as Vice-President in 1993-1994. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1993-1994. Dr. Donald V. Weatherman of Arkansas College served as Program Chair for the 1994 annual meeting. Arthur “Art” English of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock served as Past President ex officio.
Dr. William B. Allen, Dean of the James Madison College at Michigan State University and former Chairperson of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on February 24th. The topic of Dr. Allen’s speech was “The Nature of Civil Rights.” Robert McCord, newspaper columnist and television commentator, spoke on the topic of term limits during the Saturday afternoon luncheon on February 25th. On Saturday morning, February 26th, State Senator Steve Bell (D-Batesville) chaired a roundtable discussion on the topic, “Arkansas Civil Rights Legislation” – the panelists included former State Senator and UA-Little Rock Law Professor John Pagan, State Representative Bill Walker, and Director of the MLK Commission Tracy Steele.
The research paper presented by Dr. Neil Snortland (UA-Little Rock) titled “United States Supreme Court and Overturning Precedent” was selected as the Best Faculty Paper presented during the 1994 annual meeting. The research paper presented by Dale Thomas (ASU-Jonesboro) titled “Utility of Futility: Can Microglobus Answer Questions in International Relations?” was selected as the Best Undergraduate Student Paper presented during the 1994 annual meeting.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1995 – The 22nd Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the Riverfront Hilton Inn in North Little Rock on February 24-25, 1995. Dr. Gary Wekkin of the University of Central Arkansas served as President of the ArkPSA in 1994-1995. Dr. Donald V. Weatherman of Lyon College served as Vice-President in 1994-1995. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1994-1995. Dr. W. James Martin of Henderson State University served as Program Chair for the 1995 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Haroon A. Khan (HSU, 1994-1996). Mary Susan Power of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Past President ex officio. Haroon A. Khan (HSU) also served as Chairperson of the Committee for the “Best Civics Teacher Award.”
Dr. Richard Fenno, University of Rochester, spoke on the topic “Politicians as Institutions: David Pryor and Claiborne Pell” during the Friday evening dinner on February 24th. John Brummett, columnist, was the guest speaker during the Saturday luncheon on February 25th.
Dr. Brinck Kerr (UA-Fayetteville) presented a paper titled, “Measuring Leadership Power in the U.S. House: An Index of Speakers’ Formal Powers, 1877-1990,” during the 1995 annual meeting. The research paper presented by Dr. Haroon A. Khan’s (Henderson State University) titled “Comparison of the Level of Support for Presidents Among Freshmen and Non-Freshmen in the House” was selected as the Best Faculty Paper presented during the 1995 annual meeting.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1996 – The 23rd Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia on February 16-17, 1996. Dr. Donald V. Weatherman of Lyon College served as President of the ArkPSA in 1995-1996. Dr. W. James Martin of Henderson State University served as Vice-President in 1995-1996. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1995-1996. Dr. Douglas Reed of Ouachita Baptist University served as Program Chair for the 1996 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 1995-1996 included the following individuals: Haroon A. Khan (HSU, 1994-1996); John Passe-Smith (University of Central Arkansas, 1995-1997); and Richard P. Wang (ASU-Jonesboro, 1995-1997). Gary Wekkin of UCA served as Past President ex officio. The following individuals served as Section Chairpersons for the 1996 annual meeting: Harold “Hal” F. Bass, Jr. (Ouachita Baptist University) – American Government & Politics; Daryl Rice (UA-Little Rock) – Political Theory; Jeffrey J. Ryan (UA-Fayetteville) – Comparative Politics; Kenneth A. Rogers (Arkansas Tech University) – International Relations; Jay Barth (Hendrix College) – Student Research; Jane Gates (ASU) – Public Administration; and Donald E. Whistler (UCA) – Arkansas Politics.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1997 – The 24th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville on February 21-22, 1997. Dr. W. James Martin of Henderson State University served as President of the ArkPSA in 1996-1997. Dr. Douglas Reed of Ouachita Baptist University served as Vice-President in 1996-1997. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1996-1997. Dr. Jeffrey J. Ryan of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as Program Chair for the 1997 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included John Passe-Smith (University of Central Arkansas, 1995-1997); Richard P. Wang (ASU-Jonesboro, 1995-1997); Jay Barth (Hendrix College, 1996-1998); and Ann V. Clemmer (UA-Little Rock, 1996-1998). Donald V. Weatherman of Lyon College served as Past President ex officio. Haroon A. Khan of Henderson State University served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). Charles W. Hartwig of ASU and Sam Stanton of ASU served as Co-Editors of the Directory of Arkansas Political Scientists, 1996-1997.
Dr. Brinck Kerr, Dr. Will Miller, and Dr. Margaret Reid (UA-Fayetteville) presented a paper titled, “Mayor-Manager: Are there Differences in Budgetary Policy?”, during the 1997 annual meeting.
The research paper presented by D. Sunshine Hillygus (UA-Fayetteville) was chosen as the “Best Graduate Student Paper” presented during the 1997 annual meeting.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1998 – The 25th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held on the campus of Arkansas Tech University in Russellville on February 13-14, 1998. The theme of the annual meeting was “A Silver Anniversary: Celebrating 25 Years.” Dr. Douglas Reed of Ouachita Baptist University served as President of the ArkPSA in 1997-1998. Dr. Jeffrey J. Ryan of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as Vice-President in 1997-1998. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1997-1998. Dr. Kenneth A. Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as Program Chair for the 1998 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Jay Barth (Hendrix College, 1996-1998); Ann V. Clemmer (UA-Little Rock, 1996-1998); David Harding (ASU-Jonesboro, 1997-1999); and Lawrence Okere (UA-Pine Bluff, 1997-1999). Dr. W. James Martin of Henderson State University served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Haroon A. Khan of Henderson State University served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). Dr. Charles W. Hartwig of ASU and Jason Sutfin of ASU served as Co-Editors of the Directory of Arkansas Political Scientists, 1997-1998.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1999 – The 26th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on February 12-13, 1999. Dr. Jeffrey J. Ryan of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville served as President of the ArkPSA in 1998-1999. Dr. Kenneth A. Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as Vice-President in 1998-1999. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1998-1999. Dr. Lawrence Okere of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff served as Program Chair for the 1999 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included David Harding (ASU-Jonesboro, 1997-1999); Lawrence Okere (UA-Pine Bluff, 1997-1999); Stanley Berard (Southern Arkansas University, 1998-2000); and Michael Anda (UA-Little Rock, 1998-2000). Dr. Douglas Reed of Ouachita Baptist University served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Haroon A. Khan of Henderson State University served as Editor and Dr. John Passe-Smith of the University of Central Arkansas served as Associate Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). Dr. Charles W. Hartwig (ASU) served as Editor of the Directory of Arkansas Political Scientists, 1998-1999.
Dr. Margaret Scranton (UA-Little Rock) presented a paper titled “Ambiguous Conflict in Darien, Panama” during the 1999 annual meeting.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2000 – The 27th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held in Little Rock on February 18-19, 2000. Dr. Kenneth A. Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as President of the ArkPSA in 1999-2000. Dr. Lawrence Okere of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff served as Vice-President in 1999-2000. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 1999-2000. Ann V. Clemmer of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Program Chair for the 2000 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Stanley Berard (Southern Arkansas University, 1998-2000); Michael Anda (UA-Little Rock, 1998-2000); Kevin Brennan (Ouachita Baptist University, 1999-2001); and Margaret Reid (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, 1999-2001). Jeffrey J. Ryan of (UA-Fayetteville) served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Haroon A. Khan of HSU served as Editor and Dr. John Passe-Smith of the University of Central Arkansas served as Associate Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). Dr. Charles W. Hartwig of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Editor of the Directory of Arkansas Political Scientists, 1999-2000.
