Attorney, judge, Horne dies at 85

He was insurance chief 3 years

A man known for his contributions to the Arkansas insurance industry died Sunday.

Allan Wade “Dick” Horne, 85, was appointed state insurance commissioner by Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller, according to a statement from Dover Dixon Horne, the Little Rock law firm in which Horne was a partner.

During his three years as state insurance commissioner from 1968-70, Horne served on various committees of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and was chairman of the securities committee.

In 1970 and 1971, he was a Little Rock municipal judge.

Horne also served as principal contact and attorney for the Arkansas Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association.

He was a member of The Select List of Law Firms and a member and former vice president and co-founder of the Federation of Regulatory Counsel, a national association of insurance regulatory attorneys.

At the time of his death, Horne was serving on the board of directors of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas.

Horne was former president of the Pulaski County Bar Association, and he served on the House of Delegates of the Arkansas Bar Association.

In 2011, Horne received the C.E. Ransick Award of Excellence from the state Bar Association and the Arkansas Bar Foundation.

Horne was born June 11, 1932, in Nashville to D.C. and Margaret Crowley Horne.

Horne earned a bachelor’s degree from Henderson State University and a law degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

“Dick’s service and his leadership contributions are well recognized,” Dover Dixon Horne partner Cyril Hollingsworth said. “As a lawyer he was the consummate professional, and a real gentleman, dedicated to the practice of law and to the clients whom he served.

“More than that, however, he was caring and considerate of all with whom he came in contact, whether the president of a company, or someone working the night shift in the building where we [have an] office.”

Cal McCastlain, another partner, said Horne had been sick but news of his death came as a surprise Monday to those at the firm.

“Dick was one of the deans of the insurance industry in Arkansas,” McCastlain said. “Dick was very prominent in that area of practice.”

McCastlain said Horne enjoyed golf and the thoroughbred horse racing at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.