AAC
COVER STORY
Above: AAC Board members and county officials break ground in 1996 where the future space was to be added to the AAC building. Top right: Pictured is AAC’s current facility. Right: The late A.A. “Shug” Banks served as Mississippi County Judge for 20 years, was a charter AAC board member, and served as the first AAC board president.
‘We’ve come a long way, baby’ AAC reflects on 50 years of rich history of supporting county government
Story by EDDIE A. JONES AAC Consultant
One block away and within sight of the State Capitol of Arkan- sas. We’ve come a long way since then. Te year 2018 marks our 50th anniversary. We honor our past; celebrate the present; and envision the future. Founded in 1968, the association has a long track record of
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achievement, from legislative advocacy to constituent services. Articles of Incorporation for the Association of Arkansas Coun- ties were filed April 10, 1968. But how did AAC get its start? Let me tell you a bit of that story as told by Jim Pledger and
Shug Banks about 25 years ago. Pledger was Yell County trea- surer for many years, charter board member of the Association of Arkansas Counties and long-time president of AAC. He served in several capacities in Gov. Bill Clinton’s administration, including director of the department of finance and administra- tion. He later served as director of the Arkansas state fair. Judge
elieve it or not, back in the late 1970’s on the very spot where the west end of the AAC headquarters is located there was an old rundown frame house with a pig pen in the back complete with pigs. Pigs!
Banks served as Mississippi County judge for 20 years (from 1961 to 1980), was a charter board member of the Associa- tion of Arkansas Counties and served as the first president of AAC from 1968 through 1980. Judge Banks died in 2001. Mr. Pledger died in 2006.
Te idea for the Association of Arkansas Counties was “born on the beaches of Hawaii.” In the mid-60’s a NACo Confer- ence was held in Hawaii. In attendance were Judge A.A. “Shug” Banks of Mississippi County, Yell County Treasurer Jim Pledger and several other Arkansas county officials. It was during this meeting that the idea and the determination to provide the of- ficials of Arkansas with organizational structure was born. Te first attempt to make this idea a reality came during the
1967 legislative session, but it failed. As you might imagine, there was a lot of opposition to the counties becoming orga- nized and establishing an organization that would provide rep- resentation for all county officials statewide. Even so, the As- sociation of Arkansas Counties was incorporated by a group of county officials in 1968.
Tis setback did not deter those county officials such as Judge
Banks and Mr. Pledger who were determined to create a repre- sentative organization for county government. In 1969 Senate
COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2018
Top left: Pictured is the construction of the additional 10,000 square feet that was added to the AAC building. Lower left: Pictured is the build- ing before construc- tion was completed.
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