Dr. Brinck Kerr, Dr. Will Miller, and Dr. Margaret Reid’s (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville) research paper was chosen for the Best Faculty Paper presented during the 2000 annual meeting. Kim U. Hoffman’s (University of Oklahoma) research paper, “Key Actors in Welfare Reform: Policy Entrepreneurs at Work,” and Angela Rogers’ (University of Oklahoma) research paper were chosen for the Best Graduate Student papers presented during the 2000 annual meeting. The research paper presented by Leia Isanhart (UCA) was selected as the Best Undergraduate Student Paper presented during the 2000 annual meeting. Dr. R. Lawson Veasey (UCA) and Dr Ronn Hy‘s (UCA) manuscript, “Heaven or Hell: What Fate Awaits Post-Property Tax in Arkansas,” was published in the Arkansas Business and Economic Review in Spring 2000.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Diane F. Divers Kincaid Blair, who served on the Executive Board of the Arkansas Political Science Association in 1975-1977 and 1984-1986, died of lung cancer at her home in Fayetteville on June 16, 2000. Diane Frances Divers was born to William K. and Minna (Rosenbaum) Divers in Washington DC on October 25, 1938. She earned her B.A. degree in Political Science from Cornell University in 1959 and her master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1967. Diane Divers married Hugh Kincaid in the early 1960s. She taught political science at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville from 1968 until her retirement in 1997. Professor Kincaid was appointed by Governor Dale Bumpers as Chairperson of the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women in 1971, and she was appointed by Governor David Pryor as Chairperson of the Commission on Public Employee Rights in 1976. Professor Kincaid debated the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) with Mrs. Phyllis Schaffley on the floor of the Arkansas House of Representatives in Little Rock on February 14, 1975. After her divorce, Diane Kincaid was married by Governor Bill Clinton to James “Jim” Blair in 1979. Diane Blair was appointed by Governor Bill Clinton to the Commission for the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) in 1980. She served on the AETN Commission until 1993. Diane Blair was appointed to the Board of Directors of the U.S. Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in 1993 and 1997, and she served as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the CPB from 1996 to 2000. At the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Diane Blair was selected as the Outstanding Faculty Member by students in 1976 and 1978, and she was selected for the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Master Teacher Award in 1982. Among her many publications, Diane Blair wrote the books, The Personal Journal of Senator Hattie Caraway (Greenwood Press, 1979) and Arkansas Politics and Government: Do the People Rule? (University of Nebraska Press, 1988, 2005).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2001 – The 28th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at Harding University in Searcy on February 22-23, 2001. Dr. Lawrence Okere of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff served as President of the ArkPSA in 2000-2001. Ann V. Clemmer of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Vice-President in 2000-2001. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2000-2001. Dr. Mark Elrod of Harding University served as Program Chair for the 2001 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Kevin Brennan (Ouachita Baptist University, 1999-2001); Margaret Reid (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, 1999-2001); Janine A. Parry (UA-Fayetteville, 2000-2002); and William D. Baker (Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, 2000-2002). Dr. Kenneth A. Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Haroon A. Khan of HSU served as Editor and Dr. John Passe-Smith of the University of Central Arkansas served as Associate Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). Dr. Charles W. Hartwig of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Editor of the Directory of Arkansas Political Scientists, 2000-2001.
The guest speakers during the 2001 annual meeting included Attorney-General Mark Pryor and Congressman Victor “Vic” Snyder. The research paper presented by Dr. Janine Parry and Dr. William Schreckhise (UA-Fayetteville) was chosen as the “Best Faculty Paper” presented during the 2001 annual meeting. Candace Ortbals’ (Indiana University-Bloomington) research paper, “Pilar Primo de Rivera and Federica Montseny: An Analysis of Gender, Bureaucracy, and Revolution,” was chosen as the “Best Graduate Student Paper” presented during the 2001 annual meeting. Tara Watts’ (ASU-Jonesboro) research paper, “Government and Politics in Rwanda” was chosen for the Best Undergraduate Paper presented during the 2001 annual meeting.
Dr. Brinck Kerr, Dr. Will Miller, and Kevin Braswell (UA-Fayetteville) presented a paper titled, “Private School Choice in the State of California: The Effects of Public School Quality, Race, and Religion,” during the 2001 annual meeting.
Dr. R. Lawson Veasey, Professor and Director of the Public Administration Program at the University of Central Arkansas was appointed as Chairperson of the Department of Political Science & Public Administration at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama starting on August 1, 2001. Dr. Veasey earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Louisiana Tech University in 1974, master’s degree in political science from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1976, M.P.A. from Idaho State University in 1979, and doctoral degree in Government from Idaho State University in 1979. Dr. Veasey taught political science and public administration at UCA from 1979 to 2001.
Dr. Calvin “Cal” R. Ledbetter Jr.‘s (UA-Little Rock) manuscript, “The Proposed Arkansas Constitution of 1980,” was published in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly (volume 60) in Spring 2001. Dr. Andrew Dowdle (UA-Fayetteville) and Randall Adkins’ manuscript, “How Important are Iowa and New Hampshire to Winning Post-Reform Presidential Nominations,” published in Political Research Quarterly in June 2001. The manuscript written by Dr. Janine Parry and Dr. Todd Shields (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Sex, Age, and the Implementation of the Motor Voter Act: The 1996 Presidential Election,” was published in Social Science Quarterly in 2001.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2002 – The 29th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro on February 22-23, 2002. Ann V. Clemmer of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as President of the ArkPSA in 2001-2002. Dr. Mark Elrod of Harding University served as Vice-President in 2001-2002. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2001-2002. Dr. Richard P. Wang of ASU-Jonesboro served as Program Chair for the 2002 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Janine A. Parry (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, 2000-2002); William D. Baker (Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, 2000-2002); Arthur “Art” English (UA-Little Rock, 2001-2003); and Kenneth A. Rogers (ATU, 2001-2003). Lawrence Okere of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff served as Past President ex officio. Michael Anda (UA-Little Rock) served as Editor and John Passe-Smith (UCA) served as Associate Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). Charles W. Hartwig of ASU served as Editor of the Directory of Arkansas Political Scientists, 2001-2002.
The Honorable Shane Broadway, Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives and a graduate of the ASU-Jonesboro Department of Political Science, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on February 22nd. John Brummett of the Arkansas News Bureau was the guest speaker during the Saturday luncheon on February 23rd. The research paper presented by Candi Gullett (UCA) was chosen as the “Best Undergraduate Student Paper” presented during the 2002 annual meeting.
Dr. Harold “Hal” F. Bass, Jr., Chairperson of the Department of Political Science at Ouachita Baptist University, was selected as the Founding Dean of the W. H. Sutton School of Social Sciences at OBU in 2002. Dr. Bass earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Baylor University in 1971, master’s degree in political science from Vanderbilt University in 1974, and Ph.D. in political science from Vanderbilt University in 1978. Dr. Bass served as President of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) in 1989-1990. Dr. Bass served as Chairperson of the Department of Political Science at OBU from 1979 to 2001 and Chairperson of the Division of Social Science at OBU from 1990 to 2001. Dr. Bass’ research on Arkansas politics, American presidency, and political parties has been published in the Arkansas Political Science Journal, Presidential Studies Quarterly, Midsouth Political Science Journal, and several edited books (including several editions of the Guide to the Presidency published by the Congressional Quarterly).
Dr. Andrew Dowdle (UA-Fayetteville) and Randall Adkins’ manuscript, “The Money Primary,” was published in Presidential Studies Quarterly in June 2002.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2003 – The 30th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on February 21-22, 2003. Dr. Mark Elrod of Harding University served as President of the ArkPSA in 2002-2003. Dr. Richard P. Wang of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Vice-President in 2002-2003. Dr. C. Jeddy LeVar of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2002-2003. Dr. John Passe-Smith (UCA) served as Program Chair for the 2003 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board included Kenneth A. Rogers (Arkansas Tech University, 2001-2003); Arthur “Art” English (University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 2001-2003); William Schreckhise (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, 2002-2004); and Jane McBride-Gates (ASU, 2002-2004). Ann V. Clemmer (UA-Little Rock) served as Past President ex officio. Michael Anda (UA-Little Rock) served as Editor and John Passe-Smith of UCA served as Associate Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). Dr. Charles W. Hartwig of ASU served as Editor of the Directory of Arkansas Political Scientists, 2002-2003. The following individuals were appointed as Section Chairpersons for the 2003 annual meeting: David Harding (ASU) – American Government & Politics; Jay Barth (Hendrix College) – Arkansas Government & Politics; Kenneth A. Rogers (ATU) – International Relations & Comparative Politics; Susan Zlomke (OBU) – Political Theory; Kenneth N. Hansen (UA-Fayetteville) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and Ann V. Clemmer (UA-Little Rock) – Graduate & Undergraduate Student Research.
President Lu Hardin of the University of Central Arkansas, former Arkansas State Senator and Director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on February 21st. James L. “Skip” Rutherford, President of the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, was the guest speaker during the Saturday luncheon on February 22nd.
Dr. Arthur “Art” English’s (UA-Little Rock) research paper was chosen as the “Best Faculty Paper” presented during the 2003 annual meeting. The research paper presented by Nick Rowell (UA-Fayetteville) titled “Long Roads: A Model of Prolonged Guerrilla Conflict in Latin America” was chosen as the “Best Undergraduate Student Paper” presented during the 2003 annual meeting. Dedric Lee’s (ASU-Jonesboro) research paper, “Liberia: Sliding Away from Stability,” and Willette Romious’ (ASU-Jonesboro) research paper were chosen as the “Best Graduate Student Papers” presented during the 2003 annual meeting.
Dr. Joel E. Anderson, who served as President of the ArkPSA in 1975-1976, was named as Chancellor of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock in 2003. Dr. Anderson taught political science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Dr. Anderson was also the founding Dean of the Graduate School at UA-Little Rock, Provost, and Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UA-Little Rock. Dr. Anderson earned his B.A. degree in Political Science from Harding College in Searcy, M.A. in International Relations from American University in Washington DC, and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Michigan in 1974.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2004 – The 31st Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at University of Arkansas at Fayetteville on February 20-21, 2004. Dr. Richard P. Wang of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as President of the ArkPSA in 2003-2004. Dr. John Passe-Smith of the University of Central Arkansas served as Vice-President in 2003-2004. Dr. Haroon A. Khan of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2003-2004. Dr. Margaret Reid of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville served as Program Chair for the 2004 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2003-2004 included the following individuals: William Schreckhise (UA-Fayetteville, 2002-2004); Jane McBride-Gates (ASU, 2002-2004); Susan Zlomke (OBU, 2003-2005); and Mark Mullenbach (UCA, 2003-2005). Mark Elrod of Harding University served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Michael Anda (UA-Little Rock) served as Editor and Dr. John Passe-Smith of UCA served as Associate Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). Dr. Charles W. Hartwig of ASU served as Editor of the Directory of Arkansas Political Scientists, 2003-2004.
