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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly 2
Regular Session, 2025 HR 1004 3
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By: Representative J. Mayberry 5
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HOUSE RESOLUTION 8
TO RECOGNIZE LORIE TUDOR FOR HER 41 -YEAR CAREER WITH 9
THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND 10
POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. 11
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Subtitle 14
TO RECOGNIZE LORIE TUDOR FOR HER 41 -YEAR 15
CAREER WITH THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF 16
TRANSPORTATION AND POSITIVE IMPACT ON 17
THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. 18
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WHEREAS, Lorie Tudor has been employed by the Arkansas Department of 20
Transportation for forty -one (41) years, during which time she became the 21
first female director of the department in 2020; and 22
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WHEREAS, Director Tudor became a Clerk Typist in the Equipment and 24
Procurement Division, thus beginning her career within the department; and 25
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WHEREAS, Director Tudor worked at the department for thirteen (13) 27
years before deciding to explore the possibility of becoming an engineer, 28
which began with taking night classes; and 29
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WHEREAS, after discovering her love of and affinity for mathematics, 31
Director Tudor quit her job with the department in order to obtain a 32
bachelor's degree in civil engineering, often driving several hours between 33
Little Rock and Memphis, Tennessee, in order to complete classes at the 34
University of Memphis, all while maintaining her role as a wife and mother; 35
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WHEREAS, upon graduating from the University of Memphis, Director Tudor 2
accepted a job with the department as a Civil Engineer I in its Planning and 3
Research Division; and 4
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WHEREAS, while at the department, Director Tudor quickly rose in ranks 6
and passed her professional engineer exam on the first try; and 7
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WHEREAS, according to Director Tudor, one of her biggest projects at 9
the department was transforming a cash forecast system, which took her two 10
(2) years and coordination between the Information Technology and Fiscal 11
Services Divisions; and 12
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WHEREAS, Director Tudor oversaw countless projects during her time at 14
the department, including leading during the Hernando de Soto Bridge closure 15
on Interstate 40, reorganizing the department to streamline operations and 16
better serve the public in an efficient and responsive manner, and initiating 17
the design and development of the ARDOT Fallen Worker Memorial to honor those 18
individuals whose lives were lost in service to the people of the State of 19
Arkansas; and 20
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WHEREAS, Director Tudor received numerous awards throughout her career 22
at the department, including being inducted into the University of Arkansas's 23
Academy of Civil Engineering in 2018, receiving the American Association of 24
State Highway and Transportation Officials' Alfred E. Johnson Achievement 25
Award in 2019, and receiving the Associated General Contractors of Arkansas 26
SIR (Skill, Integrity, Responsibility) Award in 2024; and 27
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WHEREAS, Director Tudor became director of the department only a few 29
weeks after the outbreak of coronavirus 2019 (COVID -19), thus being thrust 30
into managing not only one of the largest departments in the State of 31
Arkansas, but also the health and well -being of thousands of department 32
employees and the continuation of day -to-day services that were essential for 33
the operation of the state's transportation system; and 34
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WHEREAS, when asked about her career and impact on the department, 36 HR1004
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Director Tudor stated, "Women must be confident in who they are and not be 1
apologetic for being a woman. Be yourself, whomever that is. People will 2
respond to your genuineness .. Hard work and having a dream go a long way . 3
. . I know that there is a purpose for me being here, because if you look at 4
it on paper, I shouldn't be here. Sometimes I think, ‘What am I doing at 5
this desk, how did this happen?' Deep down, I'm still that little clerk -6
typist that was struggling to make ends meet . . . Anything worth achieving 7
is not going to be easy."; and 8
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WHEREAS, Director Tudor has inspired countless individuals, especially 10
women, to pursue careers in engineering and similar fields, demonstrating 11
that ambition and determination can break barriers and redefine 12
possibilities; and 13
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WHEREAS, Director Tudor's leadership, resilience, kindness, and 15
tenacity will leave a lasting impact on the State of Arkansas, and her 16
influence will continue to resonate for years to come, 17
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NOW THEREFORE, 19
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY -FIFTH GENERAL 20
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 21
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THAT the House of Representatives recognize Arkansas Department of 23
Transportation Director Lorie Tudor and her positive impact on the State of 24
Arkansas. 25
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption, a copy of this resolution shall be 27
provided to Director Tudor by the Chief Clerk of the House of 28
Representatives. 29
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