DANIEL PRESTON KENNETT,

of Little Rock, Ark., passed away Monday, February 27th, 2023, in the loving presence of his wife and daughters.

Born December 12, 1946, to Everett and Edna Kennett, Dan grew up surrounded by a large, loving family, and forged friendships that lasted a lifetime. Dan narrowly survived an accident at the age of 13 and the community of Leachville, Ark., and its families, teachers and remarkable storybook cast of characters carried him through his recovery and education and sent him on to the University of Arkansas. While there he was an active member of Alpha Gamma Rho and met his wife Brenda. He graduated in 1968.

Dan earned a JD at the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1971, where he was the Associate Editor of the Law Review. Following graduation, he embarked upon a distinguished and storied legal career. In 1974, Dan met Sam Walton, who hired him on the spot as Walmart’s House Counsel. He also served as the City Attorney for Brinkley and the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Monroe County. In 1985, Dan became the Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Arkansas over the State Agencies Division. In that role, he assisted with representation of the State of Arkansas before the United States Supreme Court. He later accepted a partnership with the Eichenbaum firm, where he worked until 1995. Beyond the outward honors and accomplishments, Dan’s highest satisfaction came from privately knowing when he had really helped someone.

By all accounts a brilliant lawyer, Dan just as easily could have been an inventor, professional storyteller, world-renowned Porsche mechanic, race car driver, barbeque champion, metal artist or political commentator. He could create anything his daughters or grandchildren dreamed up that they needed for play or practicality from scratch in his shop, though aesthetics were not at the forefront. He could diagnose automotive issues by the sound of the engine over a cellphone. He was the first call when you needed to fix something and couldn’t figure it out, whether that was your career, your lawnmower, your relationships, your car, your legal problems, or your baby stroller. He taught his daughters how to think through these things themselves and also how to recover a 911 Porsche from a dead spin on ice at high speed. Despite his accident that left one of his legs shorter than the other, he figured out that his particular disability rendered him a brilliant slalom water skier. Yet most days on the lake he enjoyed floating around working on the engine of the Evinrude, which he would claim was broken even though his family was never quite sure.

When he wasn’t creating, fixing, or improving upon something with his hands, he was teaching someone something or reading voraciously. He didn’t have a lot to say, but when he spoke you wanted to listen. He was a big-hearted teller of tall tales, which were mostly (and surprisingly) true. He didn’t laugh a lot but when he did it was boisterous and infectious.

He was a good, loyal and protective friend, husband, father and grandfather who found most of his joy in life in his later years connecting with his close lifelong friends, bragging on his children and grandchildren, having adventures on his motorcycle, tinkering in his shop and sharing his knowledge of how-things-work with his grandson. He was a huge fan of the Razorbacks and treasured his lunches with his Touchdown Club friends.

Dan is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Brenda Kay Kennett; his two daughters, Allyson Kennett Williams (Brett) of Franklin, Tenn., and Libby Speth (Charlie) of Washington, D. C.; his grandchildren, Lane Tyler and Charles Gray Williams of Franklin, Tenn., and Catherine Lillian and Grace Elizabeth Speth of Washington, D. C.; and brother, John Kennett (Dot) of Brookland, Ark.

There will be a memorial service in his honor in the sanctuary of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 6th, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Dan can be made to the Arkansas Law Review of the University of Arkansas School of Law or the Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Foundation for Broadcast Ministry Endowment. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com