Melissa Perry’s (UA-Fayetteville) research paper, “From Tokenism to Tilted Minority: ‘Critical Mass’ and Legislative Influence,” was chosen as the Best Undergraduate Student Paper presented at the 2004 annual meeting. The research paper presented by Jeremiah M. Dubb (UA-Fayetteville) was chosen as the Best Graduate Student Paper presented at the 2004 annual meeting.
Dr. Andrew Dowdle, Wayne Steger, and Randall Adkins’ manuscript, “The New Hampshire Effect in Presidential Primaries,” was published in Political Research Quarterly in September 2004.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Callis Jeddy LeVar, a retired faculty member at Henderson State University, died on August 15, 2004. Jeddy LeVar was born in Tavares, Florida to W.H. and Isabelle LeVar on May 31, 1938. He graduated from Tavares High School in 1956. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from Brigham Young University in 1960 and a master’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University in 1962. In 1962, Jeddy LeVar he began teaching Government and Journalism at Orlando Junior College in Orlando, Florida. He married Karma Huntsman in the Idaho Falls, Idaho on January 25, 1964. He earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Florida in 1973. Dr. Jeddy LeVar taught political science in the Social Sciences Department at Henderson State University from 1973 to 2003. He served as President of the Arkansas Political Science Association in 1984-1985 and served as Secretary-Treasurer of the ArkPSA from 1987 to 2003. Dr. LeVar published articles in GPSA Journal, Western Political Quarterly, Intercollegiate Case Clearinghouse (Harvard University), Arkansas Political Science Journal, Midsouth Journal of Political Science, and Academic Forum. He served as the first editor of HSU’s Academic Forum.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2005 – The 32nd Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock on February 18-19, 2005. Dr. John Passe-Smith of the University of Central Arkansas served as President of the ArkPSA in 2004-2005. Dr. Margaret Reid of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as Vice-President in 2004-2005. Dr. Haroon A. Khan of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer (2004-2005). Dr. Neil Snortland of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock served as Program Chair for the 2005 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2004-2005 included the following individuals: Mark Mullenbach (UCA, 2003-2005); Susan Zlomke (OBU, 2003-2005); Paul Babbitt (SAU, 2004-2006); and Judy Tobler (NWACC, 2004-2006). Richard P. Wang served as Past President ex officio.
Dr. Michael Nelson, Professor of Political Science at Rhodes College, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on February 18th. Dr. David Alsobrook, Director of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum, was the guest speaker during the Saturday afternoon luncheon on February 19th.
The following individuals were appointed as the Section Chairpersons for the 2005 annual meeting – Richard P. Wang (ASU) – American Government & Politics; Harold “Hal” F. Bass, Jr. (OBU) – 2004 Elections; Gary Wekkin (UCA) – Roundtable: The Road to the White House 2008; William D. Schreckhise (UA-Fayetteville) – Constitutional Law/Judicial Politics; Kenneth A. Rogers (ATU) – International Relations/Comparative Politics; Susan Zlomke (OBU) – Political Theory; Douglas Reed (OBU) – Public Policy; Arthur “Art” English (UA-Little Rock) – Arkansas Government & Politics; Marsha Guffey (UA-Little Rock) – Public Administration; and Ann V. Clemmer (UA-Little Rock) – Student Research.
Dr. Louella Moore’s (ASU-Jonesboro) research paper, “Debt Financing in Arkansas: A Pre-Cautionary Tale” was chosen as the Best Faculty Paper presented at the 2005 annual meeting. The research paper presented by Anna S. Makogonova (UA-Little Rock) titled “Assessing the Impact of the Retirement Wave: The Example of the Arkansas Department of Human Services” was chosen as the Best Graduate Student Paper presented as the 2005 annual meeting.
The manuscript written by Todd Donovan, Shaun Bowler, and Dr. Janine Parry (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “A Theory and Model of Mass Support for Proportional Representative,” was published in Social Science Quarterly in 2005.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2006 – The 33rd Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia on February 17-18, 2006. Dr. John Passe-Smith of the University of Central Arkansas served as President of the ArkPSA in 2005-2006. Dr. Neil Snortland of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Vice-President in 2005-2006. Dr. Haroon A. Khan of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2005-2006. Dr. Susan Zlomke of Ouachita Baptist University served as Program Chair for the 2006 annual meeting. The Honorable Mike Huckabee, Governor of Arkansas, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on February 17th. Dr. Paul Root, who worked for 22 years at OBU as Professor, Chairperson of the Department of Education, and Dean of the Graduate School, was the guest speaker during the Saturday luncheon on February 18th. Dr. Root also served as Special Assistant to Governor Bill Clinton from 1983 to 1987 and as Special Assistant to the Director of the Arkansas Department of General Education from 1987 to 1989. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2005-2006 included the following individuals: Paul Babbitt (SAU, 2004-2006); Judy Tobler (NWACC, 2004-2006); Charles W. Hartwig (ASU, 2005-2007); and Janine Parry (UA-Fayetteville, 2005-2007). Dr. John Passe-Smith of UCA served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). The following individuals were appointed as the Section Chairpersons for the 2006 annual meeting – Arthur “Art” English (UA-Little Rock) – American Government & Politics; Trent Shaskan (UA-Little Rock) – Arkansas Government & Politics; John Passe-Smith (UCA) – International Relations & Comparative Politics; Paul Babbitt (Southern Arkansas University) – Political Theory; Kim Hoffman (UCA) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and Haroon Khan (HSU) – Graduate & Undergraduate Student Research.
The research paper presented by Dr. Louella Moore (ASU-Jonesboro) titled “A Critique of Tax Increment Financing in Arkansas and Beyond” was selected as the Best Faculty Paper presented during the 2006 annual meeting. The research paper presented by Clint Pumphrey (Ouachita Baptist University) titled “Victory for Women, Victory for Eritrea: Women’s Participating in the Eritrean Revolution” and the research paper presented by Murad Elsaidi (UA-Little Rock) titled “Islam and Democracy” were chosen as the Best Undergraduate Student papers presented during the 2006 annual meeting.
Dr. Andrew Dowdle’s (UA-Fayetteville) manuscript, “The Protomodern Presidency,” was published in White House Studies in January 2006.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2007 – The 34th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held on the campus of Hendrix College in Conway on February 16-17, 2007. Dr. Neil Snortland of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as President of the ArkPSA in 2006-2007. Dr. Susan Zlomke of Ouachita Baptist University served as Vice-President in 2006-2007. Dr. Haroon A. Khan of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2006-2007. Dr. Jay Barth of Hendrix College served as Program Chair for the 2007 annual meeting. The Honorable Mike Beebe, Governor of Arkansas, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on February 16th. Dr. David Stricklin, Director of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies in Little Rock, was the guest speaker during the Saturday luncheon on February 17th. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2005-2006 included the following individuals: Charles W. Hartwig (ASU, 2005-2007); Janine Parry (UA-Fayetteville, 2005-2007); William Topich (Pulaski Academy, 2006-2008); and Lawrence Okere (UA-Pine Bluff, 2006-2008). Dr. John Passe-Smith of UCA served as Past President ex officio and as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR).
Russ Montgomery’s (Hendrix College) research paper, “Shopping Malls at the Expense of Schools? The Impact of Tax Increment Financing on School Funding in Arkansas,” and Larissa Braden’s (Arkansas Tech University) research paper, “An Outline of the Iraq War,” were chosen as the Best Undergraduate Student Papers presented at the 2007 annual meeting.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Afak Haydar, a retired political science and public administration professor at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, died in Jonesboro on April 14, 2007. Afak Haydar was born in India on July 15, 1933, and his family emigrated to Pakistan in the 1940s. Awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, Afak Haydar emigrated to the U.S. with his wife and children in the 1960s. Dr. Haydar served as Director of International Programs at ASU from 1970 until his retirement in 1997. Dr. Haydar established a scholarship for international studies at ASU. He recruited students from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and other countries to study at ASU. During his travels as director, Dr. Haydar collected some 1,500 fountain pens from around the world. Dr. Haydar was survived by his wife, Mrs. Chand A. Haydar and four children (and spouses) – Najmi (Kim) Haydar, Aslam (Sameera) Haydar, Arif (Nuzhat) Haydar, and Tara (Abbas) Raza.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2008 – The 35th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held on the campus of University of Arkansas at Fayetteville on February 22-23, 2008. Dr. Jay Barth of Hendrix College served as President of the ArkPSA in 2007-2008. Dr. Mark Mullenbach of the University of Central Arkansas served as Vice-President in 2007-2008. Dr. Haroon A. Khan of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2007-2008. Dr. Janine Parry of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as Program Chair for the 2008 annual meeting. The Honorable Dan Coody, Mayor of Fayetteville, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on February 22nd. The Honorable Dustin McDaniel, Attorney-General of the State of Arkansas, was the guest speaker during the Saturday luncheon on February 23rd. At-Large members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2007-2008 included the following individuals: William Topich (Pulaski Academy, 2006-2008); Lawrence Okere (UA-Pine Bluff, 2006-2008); Douglas Reed (Ouachita Baptist University, 2007-2009); and Sydnee Moyers (Northwest Arkansas Community College, 2007-2009). Neil Snortland of UA-Little Rock served as Past President ex officio. John Passe-Smith of UCA served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR).
