Recognizing Hope's Best at Chamber Banquet

Instructor of Business Technology at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope Willie Buck, Jr. was named Educator of the Year and Hempstead County jurist William Randal Wright was named Citizen of the Year at the Chamber of Commerce Banquet here Monday night at the Fair Park Coliseum.

Buck is the Dean of the Business Technology Division and has been teaching 35 years. He was presented the award by last year's recipient of the award, Glenda Clark.

"I believe Mr. Buck to be an outstanding instructor, both in the knowledge of his subject and the ability to communicate that knowledge to others. In his long academic career he has seen many changes to both in educational systems and technology delivery. Mr. Buck has always remained at the forefront of the technology of business and education," Clark said. Clark said Buck always receives positive evaluations from his students.

Buck has been instrumental in transitioning the college from it's technical and industrial roots to the inclusion of general education courses and degrees, according to Clark. He was with UACCH long before it was associated with the University of Arkansas system, according to Clark's introduction speech.

"Today the Business Technology Division serves as one of the fundamental educational departments of the college, with Mr. Buck at the helm," Clark said.

Buck seemed to accept the award with a heartfelt appreciation,

" I want to say thank you to my chancellor, Chris Thomason, and my vice Chancellor Jennifer Methvin, and to all of my colleagues at UACCH," he said.

He then turned the attention to a former student of his, State Representative Bruce Maloch, of Magnolia, and recognized him for never asking to take a make up test and for always making an A on his material.

" Again I say thank you to all of you," Buck said.

Clark also referred to Buck as "an active church member, active community member, a loyal husband, father, grandfather, deacon, and Christian brother."

A lifelong resident of Hempstead County, Wright was presented the Citizen of the Year Award by last year's recipient Hope Mayor Dennis Ramsey.

Wright attended Miss Mary's Kindergarten at Brookwood Elementary School, Hope Jr. High and was a Hope High graduate of 1971.

In 1975, Wright received a B.A. degree in economics and accounting from Hendrix College. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1978.

Ramsey said Wright has an impressive and lengthy legal resume.

His law career began as a law clerk for Associate Justice Conley Byrd from 1978-1979. He then returned home and joined the law firm of Graves & Graves before he started his own practice. He served in the Arkansas Army National Guard 39th Infantry Brigade from 1972-1982 and was a JAG Corps Officer from 1979-1982.

He served as Hope City Attorney for Hope from 1979-1984. He was Hempstead County Juvenile Referee from 1982-1984. He was Hempstead County Prosecuting Attorney from 1987-2006. He became the first elected prosecuting attorney for the newly created Eighth Judicial District North in 1999 and served there until he took office as circuit judge on January 1, 2007. Wright is also a night adjunct professor of evidence and procedure at UACCH.

Wright admitted shock upon his acceptance of the Citizen of the Year Award.

" I want to thank everybody. In my business I am trained not to be in shock, or display that, but I truly am tonight. I did not expect this," Wright said.

Wright said the best day of his life was before he was born when his father and mother chose to make Hope and Hempstead County their home.

"It was the best day of my life, to have had the opportunity to have associations and relationships with a lot of great people in this community, to able to serve a lot of you, to have people to that work with me that are just outstanding people; and that is a great thing. I truly believe the opportunity I have had in Hope is a once in a lifetime thing. I appreciate all of you and thank you very much," Wright said.