PROFILE “It’s a unique situation for an
Arkansas county. It’s hard for [officials in other counties] to understand why some of us are so concerned about the Forest Service and the federal government.”
— Alvin Black, Montgomery County Judge
Above: Judge Black tells members of the Arkansas Legislature, “Do what you can to make sure our fragile economy in Montgom- ery County and the surrounding region is not destroyed by overly protecting a mussel.”
Right: Judge Black begins each day the same way his father, who was an elected county official, did — by seeing off the road crew, and then attending to business in the courthouse office.
Judge is advocate for rural counties
ByChristy L. Smith AAC Communications Coordinator
Federal monies, legislation are everyday worries for official in Montgomery County
clerk and judge for a total of 22 years; his mother was county clerk for three terms — Black had many occasions to walk the courthouse halls as a youngster. In fact, one of his fondest memories is escorting his father to work. “One of my earliest memories is going with my dad before
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t’s no exaggeration to say that Judge Alvin Black grew up in the two-story stone building that has housed Montgomery County government since 1923. With parents who served as elected county officials — his father was sheriff, county
school,” Black said. “He would go up to the road department and see the road crew off in the morning, and then we’d go back home and have breakfast. Ten I would go to school.” It’s the same ritual that Black follows today — minus the school part. “It’s really surreal in a way because that’s what I do now. I go to
the road department and see them off in the morning, and then I come up here,” he said. Black, a native of Mount Ida, is in his third term as Montgomery County judge. He previously served 14 years as county treasurer. And though he is surrounded by a rich history every day that he goes to work, he faces a set of challenges much different from those of other counties, even in Arkansas.
M
ontgomery County spans 800 square miles and has a popu- lation of about 9,400 people. Known for its quartz crystal
COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2014
COUNTY OFFICIAL
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