Dr. Michael Rogers’ (Arkansas Tech University) research paper, “Thomas Hobbes and Who Should Rule,” was chosen as the Best Faculty Paper presented at the 2008 annual meeting. Angela J. Wolfe’s (University of Delaware) research paper, “Subnational Actors and the Impact of Human Rights Norms,” was chosen as the Best Graduate Student Paper presented at the 2008 annual meeting. The research paper presented by Chris McNeal (Harding University) titled “State Legislative Professionalism: An Examination of Its Effects on Spending and Taxation” was chosen as the Best Undergraduate Student Paper presented at the 2008 annual meeting.
The manuscript written by Todd Donovan and Dr. Janine Parry (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Leave the Rascals In? Explaining the Poor Prospects of Term Limits Extensions,” was published in State Politics and Policy Quarterly in 2008.
Dr. Jay Barth of Hendrix College served as
the 34th President of the ArkPSA in 2007-2008
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Simms McClintock was born to William Richey and Lilly (Simms) McClintock in Lake Village, Chicot County, AR on July 10, 1927. Simms McClintock, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War, earned a B.A. degree from Hendrix College in 1951 and an M.A. degree from Columbia University in 1953. As a social studies teacher at Crossett High School, Simms McClintock won the “Arkansas Teacher of the Year” award and was a top-ten finalist for the “National Teacher of the Year” award in 1963. McClintock studied at Columbia University on a John Hay Fellowship in 1965. Professor McClintock was hired as an Assistant Professor in the Department of History and Political Science at Arkansas State Teachers College (now the University of Central Arkansas) in Conway in the Fall of 1966. Shortly after arriving at UCA in 1966, Professor McClintock founded and coordinated the Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN) through his retirement in the 1990s. Professor McClintock was one of the founding members and served on the Constitutional Committee of the ArkPSA in 1974-1975. Simms McClintock died in Conway on December 5, 2008.
Professor Simms McClintock (center)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2009 – The 36th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the Lake Point Conference Center in Russellville on February 27-28, 2009. Dr. Mark Mullenbach of the University of Central Arkansas served as President of the ArkPSA in 2008-2009. Dr. Janine Parry of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville served as Vice-President in 2008-2009. Dr. Haroon A. Khan of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2008-2009. Dr. Michael Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as Program Chair for the 2009 annual meeting. Ambassador Jason Yuan, Representative Taipei Economic & Cultural Representative Office in the United States, Washington D.C., was the guest speaker during the the Friday evening dinner on February 27th. The Honorable John Boozman, U.S. House of Representatives, was the guest speaker during the Saturday luncheon on February 28th. At-Large members of the ArkPSA Executive Board included: Douglas Reed (OBU, 2007-2009); Sidney Moyers (NWACC, 2007-2009); Sharon Wrobel (UA-Little Rock, 2008-2010); and William McLean (ASU, 2008-2010). Jay Barth of Hendrix College served as Past President ex officio. John Passe-Smith of UCA served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). The following individuals were appointed as the Section Chairs for the 2009 annual meeting – Donald Gooch (Arkansas Tech University) – American Government & Politics; Jay Barth (Hendrix College) – Arkansas Government & Politics; Gizachew Tiruneh (UCA) – International Relations & Comparative Politics; Paul Babbitt (Southern Arkansas University) – Political Theory; Sharon Wrobel (UA-Little Rock) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and Andrew Bagley (PCCUA) – Graduate & Undergraduate Student Research.
Dr. Michael Rogers’ (Arkansas Tech University) research paper, “Elected Monarchy and Aristocratic Junto: Criticisms of the Election of the President During Ratification of the Constitution,” was chosen as the Best Faculty Paper presented at the 2009 annual meeting. The research paper presented by Cameron C. Wimpy (ASU-Jonesboro) titled “Unconventional Political Behavior in the Middle East” was selected as the Best Graduate Student Paper presented during the 2009 annual meeting. The research paper presented by Hunter Gillium (UA-Monticello) titled “Al-Qaeda: A new Generation of Terror” was selected as the Best Undergraduate Student Paper presented during the 2009 annual meeting.
On March 30, 2009, the Chancellor Joel E. Anderson of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock unveiled a plaque designating the three-sectioned assembly room at the Donaghey Student Center as the “Calvin R. Ledbetter, Jr. Assembly Hall” in honor of Dr. Calvin R. Ledbetter, Jr., University of Arkansas at Little Rock Emeritus Professor, Chair of the Political Science Department, and College Dean. Dr. Ledbetter served as President of the ArkPSA in 1980-1981. Calvin Reville Ledbetter, Jr., who was born in 1929 and married to Mary Brown “Brownie” Williams on July 26, 1953, earned a B.A. degree from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, J.D. from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, and Ph.D. in Political Science from Northwestern University. Dr. Ledbetter served as lawyer for the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Corp. in Germany. Dr. Ledbetter served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1967 to 1976, and he was vice-president of the 1980 Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
Dr. Calvin R. Ledbetter (second from right) with his family at the University
of Arkansas-Little Rock Donaghey Student Center, March 30, 2009
Dr. Donald V. Weatherman, who served as President of the Arkansas Political Science Association in 1995-1996, was selected as the 17th President of Lyons College in Batesville starting on July 1, 2009. Dr. Weatherman earned his B.A. in Political Science from California State University-Los Angeles, and he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Political Science (American Government and Political Philosophy) from Claremont Graduate University. Dr. Weatherman served as the John D. Trimble Sr. Professor of Political Philosophy at Lyon College from 1983 to 1999. In 1986, Dr. Weatherman received the Lamar Williamson Prize for Excellence in Teaching at Lyon College. In 1988, Dr. Weatherman was a Bradley Resident Scholar at the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC. Among other publications, Dr. Weatherman is the author of the book, Endangered Guardians: Party Reform Within a Constitutional System (Rowman & Littlefield, 1994). Dr. Weatherman retired as President of Lyon College in 2017.
The manuscript written by Dr. Janine Parry (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville) and Dr. Jay Barth (Hendrix College), “Political Culture, Public Opinion, and Policy (Non)Diffusion: The Case of Gay and Lesbian-Related Issues in Arkansas,” was published in Social Science Quarterly in 2009.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2010 – The 37th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held on the campus of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro on February 26-27, 2010. Dr. Janine Parry of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as President of the ArkPSA in 2009-2010. Dr. Michael Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as Vice-President in 2009-2010. Dr. Haroon A. Khan of Henderson State University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2009-2010. Dr. William McLean of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as the Program Chair for the 2010 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the Executive Board in 2009-2010 included the following individuals: Will McLean (ASU-Jonesboro, 2008-2010); Sharon Wrobel (UA-Little Rock, 2008-2010); Andrew Bagley (Phillips Community College-University of Arkansas, 2009-2011); and Kim Hoffman (University of Central Arkansas, 2009-2011). Mark Mullenbach of the University of Central Arkansas served as Past President ex officio. John Passe-Smith of UCA served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR).
John Brummett, Arkansas News Bureau, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on February 26th.
The following individuals were presented awards for papers presented during the 2010 annual meeting: Best Graduate Student Paper – Wade Derden, Kalynn Heald, et al. (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “An Implementation Analysis of the Arkansas System of Care Network”; and Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Carol Verbeek (Centenary College), “The Ties That Bind Are Fraying? An Examination of the New Transatlantic Relations”.
