Portrait of late senator unveiled

A portrait of the late Sen. Greg Standridge, R-Russellville, paid for by senators using personal funds was unveiled Thursday morning with senators, Standridge’s family, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and others on hand.

Standridge’s portrait was subsequently hung in the Senate’s hallway south of the Senate chambers. The portrait was placed where a portrait of the late Sen. Jerry Bookout, D-Jonesboro, had hung. Bookout’s portrait was moved to an adjoining wall.

Standridge’s portrait will remain on that wall through the end of his four-year term, which expires in January of 2021, said Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy.

Standridge died of cancer on Nov. 16. He had served in the Senate since April of 2015.

“We felt like we needed to do something to commemorate Greg, and one thing that everybody talks about is his smile and so there is really no better way [to convey] that than having a portrait commissioned,” Dismang said. “He had a big impact on everybody in the Senate and … just about every member wanted to be part of it.”

A special election will be held on May 22 to elect a senator to serve the remainder of Standridge’s term. The winner of a March 13 special runoff election between Russellville Republicans Bob Bailey and Breanne Davis will take on Russellville Democrat Teresa Gallegos in the May 22 election.