A foundation in journalism launched a public service career

Continued from Page 3 library and the area, such as the pedestrian bridge to North Little Rock, the Heifer International headquarters and the planned dental and veterinary schools related to Lyon College.

“It was all a labor of love,” Rutherford said, “more love, but a lot of labor.”

Rutherford then completed a circle in his connection with David Pryor, as he succeeded his former boss and friend in 2006 as Dean of the Clinton School of Public Service on the grounds of the library center.

When offered the position by University of Arkansas System president B. Alan Sugg, he pointed out that he was not a tenured professor and was more oriented toward real-world experience. “’We are a real-world experience school,’” Sugg told him.

Rutherford said the mission of the school is to train young people in a graduate program to perform public service all over the world. “I had the opportunity to work alongside some great administrators, faculty and staff,” Rutherford said.

He remained in the position until 2021 and was involved in such diverse student service projects as the Ronald McDonald House suite at UAMS, Newport’s Delta Arts Festival, West Memphis’ Community Kitchen, the Rwandan Scholars Program, The Greenhouse at Little Rock Children’s Library and a fresh water well in a remote village in Tanzania.

The Clinton School also is noted for inviting world class speakers to the campus. Rutherford said the goal is to feature a diverse group, with examples such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Brett Kavanaugh, Kevin McCarthy, Wayne LaPierre, John Lithgow, The Little Rock Nine, John McCain, Nancy Pelosi, Karl Rove, Bob Woodward and Ruth Lincoln (grandmother-in-law of Blanche Lincoln and at the time of her appearance 110 years-old, the oldest living Arkansan).

“It was a real joy for me to watch students succeed in service every day,” Rutherford said, noting the school usually had a range of 35 to 45 participants at any given time in the two-year program.

— Even in retirement, plenty to do —

Rutherford, 73, retired from the Clinton School in 2021.

Continued on Page 5