HOT SPRINGS — Allen Ura Bedell,
83, of Hot Springs, passed away January 3, 2022. He was born in Welsh, Louisiana, to Wilma and Jasper Bedell. He grew up in Eunice and later attended Louisiana State University where he graduated from the LSU School of Forestry with a BSF degree in 1960. Upon graduation, he was employed by Fordyce Lumber Company in Fordyce, Ark., where he met and married his wife Lou. Fordyce Lumber Company subsequently sold to Georgia-Pacific Corporation and in 1965, he was granted a leave of absence to attend Yale University, graduating in 1966 with a Master of Forestry degree. He then returned to Arkansas as a manager with Georgia-Pacific.
Allen went on to start two family tree chipping businesses, Circle B Logging and Quality Stand Density Control, Inc., which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2006. Allen served on the Executive Committee of the Arkansas Forestry Association for over 31 years, where he is Past President, a recipient of the President’s Award, and honored as Outstanding Logger in both 1989 and 1994. While President, he was instrumental in adopting the National Log-A-Load for Kids Program, which has raised over $10,000,000 for Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
In 1991, Allen joined nine loggers establishing the Arkansas Timber Producers Association. As President, he helped to establish the Arkansas Professional Logger Education and Training Program. ATPA has developed safety and insurance programs for the industry and lobbied successfully for sales tax relief for forestry equipment purchases and also served as President of the ATPA’s Self-Insured Workers Compensation Insurance Fund.
Allen served on the Sustainable Forestry Board from 19952001. He is a lifetime member of the Forest Resources Association where he served as National Chairman in 2003-2004. He was the recipient of Georgia-Pacific’s regional award for Outstanding Logger. He served as Chairman of the Board of Citizens First State Bank of Fordyce and as Chairman of the American Pulpwood Association. Allen served on the Arkansas Forestry Commission for nine years, three years as Chairman. He has been appointed and served on the Arkansas Agriculture Board since 2005. He is a certified American Tree Farmer.
In 1998, Timber Harvesting magazine recognized the Bedell family, Allen, wife Lou, son, David and daughter, Donna Twyford, as the winner of its inaugural “Logging Business of the Year” award. In March of 2017 Allen was inducted into Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame, being only the fourth representative of forestry to be so recognized. In addition, the LSU Alumni Hall of Distinction inducted Allen into the 2017 Hall of Fame of the Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Alumni Association.
Survivors include his wife, Anita Lou Hillman Bedell; daughter, Donna Twyford (Don); son, David Bedell (LeAnn), all of Hot Springs; three grandchildren, Lauren Sisco (Will), Phillip Twyford and Hunter Bedell (Hannah); and two great-grandchildren, Audrey and Andrew Sisco lovingly referred to as “our little ones.” Other survivors include his brothers, Don C. Bedell and Pam Bedell of Sikeston, Mo., and Thomas B. Bedell and Della of Van Buren, Mo. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, J. Richard Bedell; and a great-grandson, Nathaniel Evert Sisco.
Allen was a lifelong, devoted member of the United Methodist Church, serving as a Stephen Minister, chairing committees, singing in the choir, serving in all areas of local missions as well as those in Juarez and Rio Bravo, Mexico. He taught Bible studies and Sunday School classes for over 50 years and was a fivetime pilgrim to the land of Israel.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 8, 2022, at 10 a.m., at First United Methodist Church of Hot Springs with the Reverends J. J. Galloway and John Fleming officiating. Visitation will follow in the Christian Life Center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Arkansas Log-A-Load for Kids benefitting Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Slot 661, Little Rock, Ark., 72202, or to First United Methodist Church of Hot Springs. Online condolences at: www.caruthhale.com.