Dr. Andrew Bagley (PCCUA) and the ArkPSA hosted a one-day conference, “The Delta: Poverty, Education, and Economic Development,” at Phillips County Community College of the University of Arkansas in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas on October 10, 2009. Dr. Eric T. Weber of the University of Mississippi presented a research paper, “Democracy, Education, and Economic Growth: Rethinking Causal Relationships in Mississippi,” at the conference.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Robert Winston Meriwether, a retired professor of American history and political science at Hendrix College, died in Conway on May 8, 2010. Robert W. Meriwether was born to William Winston and Rosalie (Diffey) Meriwether in Memphis, Tennessee on June 17, 1928. He graduated from Paragould High School in 1945 and Hendrix College in 1949. In 1951, Robert W. Meriwether graduated with a M.A. degree from Vanderbilt University, and served two years in the U.S. Army. During his teaching career starting in 1947, Robert W. Meriwether taught at Lakeside School District, Lafe School District, Greene County Tech High School, Delaplaine School District, Paragould High School, Anna-Jonesboro (Illinois) Community High School, Booker Junior High School in Little Rock, and Greenbrier High School. From 1959 to 1965, Robert W. Meriwether served as Dean of Students at Hendrix College, and was a professor of American history and political science at Hendrix College until his retirement in 1993. Robert W. Meriwether was elected to the Faulkner County Quorum Court from 1973 to 1980. Robert W. Meriwether served as Interim Executive Director of the Arkansas Ethics Commission in 1993-1994, and served as Chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Ethics in 1994. He also served on the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2011 – The 38th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Little Rock on March 4-5, 2011. Dr. Michael Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as President of the ArkPSA in 2010-2011. Dr. William McLean of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Vice-President in 2010-2011. Dr. Mark Mullenbach of the University of Central Arkansas served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2010-2011. Dr. Joseph Giammo of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as the Program Chair for the 2011 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2010-2011 included Andrew Bagley (Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, 2009-2011); Kim Hoffman (UCA, 2009-2011); Kevin Brennan (Ouachita Baptist University, 2010-2012); and Donald Gooch (ATU, 2010-2012). Dr. Janine Parry of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville served as Past President ex officio. Dr. John Passe-Smith of UCA served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR).
The Honorable Tim Griffin, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on March 4th. James “Skip” Rutherford, Dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, was the guest speaker during the Saturday luncheon on March 5th.
The following individuals were appointed as the Section Chairs for the 2011 annual meeting – Arthur “Art” English (UA-Little Rock) – American Government & Politics; Ann V. Clemmer (UA-Little Rock) – Arkansas Government & Politics; Andrew Drummond (UA-Little Rock) – International Relations & Comparative Politics; Jacek Lubecki (UA-Little Rock) – Political Theory; Sharon Wrobel (UA-Little Rock) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and Rebecca Glazier (UA-Little Rock – Graduate & Undergraduate Student Research.
The following individuals were presented awards for papers presented during the 2011 annual meeting: Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Richard Hartwig (Texas A&M University at Kingsville) and Jesus Trevino (Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico), “Understanding and Coping with Mexican Drug Violence”; and Best Undergraduate Student paper – Elizabeth Whittington (Hendrix College), “Policy Challenges and Recommendations for the Implementation of Health Exchanges in Arkansas.”
Dr. John N. Short, who served as President of the Arkansas Political Science Association in 1991-1992, was selected as Dean and Chief Executive Officer at the University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac on July 1, 2010. John Short earned his bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and his master’s degree from State University of New York at Albany. He earned his doctoral degree in government from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Dr. Short served as Professor of Political Science, Chair of the Division of Sciences, and Dean of the School of Social & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Dr. Short also served as Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Millersville University in Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2010.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Walter P. Carr, Jr., a former professor of political science at Arkansas Tech University, died in Orlando, Florida on October 5, 2010. Walter P. Carr, Jr. was born to Walter P. Carr, Sr. and Nelle Marie Fink in Hot Springs, Arkansas on February 24, 1921. After his mother’s death on April 19, 1931, Walter was raised by relatives in Mississippi. Walter married Evelyn, and graduated from Louisiana State University. After attending Officer Candidate School, First Lt. Walter P. Carr, Jr. served in the U.S. Army (80th Infantry Division) during the Second World War. Lt. Carr was awarded the Silver Star for his valor during the Battle of the Bulge on October 24, 1944. Colonel Walter P. Carr, Jr. retired from the U.S. Army in 1965, when he was hired to teach political science at ATU in Russellville, Arkansas. Evelyn Carr died in 2003, and Walter moved to Orlando, Florida.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Robert L. Savage, a former political science professor at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, died on January 26, 2011. Robert Savage was born in Fort Worth, Texas on February 26, 1939, and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1959. He earned a B.A. degree in Government from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas in 1963, M.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Houston in 1966, and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1971. Dr. Savage taught political science at the Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama from 1971 to 1974 and at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville from 1974 until his retirement in 2001. Dr. Savage served as Chairperson of the Department of Political Science at UA-Fayetteville from 1989 to 1998.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2012 – The 39th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on February 24-25, 2012. Dr. William McLean of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as President of the ArkPSA in 2011-2012. Dr. Joseph Giammo of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Vice-President in 2011-2012. Dr. Mark Mullenbach of the University of Central Arkansas served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2011-2012. Dr. Kim Hoffman of the University of Central Arkansas served as Program Chair for the 2012 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2011-2012 included Kevin Brennan (OBU, 2010-2012); Donald Gooch (ATU, 2010-2012); Steven Breezeel (Harding University, 2011-2013); and Natasha Washington (NWACC, 2011-2013). Dr. Michael Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as Past President ex officio. Dr. John Passe-Smith of UCA served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR).
Dr. Charles Bullock, the Richard B. Russell Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Georgia, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on February 24th. Preston Scroggin, Faulkner County Judge and 1989 graduate of the UCA Department of Political Science, was the guest speaker during the Saturday luncheon on February 25th.
The following individuals were appointed as the Section Chairs for the 2012 annual meeting – Donald Gooch (ATU) – American Government & Politics; Price Dooley (UCA) – Arkansas Government & Politics; Gizachew Tiruneh (UCA) – International Relations & Comparative Politics; Kim Maslin (Hendrix College) – Political Theory; Cathy Reese (ASU-Jonesboro) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and Tom McInnis (UCA) – Graduate & Undergraduate Student Research.
The following individuals were presented awards for papers presented during the 2012 annual meeting: Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Rebecca Anne Glazier (University of Arkansas-Little Rock) and Dr. William J. Miller (Southeast Missouri State University), “Whose ‘Clash’? Comparing Anti-Americanism and Anti-Muslim Attitudes”; Best Graduate Student Paper – Daniel Chand, Renee Deshommes, Kuatbay Bektemirov, and Leland McQueen (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Policies: An Analysis of the 287(g) and Secure Communities Programs in Arkansas”; and Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Kelly Reed (University of Arkansas-Monticello), “The Rise of the Opposition: A Theoretical Appraisal of the Recent Arab Spring”.
Dr. Janine Parry, Daniel A. Smith, and Shayne Henry’s (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville) manuscript, “The Impact of Petition Signing on Voter Turnout,” was published in Political Behavior in 2012.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Lawrence N. Okere, a professor of political science at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, died in Little Rock on May 10, 2012. Lawrence Okere was born in 1957, and he earned his Ph.D. degree in political science at the University of North Texas. Dr. Okere was survived by his wife Caroline, two daughters Thelma and Michelle, and one granddaughter.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2013 – The 40th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia on March 1-2, 2013. Dr. Joseph Giammo of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock served as President of the ArkPSA in 2012-2013. Dr. Kim Hoffman of the University of Central Arkansas served as Vice-President in 2012-2013. Dr. Mark Mullenbach of the University of Central Arkansas served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2012-2013. Dr. Kevin Brennan of Ouachita Baptist University served as Program Chair for the 2013 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2012-2013 included Steven Breezeel (Harding University, 2011-2013); Natasha Washington (NWACC, 2011-2013); Kim Maslin (Hendrix College, 2012-2014); and Christopher Housenick (ATU, 2012-2014). Dr. William P. McLean of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Past President ex officio. Dr. John Passe-Smith of UCA served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR).
The following individuals were appointed as Section Chairs for the 2013 annual meeting: Haroon A. Khan (HSU) – American Government & Politics; Jay Barth (Hendrix College) – Arkansas Government & Politics; Christopher Housenick (ATU) – International Relations & Comparative Politics; Steven Thomason (OBU) – Political Theory; Joseph Howard (UCA) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and Andrew Bagley (PCCUA) – Graduate & Undergraduate Student Research.
Dr. Ronald Keith Gaddie, Professor of Political Science at the University of Oklahoma, was the guest speaker during the Friday evening dinner on March 1st. Kay Goss, President and CEO, World Disaster Management, was the guest speaker during the Saturday luncheon on March 2nd.
The following individuals were presented awards for papers presented during the 2013 annual meeting: Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Jacob Porter (Hendrix College), “Fiscal Decentralization and Economic Innovation in Spain’s Autonomous Communities”; and Best Graduate Student Paper – John C. Davis (University of Missouri), “A Study of U.S. Senators with Presidential Aspirations”.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Charles DeWitt Dunn died at his home in Arkadelphia, Arkansas on May 5, 2013. Charles Dunn was born to Charles E. and Lucille (Bailey) Dunn in Magnolia, Arkansas on December 2, 1945. He graduated from McNeil High School in 1963, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Southern Arkansas University in 1967, a Master’s of Arts degree in Political Science from the North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) in 1970, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Southern Illinois University in 1973. In 1969, Dr. Dunn began his teaching career at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, teaching in the political science department before moving to the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas in 1975. During his more than ten years at UCA, Dr. Dunn served as a Professor of Political Science, Chair of the Department of Political Science (1976-1982), and the Director of Governmental Relations (1982-1986). Dr. Dunn served as President of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) in 1976-1977. In February 1986, Dr. Dunn was named the 14th President of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Dr. Dunn retired from the presidency of HSU in 2008 and at twenty-two years in the position, was the longest serving president in the university’s history. He ended his career at Henderson as President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of Political Science, teaching courses in the American Presidency, Political Behavior, and State & Local Government. Throughout his career, Dr. Dunn served on numerous boards and commissions at the state, national, and local levels. In 1986, Dr. Dunn was selected by his peers to chair the Arkansas Presidents and Chancellors Association; Governor Bill Clinton appointed him to chair the Commission on Arkansas’s Future from 1989-1993; and he was a member of the Arkansas Community Foundation Board of Directors from 1996-2006, chairing the board from 2002-2003.
