Conway County Judge Receives 2021 Wes Fowler Award

AAC Executive Director Chris Villines (left) and AAC Board President and Randolph County Circuit Clerk Debbie Wise (right) present the 2021 Wes Fowler Advocacy Award to Conway County Judge Jimmy Hart during the 53rd Annual AAC Conference.

Conway County Judge receives 2021 Wes Fowler Advocacy Award

Story by Christy L. Smith Photos by Holland Doran AAC Communications Staff

The Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) awarded the 2021 Wes Fowler Advocacy Award during its 53rd annual conference, held Aug. 1820, 2021, in Rogers/Benton County.

Conway County Judge and AAC Board Secretary/Treasurer Jimmy Hart received the award, which recognizes a county or district official who best embodies Fowler’s dedication to local government and demonstrates “tireless work in boldly advocating for the counties of Arkansas.”

Hart was elected judge in 2000. He is a third generation farmer. His farm, Hart & Sons LLC, which he runs with two of his sons, is a 915-acre operation that Hart calls his “side hustle.”

In 1991, Hart formed the Arkansas Dairy Cooperative Association to aid in marketing milk produced in Arkansas to out of state buyers. In 2014, his family was named Conway County Farm Family of the Year.

The Wes Fowler Advocacy Award was established in 2017 following the death of Fowler, who served as Madison County Clerk and Madison County Judge before finishing his career at the AAC as Government Relations Director.

In her presentation, Wise said, “The thing about Wes that stood out to all of us was his passion for advocacy — and the boldness with which he defended county government. The second thing that struck me about Wes, and I’m sure many

Left: Wes Fowler was a tireless advocate for county government who passed away suddenly in 2017.

of you as well, was that when he became your friend, he was extremely loyal and cared deeply about you.”

The Advocacy Award is given annually to a county or district official that has exhibited great passion for advocacy over the previous year. The AAC Board of Directors Scholarship Committee selects the recipient of the award. Recipients receive an Arkansas County Diamond Award and are honored in perpetuity at the AAC with a permanently placed plaque and names added each year.

Past recipients of the Wes Fowler Advocacy Award are retired Columbia County Clerk Sherry Bell, former Randolph County Treasurer and AAC Executive Director (now consultant) Eddie A. Jones, Madison County Judge Frank Weaver, and Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder.

Randolph County Circuit Clerk and AAC Board President Debbie Wise and AAC Executive Director Chris Villines presented the 2021 award to Judge Hart.

Wise called Judge Hart “an unassuming and humble person.” Villines said, “Jimmy has been an incredible ambassador for county government. He has been instrumental in making Conway County a better place to live. He’s currently working on increasing broadband internet access from 80 percent to 100 percent of the county, and he implemented county-wide spring and fall cleanups that have continued for 20 years.”

Villines went on the recognize the work Judge Hart has done during legislative sessions.

“He has worked hard for our counties on difficult issues such as 911 funding and levee legislation. He has offered his leadership within the county judges association as president from 2010-2011.”

Judge Hart is a native of Conway County. He graduated from Morrillton High School. He and his wife of 43 years, Nancy, have four children and eight grandchildren. They reside in Springfield, Arkansas.

Judge Hart is an ex-officio member of the Conway County Economic Development Corporation and the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce Board. He is chairman of the West River Valley Regional Solid Waste Management District, chief executive officer of the Local West Central Arkansas Workforce Investment Board, a member of the Universal Housing Executive Board, a member of the Conway County Cattleman’s Association, a member of Conway County Farm Bureau, and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Morrilton.