Time for goodbye

A friend retires

Ten current and former members of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission joined 100 others in the sprawling Durand Center near Harrison’s downtown square the other evening. They had come to pay tribute to my lifelong friend and Harrison native Ken Reeves as he completed a seven-year appointment to that group that strives to preserve conservation and wildlife across Arkansas.

Ken’s retirement as commission chairman had arrived. And it was evident from remarks by commissioners along with grown daughters Jessica and Robin how deeply Ken’s naturally affectionate personality and character as a father have positively and personally touched each one.

His term on the commission, he said, passed in a seeming flash. It had been a lifelong dream since the days his late outdoorsman father, Jack, instilled in him a passion for hunting and fishing.

As he grew through Harrison High School and UA law school, so did his dream of maybe one day becoming a member of the Game and Fish Commission where he could make a positive difference.

Former Gov. Mike Beebe, with counsel from former state Sen. Randy Laverty of Jasper and Arkansas State Police Commissioner Jane Dunlap Christenson of Harrison, wisely helped make his dream a reality in 2013.

I say wisely because it was clear to everyone in the room what a tremendous legacy he had left in devotion to our state.

It stemmed from Ken’s love of fishing on Bull Shoals and surrounding creeks and rivers as a youth (and later in several countries), as well as an enduring passion for wild turkey hunting and preserving those magnificent birds and other wildlife fowl like quail.

His devotion to all things conservation made him an ideal appointment, along with his ready sense of humor and thoughtful nature about virtually everything he does.

I’m not saying that because he and I were Goblins together through the ninth and 10th grades. Neither am I saying it because he, along with class of 1965 classmates Don Walker and Bill Dill, have reunioned since 1996 for an annual weekend at Ken’s boathouse on Bull Shoals where we fish, laugh at each other and exchange remembrances.

I relate this about him because, well, his infectious, easy-going personality is simply a fact repeatedly emphasized on this night by all who’ve known and worked alongside him. Some commissioners came to express their admiration from as far away as Corning, Hamburg and Little Rock.

Former commissioner and chairman Ford Overton of Little Rock said that Ken as a mentor had sat beside him through scores of difficult commission decisions, and in lighthearted moments they’d lost their breath laughing at each other.

Commissioner Joe Morgan of Little Rock joined in praising Ken for his integrity and the valuable contributions he brought as a fellow commissioner and as chairman this year.

Both men, and others, talked sincerely about how much Ken will be missed in meetings as a voice of reason who was always prepared. Each speaker called to the podium repeated the same words to describe Ken’s legacy: Integrity, character, humor, wisdom, preparedness and passion for helping resolve the commission’s often difficult challenges while working hard to boost its image.

He also received an engraved wooden plaque from the commission along with framed gifts from others whose lives he’s touched. It was apparent from the ambience and the sincerity from Ken’s daughters, sonsin-law and everyone who expressed their feelings what a remarkable impact he’s made.

He comes by that trait honestly, by the way. It’s the same Ken I have known since we were 15 and he was perhaps the slowest-moving quarterback in the history of Junior Goblin football. Don, Billy and I gave him a towel to flap from his hip pads during games that read “Flash.” He’s just one of those among us whose easy nature and sense of humor makes him easy to know and admire.

More than one commissioner mentioned Ken’s enduring romance with — and love for — teenage sweetheart Debbie, his wife for more than 50 years. Ken’s ringtone for Debbie, even today, remains Buddy Holly’s “True Love Ways.” On this evening, clad in fashionable sunshine yellow and white, she and Ken exchanged knowing smiles throughout the banquet. A t evening’s close, Ken stepped to the podium to reminisce about everything that serving the state, its people, and its commission has meant. “It was always my dream to one day serve on the commission,” he said. “And it came true. I always will remain close friends with my fellow commissioners and everything we shared together.”

His only regret came due to covid-19. With final commission meetings canceled, he was unable to bid goodbye to the capable AGFC staff in Little Rock he’d come to respect and appreciate.

Every commissioner who spoke echoed Ken’s sentiments: After experiencing years of challenges and tough decisions in the public interest, they were a band of brothers for life.

Now go out into the world and treat everyone you meet exactly like you want them to treat you. Mike Masterson is a longtime Arkansas journalist, was editor of three Arkansas dailies and headed the master’s journalism program at Ohio State University. Email him at mmasterson@arkansasonline.com.