Dr. Charles D. Dunn served as President & Professor of
Political Science at Henderson State University from 1986 to 2008
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Calvin R. Ledbetter, Jr., University of Arkansas at Little Rock Emeritus Professor, died at his home in Little Rock, Arkansas on August 10, 2013. Calvin was born to Calvin R. Ledbetter, Sr. and Virginia Campbell Ledbetter in Little Rock on April 29, 1929. Calvin graduated with a B.A. degree from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, and graduated with a J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas Law School in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Calvin practiced law in Little Rock, and then joined the U.S. Army as a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps. He served with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1955 to 1957. After completing his military service, Calvin earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois in 1961. Calvin was married to Mary Brown “Brownie” Williams Ledbetter on July 26, 1953. Calvin and Brownie had three children (Grainger, Snow, and Jeffery). Dr. Ledbetter joined the faculty of the Department of Political Science at Little Rock University (now the University of Arkansas at Little Rock) in 1960, and he served as Chair of the Department of Political Science from 1961 to 1978. Dr. Ledbetter served in the Arkansas State Legislature from 1967 to 1977. Dr. Ledbetter served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at UA-Little Rock from 1978 to 1988. Dr. Ledbetter retired from UA-Little Rock as a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science. Dr. Ledbetter served as President of the Arkansas Political Science Association (ArkPSA) in 1980-1981, and he was also a member of the National Conference of Academic Deans, the Arkansas History Commission, and the Arkansas Humanities Council. Dr. Ledbetter’s book, Carpenter from Conway: George Washington Donaghey as Governor of Arkansas, 1909–1913, was published by the University of Arkansas Press in 1994. Dr. Ledbetter also co-authored three books, Politics in Arkansas: The Constitutional Experience (Little Rock: Academic Press of Arkansas, 1972), The Arkansas Plan: A Case Study in Public Policy (Little Rock: University of Arkansas-Little Rock, 1979), and Arkansas Becomes a State (Little Rock: University of Arkansas-Little Rock, 1985), and authored more than 30 articles in several academic journals such as the Arkansas Political Science Journal, Arkansas Historical Quarterly, the National Civic Review, the University of Arkansas Law Review, and State Government. Dr. Ledbetter’s wife, Mary Brown “Brownie” Williams Ledbetter died in Little Rock on March 21, 2010.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 – The 41st Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held at the American Heritage Center at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas on February 28-March 1, 2014. Dr. Kim Hoffman of the University of Central Arkansas served as President of the ArkPSA in 2013-2014. Dr. Kevin Brennan of Ouachita Baptist University served as Vice-President in 2013-2014. Dr. Mark Mullenbach of the University of Central Arkansas served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2013-2014. Dr. Steven Breezeel of Harding University served as Program Chair for the 2014 annual meeting. Dr. Shawn Fisher, Professor of History at Harding University, gave the keynote address, “The Battle of Little Rock” (1957 Little Rock Desegregation Crisis), during the Friday evening dinner on February 28th. The Honorable Ann V. Clemmer, Arkansas House of Representatives, addressed the conference participants during the Saturday luncheon on March 1st. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2013-2014 included the following individuals: Kim Maslin (Hendrix College, 2012-2014); Christopher Housenick (ATU, 2012-2014); Carol Strong (UA-Monticello); and Daniel Egbe (Philander Smith College). Joseph Giammo of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock served as Past President ex officio. Joseph Howard of UCA served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). The following individuals were appointed as Section Chairs for the 2014 annual meeting: Natasha Washington (NWACC) – American Government & Politics; Lori Klein (Harding University) – Arkansas Government & Politics; Mark Elrod (Harding University) – International Relations & Comparative Politics; Tom Howard (Harding University) – Political Theory; Catherine Reese (ASU-Jonesboro) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and Carol Strong (UA-Monticello) – Graduate & Undergraduate Student Research.
The following individuals were presented awards for papers presented during the 2014 annual meeting: Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Erika Bowsher (University of Arkansas-Little Rock), “Twenty Years of International Justice: An Evaluation of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia”; Best Graduate Student Paper – John C. Davis (University of Missouri), “The Natural State in a Time of Change: A Survey-Based Analysis of State Party Organizations in Arkansas, 1999-2013″; and Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Mike Yawn (Sam Houston State University), “Teaching Local: Civic Engagement & Local Government.”
Dr. Janine Parry and Craig M. Burnett’s (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville) manuscript, “Gubernatorial Endorsements and Ballot Measure Approval,” was published in State Politics and Policy Quarterly in 2014.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. David Emory England, a former professor of political science at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, died following a long battle with lung cancer at his home near Pensacola, Florida on August 10, 2014. David E. England was born on September 12, 1942. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Marquette University in 1964. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam during the 1960s, earning a Purple Heart. He worked as Coordinator of Social Services with the Department of Offender Rehabilitation in Atlanta, Georgia and as a Warden of a Maximum Security Prison in Alto, Georgia from 1972 to 1979. He earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Georgia in 1983. After teaching for a year at the University of Mississippi, Dr. England began teaching political science at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro beginning in Fall 1984. In 2000, Dr. England was presented the “Teacher of the Year” award at ASU-Jonesboro.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2015 – The 42nd Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held on the campus of Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas on February 27-28, 2015. Dr. Kevin Brennan of Ouachita Baptist University served as President of the ArkPSA in 2014-2015. Dr. Steven Breezeel of Harding University served as Vice-President in 2014-2015. Dr. Mark Mullenbach of the University of Central Arkansas served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2014-2015. Dr. Kim Maslin of Hendrix College served as Program Chair for the 2015 annual meeting. Dr. Randy LeBlanc of the University of Texas at Tyler gave the keynote address, “Speaking Peace to Enmity: Edward Said, Judith Butler, and the End of Criticism in the Discourse on Palestine/Israel,” during the Friday evening dinner on February 27th. Dr. Jay Barth of Hendrix College spoke on the topic, “The Challenges and Opportunities of an Academic in Public Life,” during the Saturday afternoon luncheon on February 28th. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2014-2015 included Carol Strong (UA-Monticello, 2013-2015), Daniel Egbe (Philander Smith College, 2013-2015), Christopher Housenick (ATU, 2014-2016), and Andrew Dowdle (UA-Fayetteville, 2014-2016). Dr. Kim Hoffman (UCA) served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Joseph Howard of UCA served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). The following individuals were appointed as Section Chairs for the 2015 annual meeting: Joseph Giammo (UA-Little Rock) – American Government & Politics; Jay Barth (Hendrix College) – Arkansas Government & Politics; Gizachew Tiruneh (UCA) – International Relations & Comparative Politics; Mary Beth Sullivan (UCA) – Political Theory; Clay Arnold (UCA) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and Peter Gess (Hendrix College) – Graduate & Undergraduate Student Research.
The following individuals were presented awards for papers presented during the 2015 annual meeting: Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Austin Nelson (Hendrix College), “Race and Redistricting: How Racial Gerrymandering Benefits Black Voters and Republicans”; and Best Graduate Student Paper – John C. Davis (University of Missouri), “The Nature and Effects of Political Party Culture on Political Careers”.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2016 – The 43rd Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held on the campus of the University of Arkansas-Monticello in Monticello, Arkansas on February 26-27, 2016. Dr. Steven Breezeel of Harding University served as President of the ArkPSA in 2015-2016. Dr. Kim Maslin of Hendrix College served as Vice-President in 2015-2016. Dr. Michael Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2015-2016. Carol Strong of the University of Arkansas-Monticello served as Program Chair for the 2016 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2015-2016 included Christopher Housenick (ATU, 2014-2016), Andrew Dowdle (UA-Fayetteville, 2014-2016), Gregory Shufeldt (UA-Little Rock, 2015-2017), and Hans Hacker (ASU-Jonesboro, 2015-2017). Dr. Kevin Brennan (Ouachita Baptist University) served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Joseph Howard (UCA) served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR).
The following individuals were appointed as Section Chairs for the 2016 annual meeting: Matthew Gross (Henderson State University) – American Government & Politics; Janine Parry (UA-Fayetteville) – Arkansas Government & Politics; Mark Elrod (UCA) – Comparative Politics & International Relations; Matthew Evans (NWACC) – Political Theory; Brendan Toner (ATU) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and John Davis (UA-Monticello) – Graduate & Undergraduate Student Research.
