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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly 2
Regular Session, 2025 HMR 1005 3
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By: Representative Barker 5
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HOUSE MEMORIAL RESOLUTION 8
TO REMEMBER LAWRENCE ERVIN BEARDEN AND TO RECOGNIZE 9
HIS LIFETIME OF DEDICATION TO HIS FAMILY AND 10
COMMUNITY, THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AND THE NATION. 11
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Subtitle 14
TO REMEMBER LAWRENCE ERVIN BEARDEN AND 15
TO RECOGNIZE HIS LIFETIME OF DEDICATION 16
TO HIS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, THE STATE 17
OF ARKANSAS, AND THE NATION. 18
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden, formerly of Smackover, Arkansas, 20
passed away on Monday, February 3, 2025, at the age of eighty -six (86); and 21
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden was born in Chidester, Arkansas, on 23
April 14, 1938, to Walter and Ruby Bearden, and he graduated from Fairview 24
High School before earning a bachelor's degree in Business Administration 25
from Southern State College (now Southern Arkansas University) in Magnolia in 26
1961; and 27
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WHEREAS, during his time at Southern State College, Lawrence Ervin 29
Bearden served as President of the Student Government Association and was an 30
active member of the Wesley Foundation, where he met Ann Oliver, the love of 31
his life; and 32
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden and Ann Oliver married in 1961 and 34
shared sixty-three (63) years of devoted marriage; and 35
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden honorably served in the United States 1
Army Reserve, completing Basic Infantry Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 2
1957, and later commanding the 238th Transportation Company of Camden and the 3
458th United States Army Research Laboratory Stock Control Company of El 4
Dorado; and 5
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden retired from the United States Army 7
Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel after twenty -eight (28) years of service; and 8
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden had a distinguished career in the oil 10
industry, working for BHP as a production foreman and later as an independent 11
producer, contributing to the economic growth of Arkansas for more than four 12
(4) decades; and 13
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden was a passionate advocate for 15
education, serving twelve (12) years on the Smackover School District’s Board 16
of Directors, including serving as President of the Smackover School 17
District’s Board of Directors; and 18
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden later served four (4) terms on the 20
Southern Arkansas University Foundation’s Board of Governors, including three 21
(3) years as Chair of Southern Arkansas University Foundation’s Board of 22
Governors; and 23
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WHEREAS, in 2016, former Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Lawrence 25
Ervin Bearden to the Board of Trustees of Southern Arkansas University, where 26
he played a key role in advancing the university during a period of 27
significant growth, including the construction of new residence halls, the 28
President's House, the Poultry Education Facility, and the renovation of the 29
Alumni Center at both Southern Arkansas University and Southern Arkansas 30
University Tech; and 31
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden's generosity and commitment to 33
education led to the establishment of an endowment for the Southern Arkansas 34
University band program, resulting in the naming of the band hall in honor of 35
his father-in-law, Richard O. Oliver, Southern Arkansas University's first 36 HMR1005
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band director; and 1
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden was appointed to the Arkansas Workforce 3
Investment Board and Adult Education Study Committee by former Governor 4
Michael Dale "Mike" Huckabee in 2005 and was reappointed in 2008 by Governor 5
Mickey Dale "Mike" Beebe, demonstrating his lifelong commitment to workforce 6
development and economic progress in Arkansas; and 7
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden was deeply involved in his community, 9
serving as president of the Smackover Jaycees, the Smackover Library Board of 10
Trustees, and the Board of Administration at Smackover First United Methodist 11
Church, where he was also a Sunday school teacher, certified lay speaker, and 12
president of the Education Board; and 13
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WHEREAS, his unwavering faith and compassion led him to participate in 15
six (6) mission trips to Haiti, where he worked to improve the lives of those 16
in need; and 17
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden was a loving and devoted husband, 19
father, grandfather, and great -grandfather who is survived by his wife, Ann 20
Oliver Bearden, his sons, Richard (Shirley) Bearden and Mark Bearden, his 21
grandchildren, Ashley (Alex) Campbell, Jordan (Tyler) Bearden, and James 22
(Anna) Bearden, his great -granddaughter, Aubrey Campbell, his sister, Linda 23
(Dick) Mosley, and many extended family members and friends who cherished his 24
presence; and 25
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden was preceded in death by his son, David 27
Bearden, his parents, Walter and Ruby Bearden, and his brothers, Frank 28
Bearden and Larry Bearden; and 29
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WHEREAS, Lawrence Ervin Bearden's legacy of leadership, service, and 31
integrity will endure for generations to come; 32
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NOW THEREFORE, 34
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY -FIFTH GENERAL 35
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 36 HMR1005
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1
THAT the House of Representatives remember Lawrence Ervin Bearden and 2
recognize his lifelong commitment to public service, education, economic 3
development, and faith, as well as his invaluable contributions to the State 4
of Arkansas and the nation. 5
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption, a copy of this resolution be 7
provided to the family of Lawrence Ervin Bearden by the Chief Clerk of the 8
House of Representatives as an expression of the General Assembly’s deepest 9
condolences and highest esteem. 10
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