Barbara Horn Highway
Former lawmaker honored for years of public service
Despite having been a politician who knows how to make campaign speeches, for a few minutes retired state Sen. Barbara Horn was speechless and crying.
Horn was honored Monday morning at the Little River County Courthouse with a reception dedicating a portion of Arkansas Highway 41 from the north side of Foreman, Ark., to the intersection of Arkansas Highway 41 and Highway 32 south of Foreman.
Horn had been hugging friends and relatives in the foyer of the courthouse in Ashdown, Ark. But when the highway sign was unveiled during the reception, she was moved to tears.
Little River County Judge Mike Cranford said Horn had been able to secure an untold amount of money for communities and counties in Southwest Arkansas.
“It would be in the millions of dollars she helped to get for the communities and industries,” Cranford said.
Horn regained her composure and thanked the residents attending the reception.
“It’s hard to come up with words to say. This is not just about Barbara Horn. It took a team effort to accomplish what we did,” Horn said.
“We’ve all been down a lot of roads together to help our communities,” she said.
The signs, approved by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Commission, will be placed at the intersection of Arkansas Highways 32 and 41 and at the north Foreman city limits on Arkansas Highway 41. The signs designate the “Barbara Horn Highway.”
“This is a way we can honor her. She takes care of people and loves Southwest Arkansas passionately,” said Cranford.
“The signs will honor her legacy and many, many years of distinguished service,” he said.
Horn served 17 years in the Arkansas Legislature. She filled the unexpired term of her late husband, Hoye Horn, and has served in the state House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate.
During a dinner in 2010 honoring her service, sponsored by the Little River Chamber of Commerce, then-Gov. Mike Beebe said, “She has always taken care of her people. She helps the folks that don’t have a voice and can’t speak up for themselves. She will speak up for them.”