Mr. Christopher Massingill, Co-Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority, spoke during the Friday evening dinner on February 26th. Dr. Hal Bass (Ouachita Baptist University) and Dr. Art English (University of Arkansas-Little Rock) were presented the Association’s Distinguished Scholar Award during the Friday evening dinner. Dr. John Kyle Day, Associate Professor of History at UA-Monticello, spoke during the Saturday afternoon luncheon on February 27th.
The following individuals were presented awards for papers presented during the 2016 annual meeting: Best Faculty Paper – Dr. Gregory Shufeldt (University of Arkansas-Little Rock) and Paul A. Crutcher, “The ‘Nativ’ Citizen: Political Attitudes, Outcomes, and State Pride”; Best Graduate Student Paper – Mark Nabor (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Most Other People and Me: A Case Study of Opinions about Same-Sex Marriage Among United Methodist Parishioners in Washington County”; and Best Undergraduate Student Paper – Caylin Craig (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “Investing in an Imprisoned America: Private Prison PAC Campaign Contributions in the U.S. House and Senate Elections”.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2017 – The 44th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held on the campus of Arkansas Tech University (ATU) and Lake Point Conference Center in Russellville, Arkansas on March 3-4, 2017. Dr. Kim Maslin of Hendrix College served as President of the ArkPSA in 2016-2017. Dr. Carol Strong of the UA-Monticello served as Vice-President in 2016-2017. Dr. Michael Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as Secretary-Treasurer in 2016-2017. Chris Housenick of Arkansas Tech University served as Program Chair for the 2017 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2016-2017 included Gregory Shufeldt (UA-Little Rock, 2015-2017), Hans Hacker (ASU-Jonesboro, 2015-2017), Karen Sebold (UA-Fayetteville, 2016-2018), and Mary Beth Sullivan (UCA, 2016-2018). Dr. Steven Breezeel (Harding University) served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Joseph Howard (UCA) served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR).
The following individuals were appointed as Section Chairs for the 2017 annual meeting: Heather Yates (UCA) – American Government & Politics; Michael Rogers (ATU) – Arkansas Government & Politics; Matthew Evans (NWACC) – International Relations & Comparative Politics; Steven Thomason (OBU) – Political Theory; Brendan Toner (ATU) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and Jaeyun Sung (Lyon College) – Graduate & Undergraduate Student Research.
Dr. Michael Malbin, Professor of Political Science at the University at Albany, State University of New York, spoke during the Friday evening dinner on March 3rd. Dr. Haroon Khan (Henderson State University) and Dr. Gary Wekkin (University of Central Arkansas) were presented the Association’s Distinguished Scholar Award during the Friday evening dinner. Congressman Steve Womack, 3rd Congressional District of Arkansas, spoke during the Saturday noon luncheon on March 4th.
The following individuals were presented awards for papers presented during the 2017 annual meeting: Best Faculty Paper — Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm (University of Arkansas at Little Rock), “The Syrian Civil War and Diaspora Transnational Justice Mobilization”; Best Graduate Student Paper — Eric Button (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), “The Diffusion of Veterans Treatment Courts: A Prediction of Future Adoption for the Late Majority and Laggard States”; and Best Undergraduate Student Paper — Brian Gregory (University of Arkansas at Little Rock), “Faith in Action: A Look into Little Rock’s Religious Mobilization”.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Steven Neuse, a former political science professor at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, died on May 26, 2017. Steven was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1941 and he grew up in New Braunfels, Texas. He earned a Ph.D. degree in political science from the University of Texas-Austin in 1976. Dr. Neuse taught political science at the University of Texas-El Paso, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (1981-2001). Dr. Neuse served as Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville from 1998 to 2001.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Robert Edward Johnston, a former political science professor at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and former Arkansas state legislator, died in Little Rock on September 20, 2017. Robert Johnston was born to Ezekiel Bennett and Kathleen (Connelly) Johnston in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on September 11, 1940. He graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1958. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rice University, where he was an all-Southwest Conference football player. In 1973, Robert was inducted into the Rice University Athletics Hall of Fame. After graduating from Rice University, Robert received a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University, where he earned another B.A. degree and M.A. degree. He served three years in the U.S. Army as a Ranger and paratrooper. He earned a Ph.D. in political science and economics from Columbia University. Dr. Johnston taught political science at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. He served in the Arkansas House of Representative for eight years before he was appointed by Governor Bill Clinton as Chairman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission. He served as chairman of the PSC for six years. Dr. Robert Johnston was survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Christy Johnston, and two grandchildren, Lena and Duncan.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Walter Harris Nunn died on October 2, 2017. Walter Nunn was born in Monticello, Arkansas on February 17, 1942, and he graduated from Hendrix College in Conway in 1964. While attending Hendrix College, he served as the editor of the Hendrix “College Profile” newspaper in 1961 and 1962. He earned a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas in 1966 and a doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Arkansas in 1992. He served as the director of the Arkansas’ Institute of Politics and Government from 1978-1981. For more than 30 years, he served as the director of the Arkansas International Center, a Little Rock-based non-profit organization that sponsored more than 10,000 international visitors to the state of Arkansas. For more than 20 years, he taught political science courses at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He was the founding owner of Rose Publishing Company, which published books about Arkansas, including its politics, history and government. Known as an expert on Arkansas Constitution, he published over 70 books about the state of Arkansas, including a history of the state titled “Arkansas Odyssey.” He served as Vice President of the Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission in the early 2000s. Dr. Walter H. Nunn was survived by Gale Stewart, an attorney, farmer, and expert gardener, as well as his two children: Robert Nunn and Dr. Amy Nunn.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2018 – The 45th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building on the campus of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro on March 2-3, 2018. Dr. Carol Strong of University of Arkansas-Monticello served as President of the ArkPSA in 2017-2018. Dr. Chris Housenick of Arkansas Tech University served as Vice-President in 2017-2018. Dr. Michael Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as the Treasurer in 2017-2018. Dr. Matthew Evans of Northwest Arkansas Community College served as the Secretary in 2017-2018. Dr. Hans Hacker of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Program Chair for the 2018 annual meeting. Dr. Kim Maslin (Hendrix College) as Past President ex officio. Dr. Joseph Howard (UCA) served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2017-2018 included Karen Sebold (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, 2016-2018), Mary Beth Sullivan (UCA, 2016-2018), Lori Klein (Harding University, 2017-2019), and Matthew Gross (Henderson State University, 2017-2019).
The following individuals were appointed as Section Chairs for the 2018 annual meeting: Dr. Donald Gooch (Stephen F. Austin State University) – American Government & Politics; Dr. Michael Rogers (Arkansas Tech University) – Arkansas & State Politics; Dr. Haroon Khan (Henderson State University) and Dr. Jacob Ausderan (ASU-Jonesboro) – International Relations & Comparative Politics; Dr. Matthew Evans (Northwest Arkansas Community College) – Political Theory; Dr. David Harding (ASU-Jonesboro); and Dr. Amy Buzby (ASU-Jonesboro) – Undergraduate & Graduate Student Research.
Dr. Ronald Keith Gaddie, Presidential Professor and Executive Faculty Fellow at University of Oklahoma, gave a speech titled “Putting the Fix on Gerrymandering” during the Friday evening dinner on March 2nd. Dr. Jay Barth of Hendrix College and Dr. Charles Hartwig of ASU-Jonesboro were presented the Association’s Distinguished Scholar Award. The Honorable Rick Crawford, U.S. Representative for the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas, spoke after the Saturday afternoon luncheon on March 3rd.
Dr. Charles Hartwig (left) and Dr. Jay Barth (right) were presented the
Distinguished Scholar Award during the 2018 annual meeting.
The following individuals were presented awards for papers presented during the 2018 annual meeting: Best Undergraduate Paper — C. Taylor Summerville, Arkansas Tech University, “Pakistan-India Territorial Disputes: Why do the Tensions Persist?; Regan Williams, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Elitism in Feminist Scholarship: A Stronghold for Sexism in American Society; Best Graduate Paper — Eric D. Button, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Trends in Voting Behavior of Active Duty Military Spouses: A Study of Sophistication, Access, and Participation, with Anne B. Diallo; and Best Faculty Paper — Patrick Stewart, Elaine Terrell, Alex M. Kareev, Blake Tylar Ellison, and Charini I. Urteaga, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, “gamifying” online American National Government: Lessons learned from developing “Citizenship Quest”.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2019 – The 46th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held on the campus of University of Arkansas-Fayetteville on March 8-9, 2019. Dr. Chris Housenick of Arkansas Tech University served as President in 2018-2019. Dr. Hans Hacker of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as Vice-President in 2018-2019. Dr. Michael Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as the Treasurer. Dr. Matt Evans of Northwest Arkansas Community College served as the Secretary. Dr. Karen Sebold and Dr. Andrew Dowdle of University of Arkansas-Fayetteville served as Program Co-Chairs for the 2019 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2018-2019 included Lori Klein (Harding University, 2017-2019), Matthew Gross (HSU, 2017-2019), John Davis (University of Arkansas-Monticello, 2018-2020), and Williams Yamkam (University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, 2018-2020).
