In Memoriam

Robert Jacob (Jake)

Henry Goheen died December 18, 2019, at the age of 47. He graduated cum laude with a B.A. degree from Henderson State University. He earned his law degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He practiced law in downtown Benton for many years. His favorite charity was the September Fund he helped spearhead after 9/11, which provides scholarships for the sons and daughters of first responders attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He provided pro bono legal work for this endowment fund for many years.

John Gardner Lile III

of Little Rock died on March 30, 2020, at the age of 81. John graduated from Little Rock Central High School (1955), from Hendrix College (B.A. in 1959), and from Duke University (LL.B. in 1962). He accepted a position with the Coleman, Gantt, Ramsay, and Cox Law Firm and practiced law for 28 years in Pine Bluff, 26 of them as a partner with the Ramsay, Cox, Lile, Bridgforth, Gilbert, Harrelson & Starling Law Firm. In 1988 he joined Wright, Lindsey, and Jennings Law Firm in Little Rock. John was named a partner in the WLJ Firm January 1, 1990. He became “of Counsel” January 1, 2011, continuing to work part-time until fully retiring in March of 2015. He served as Chair of the Young Lawyers Section of the Arkansas Bar Association 1971-72, as Jefferson County Bar Association President in 1973, and on several other committees over five decades. He especially appreciated serving on the Arkansas Bar Law School Committee for several years. He chaired the Arkansas Bar Committee on Professional Ethics which prepared the current Rules of Professional Conduct. He was a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers for decades, as well as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Arkansas Bar Foundation.

Robert Franklin

Morehead of Pine Bluff died March 8, 2020, at the age of 84. He attended Arkansas AM&N (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), graduating in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. In 1970, he received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Morehead served as the first black Deputy Attorney General for the State of Arkansas. Morehead spent nearly 45 years in private practice, as he represented clients in criminal law.

Charles Callis “Charlie”

Owen of Little Rock died March 7, 2020, at the age of 76. Charlie graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with an accounting degree in 1965 and earned a law degree from UA in 1968. Charlie was a Certified Public Accountant and was a tax lawyer for over 50 years. Charlie was a director and shareholder of Gill Ragon Owen, P.A. and served as President of the firm from 2000-2014. In addition to practicing law, Charlie enjoyed teaching; has written and spoken nationally on tax planning, legal ethics and wealth preservation; was recognized on multiple occasions for his excellence as a public speaker by the AR Society of CPAs; and was an eight-time recipient of the Arkansas Bar Association’s CLE Award. Charlie received the James McKenzie Professionalism Award in 2017.

Michael James Ptak of Little Rock died January 24, 2020, at the age of 59. He received a degree in business from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he studied banking, finance and accounting. He earned his juris doctorate at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law. Upon graduating in 1993, he began practicing law at Lax, Vaughn, Pender and Evans. He then opened his own practice of Pender, McCastlain & Ptak. After a time, he was offered an opportunity to join The Rose Law Firm, where he primarily practiced banking law. In 2008, he joined Bank OZK as General Counsel. There he was able to practice his two favorite disciplines— banking and law.

James Robert Rhodes III of DeValls Bluff died on February 17, 2020, at the age of 79. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1962 with an accounting degree. He earned his juris doctorate at the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1965. He was in the Army Reserves for six years, serving as JAG captain when he resigned. He practiced law in Little Rock for 37 years with different law firms including Moses, McClellan, Arnold, Owens and McDermott and his own firm of Ward, Rhodes, Hickey, and Garrett from 1976 to 1986. He was assistant U.S. Attorney from 1968 to 1972 and retired in 2002 after serving “of counsel” with Dover and Dixon Law Firm for 16 years and one year with Darren O’Quinn. He was active in the Pulaski County Bar Association “Grid Iron” show from 1966 to 1992, playing many roles including Ed Wright, Judge Bill Kirby, Gary Hart, Fannie Fox and Jackie Kennedy. After returning to Prairie County in 2002, he served as District Court Judge for the Southern District of Prairie County from 2005 to 2017.

Ramona Roe of Little Rock died April 5, 2020, at the age of 77. She was a 1960 graduate of Yellville-Summit High School. She earned a B.A. in English and journalism from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1964 and a Juris Doctorate from the UALR Law School in 1976. In law school, she wrote the top paper in five courses, served as associate editor of the law review and won numerous academic and writing awards. She worked for the Game &

Fish Commission, taught English at North Arkansas Community College, practiced law in Rogers and Little Rock, served as Lowell City Attorney, clerked for the Chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Commission, codified acts of Arkansas at the Code Revision Commission and retired from the Bureau of Legislative Research.

Brigadier General (Ret)

William F. Sherman of Little Rock died March 11, 2020, at the age of 82. Bill graduated from the Tennessee Military Institute, and was awarded a BA in history from the University of Arkansas (distinguished military graduate) and an LLB from the University of Virginia. Bill had a rich and varied career as an attorney, public servant (Assistant U.S. Attorney, Arkansas Securities Commissioner, State Representative, Member of State Constitutional Convention), and as a 32-year service member of the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard. He served as special assistant to the Judge Advocate General of the Army, holding the rank of brigadier general from 1987 until 1990. In 2017, Bill closed his law office after 53 years of practice. Bill was honored and recognized in each of his careers. In 1990, following his services as assistant to the Judge Advocate General, Bill was the recipient of the Legion of Merit award.

Kenneth Ronald Smith

of Yellville died March 3, 2020, at the age of 84. He was very proud to have served four years in the United States Air Force. He received his law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law; practiced law in Marion County, Arkansas, for almost 50 years; and served as an Arkansas state representative.

Richard S. Smith of Little Rock died on February 7, 2020. Dick, as his friends knew him, went to Arkansas Tech in Russellville. Upon graduation he entered the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam commanding an Armored Cavalry troop with 3rd Squadron, 5th Calvary Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. After leaving the Army he attended the University of Arkansas Law School. He had a private practice for several years, then began a long career with the Arkansas Insurance Dept. as an Attorney Specialist from which he retired after 30 years.

Marvin Dell Thaxton

Sr. of Newport died April 16, 2020, at the age of 94. He graduated from Newport High School and attended the University of Arkansas. He graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law. During World War II, he proudly served with the Merchant Marines and was stationed in Japan. His law career began in Newport where he practiced for over 50 years. During this time, he was a member of the Arkansas Board of Law Examiners and served as an Arkansas Special Supreme Court Justice.

Mary Suzanne Winter

of Forrest City died Thursday, March 5, 2020, at the age of 54. She lived in Forrest City most of her life. In addition to being a lawyer, she was a registered nurse. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelors degree and Vanderbilt Law School.

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