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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly 2
Regular Session, 2025 HMR 1009 3
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By: Representative J. Moore 5
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HOUSE MEMORIAL RESOLUTION 8
TO REMEMBER FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF 9
REPRESENTATIVES BENNY PETRUS FOR HIS SERVICE TO HIS 10
COMMUNITY AND TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. 11
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Subtitle 14
TO REMEMBER FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE 15
OF REPRESENTATIVES BENNY PETRUS FOR HIS 16
SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY AND TO THE 17
STATE OF ARKANSAS. 18
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WHEREAS, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Benny Charles 20
Petrus, formerly of Stuttgart, Arkansas, passed away Friday, May 17, 2024, at 21
the age of sixty-seven (67); and 22
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WHEREAS, former Speaker Petrus was born November 23, 1956, in 24
Stuttgart, to Bernard and Earline Petrus; and 25
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WHEREAS, former Speaker Petrus lived in Stuttgart his entire life and 27
was a 1975 graduate of Stuttgart High School; and 28
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WHEREAS, former Speaker Petrus attended the University of Central 30
Arkansas in Conway and became a successful businessman, owning several car 31
dealerships in Stuttgart, Arkansas, owning several farms and other 32
businesses, and serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Adams 33
Fertilizer Equipment Company in DeWitt, Arkansas; and 34
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WHEREAS, former Speaker Petrus's life was a family affair, reflected in 36 HMR1009
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the fact that he started in the car business with his dad, B.J., and his 1
brother, Steve, and that later his wife, Tammy, and brother, Dwayne, joined 2
the business; and 3
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WHEREAS, former Speaker Petrus's son, Justin, stepped into the family 5
business after graduating from college, and former Speaker Petrus loved 6
farming and formed a successful farming operation with his son, Jonathan, 7
because everyday life for former Speaker Petrus involved all family members; 8
and 9
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WHEREAS, former Speaker Petrus served in the House of Representatives 11
from 2002 through 2009 and served as Speaker of the House of Representatives 12
during 2007 through 2009; and 13
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WHEREAS, in 2022, former Speaker Petrus was selected to become a board 15
member for Summit Utilities, and he also served on the board of the Stuttgart 16
branch of the Baptist Hospital Foundation; and 17
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WHEREAS, former Speaker Petrus was an avid fisherman and hunter, and 19
regularly gathered with friends for annual hunting trips; and 20
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WHEREAS, former Representative Marvin Childers recalled of his time 22
working with former Speaker Petrus in the House of Representatives that 23
"Benny . . . just loved helping people and he was interested in anything 24
agriculture . . . He took the lead when it came to funding for the community 25
college at Stuttgart . . . education was important to him . . . [and] Benny 26
worked across the aisle [in the House of Representatives] . . . he didn't 27
care whether you were a Democrat, Republican, or independent, as long as you 28
would do the right thing"; and 29
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WHEREAS, former Speaker Petrus is survived by his wife, Tammy Petrus, 31
and his two sons, Jonathan and Justin Petrus, all of Stuttgart, 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 HMR1009
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1
THAT the House of Representatives remember former Speaker of the House 2
Benny Petrus for his service to his community and to the State of Arkansas. 3
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption, a copy of this resolution be 5
provided to the family of former Speaker Petrus. 6
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