The following individuals were appointed as Section Chairs for the 2019 annual meeting: Dr. Heather Yates (University of Central Arkansas) – American Government & Politics; Dr. John Davis (University of Arkansas -Monticello) – Arkansas & State Politics; Dr. Kevin Brennan (Ouachita Baptist University) – Comparative Politics & International Relations; Dr. Matt Evans (Northwest Arkansas Community College) – Political Theory; Dr. Joshua Mitchell (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and Dr. Xavier Medina Vidal (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville) – Graduate & Undergraduate Student Research.
Dr. Janine Parry, Professor of Political Science at the University of Arkansas, spoke during the Friday evening dinner on March 8th. The Honorable Vivian Flowers, Arkansas State Representative for the 17th District, spoke during the Saturday luncheon on March 9th.
The following individuals were presented awards for papers presented during the 2019 annual meeting: Best Undergraduate Paper — Hannah Burdette (Senior, Hendrix College), “Her Rights, Everyone’s Benefit: An Examination of Women’s Rights in the Global Economy”; Best Graduate Paper — Alexandra Johnson (MA Candidate, Political Science, University of Arkansas Fayetteville), ” Sex, Stress, and the Supreme Court: Verbal and Nonverbal Analysis of Supreme Court Nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh During his Senate Confirmation Hearings”; and Best Faculty Paper — Kisha Hardwick (Assistant Professor, Political Science, University of Central Arkansas), “Bureaucratic Information Environments and Institutional Arrangements: The Influence of Power, Professionalism, and Polarization on State Agency Head Interactions”.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2020 – The 47th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was held on the campus of Henderson State University (HSU) in Arkadelphia on March 6-7, 2020. Dr. Hans Hacker of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro served as President of the ArkPSA in 2019-2020. Dr. Karen Sebold of University of Arkansas-Fayetteville served as Vice-President in 2019-2020. Dr. Michael Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as the Treasurer of the ArkPSA in 2019-2020. Dr. Matt Evans of Northwest Arkansas Community College served as the Secretary of the ArkPSA in 2019-2020. Dr. Matthew Gross of HSU served as Program Chair for the 2020 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2019-2020 included John Davis (University of Arkansas-Monticello, 2018-2020), Williams Yamkam (University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, 2018-2020), Amber Overholser (Southern Arkansas University, 2019-2021), and Heather Yates (University of Central Arkansas, 2019-2021). Dr. Chris Housenick (ATU) served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Joseph Howard (UCA) served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR). The Executive Board Meeting took place at Slim & Shorty’s in Arkadelphia on Friday morning, March 6th.
The following individuals were appointed as Section Chairs for the 2020 annual meeting: Dr. Joe Giammo (University of Arkansas-Little Rock) – American Government & Politics; Dr. John Davis (University of Arkansas-Monticello) – Arkansas & State Politics; Dr. Chris Housenick (Arkansas Tech University) – Comparative Politics & International Relations; Dr. Matt Evans (Northwest Arkansas Community College) – Political Theory; Dr. Will McLean (Arkansas State University-Jonesboro) – Public Administration & Public Policy; and Dr. Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm (University of Arkansas-Little Rock) – Undergraduate & Graduate Student Research.
Dr. John Ishiyama, Distinguished Research Professor of Political Science at the University of North Texas, gave the keynote speech during the Friday evening dinner on March 6th. Dr. Janine Parry of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville was presented the Association’s Distinguished Scholar Award. State Senator Bruce Maloch spoke during the Saturday afternoon luncheon on March 7th.
The following individuals were presented awards for papers presented during the 2020 annual meeting: Best Undergraduate Paper — Bailey Brya (Hendrix College), “NGO-Driven Environmental Awareness and Citizen Participation: The Case of the Yangtze River Watchers in China”; and Best Graduate Paper: Murat Abus (Arkansas State University), ” Reflections in the Mirror: Authoritarian Values and Political Identities in Turkey”.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. William James Megginson III, a former political science professor at Garland County Community College, died on April 29, 2020. William was born to Captain William Megginson II and Ina Smith Megginson in Clemson, South Carolina on September 30, 1943. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College. He earned an M.A. degree and Ph.D. degree in political science from George Washington University in Washington DC. Dr. Megginson taught political science at Garland County Community College and Arkansas State University. His book African American Life in South Carolina’s Upper Piedmont, 1780-1900 was published in 2006.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2021 – The 48th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was hosted virtually by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith on February 25-26, 2021. Dr. Karen Sebold of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville served as President of the ArkPSA in 2020-2021. Dr. Matthew Gross of Henderson State University served as Vice-President of the ArkPSA in 2020-2021. Dr. Michael Rogers of Arkansas Tech University served as the Treasurer of the ArkPSA in 2020-2021. Dr. Matt Evans of Northwest Arkansas Community College served as the Secretary of the ArkPSA in 2020-2021. Dr. Williams Yamkam of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith was Program Chair for the 2021 annual meeting. At-Large Members of the ArkPSA Executive Board in 2020-2021 included Amber Overholser (Southern Arkansas University, 2019-2021), Heather Yates (UCA, 2019-2021), Kevin Brennan (OBU, 2020-2022), and Melanie Liann Gallagher (Harding University, 2020-2022). Dr. Hans Hacker (ASU-Jonesboro) served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Mary Beth Sullivan (UCA) served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Mary Susan Power, a former professor of political science at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, died on August 9, 2021. Susan Power was born to Younger L. and Cleo (Boock) Power in Hazelton, Pennsylvania on July 5, 1935. Susan’s father served as mayor of Ilion, New York for three terms. She earned a B.A. degree from Wells College, M.A. degree from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Illinois. After teaching at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Dr. Power taught political science at ASU-Jonesboro from 1968 to 2000. She was active in the Craighead County Republican Party, and she served as an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1972, 1976, and 1988. Dr. Power was survived by her daughter, Catherine, and three grandchildren.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2022 – The 49th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was hosted virtually by Southern Arkansas University (SAU) on March 3-4, 2022. Dr. Matthew Gross of Henderson State University (HSU) served as President of the ArkPSA in 2021-2022. Dr. Williams Yamkam of the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith served as Vice-President of the ArkPSA in 2021-2022. Dr. Chris Housenick of Arkansas Tech University served as the Treasurer of the ArkPSA in 2021-2022. Dr. Matt Evans of Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) served as the Secretary of the ArkPSA in 2021-2022. Dr. Amber Overholser and Dr. James McQuiston of SAU served as Program Co-Chairs for the 2022 annual meeting. Dr. Karen Sebold of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville served as Past President ex officio. Dr. Mary Beth Sullivan (UCA) served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Memoriam: Dr. Daniel Ross Grant, former president of Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) in Arkadelphia, died on May 25, 2022. Daniel Grant was born to Dr. James R. and Grace (Sowers) Grant in Little Rock, Arkansas on August 18, 1923. His father, Dr. James R. Grant served as the 8th president of OBU. He earned a B.A. degree from Ouachita Baptist University in 1945, an M.A. degree from the University of Alabama, and a Ph.D. in political science from Northwestern University in 1948. Dr. Daniel Grant taught political science at Vanderbilt University from 1948 to 1969, during which he served as the founding director of the Urban and Regional Development Center. Dr. Grant authored several publications, including the textbook, State and Local Government in America. In 1958-1959, Dr. Grant taught municipal government and planning at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand. In 1970, Dr. Grant became the 12th president of OBU. During his tenure as president of OBU, the university endowment grew and several new buildings on campus were constructed, including the Riley-Hickingbotham Library and the Mabee Fine Arts Center. Dr. Daniel Grant was named as President Emeritus of OBU upon his retirement in 1988. Dr. Grant also served as the voluntary leader of the Consortium for Global Education (CGE), whose membership grew to include 48 Baptist colleges and universities. Dr. Grant was also appointed by Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee to serve on the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Dr. Daniel Grant was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Betty Jo (Oliver) Grant. After his retirement as president in 1988, the Daniel and Betty Jo Grant Center for International Education was named in their honor at OBU. Dr. Daniel Grant was survived by his daughters, Carolyn (Grant) Walton and Shirley (Grant) Hardin, son, Daniel Ross Grant, Jr., five grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
President Daniel R. Grant (right)
Ouachita Baptist University
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2023 – The 50th Annual Meeting of the ArkPSA was hosted by the University of Central Arkansas on March 3-4, 2023. Dr. Williams Yamkam served as President of the ArkPSA in 2022-2023. Dr. Amber Overholser of Southern Arkansas University (SAU) served as Vice-President of the ArkPSA in 2022-2023. Dr. Chris Housenick of Arkansas Tech University served as the Treasurer of the ArkPSA in 2022-2023. Dr. James Mc of SAU served as the Secretary of the ArkPSA in 2022-2023. Dr. Heather Yates and Dr. Mary Beth Sullivan served as Co-Program Chairs for the 2023 annual meeting. Dr. Mary Beth Sullivan (UCA) served as Editor of the Midsouth Political Science Review (MPSR).
Dr. Andrew Dowdle of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and Dr. John Passe-Smith of the University of Central Arkansas were presented the Association’s Distinguished Scholar Award.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________