Former Gov. David Pryor to lie in state at Arkansas Capitol

Gov. David Pryor’s official portrait

Editor’s word: For extra on the life and legacy of David Pryor, read Ernie Dumas’ recent obituary of the former governor for the Arkansas Occasions.

The late David Pryor, a former Arkansas governor and U.S. senator, will lie in state within the state Capitol rotunda on Friday, in accordance with the secretary of state’s workplace.

The Camden native died Saturday on the age of 89. The general public will pay their respects to the favored Democratic politician from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday in Little Rock.

A spokesperson for the Arkansas Secretary of State’s workplace mentioned they don’t monitor everybody who has lay in state on the Capitol, however current recipients of the consideration embody Rep. John Walker in 2019 and Arkansas Treasurer Mark Lowery in 2023.

Three years after beginning a weekly newspaper, The Ouachita Citizen, in 1957, Pryor was elected to the Arkansas Home of Representatives on the age of 26.

Throughout a political profession that lasted greater than three a long time, Pryor served as a state consultant, U.S. congressman, U.S. senator and Arkansas governor. He was succeeded as governor by former President Invoice Clinton, who known as Pryor “certainly one of Arkansas’ biggest servant leaders and one of many most interesting individuals I’ve ever recognized.”

“He was at all times certainly one of America’s biggest advocates for the aged, waging lengthy battles to decrease the price of prescribed drugs and to enhance nursing properties and in-home care to assist extra individuals reside in dignity,” Clinton mentioned in an announcement. “…He was trustworthy, compassionate, and filled with frequent sense. He actually beloved the individuals he represented, and so they beloved him again.”

Since Pryor’s loss of life, politicians across the nation have provided their condolences and praised his work, together with Tom Harkin, a former U.S. senator from Iowa.

“Senator Pryor embodied one of the best of what it means to be a public servant: at all times calm, at all times cheap, at all times in search of one of the best compromise to maneuver our nation ahead in a progressive method,” Harkin mentioned in an announcement. “We’d like new David Pryors now and, sooner or later, to steer our nation.”

To honor the “beloved statesman and public servant,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders ordered flags to half-staff on Monday by way of sundown on the day of interment.

A celebration of life is scheduled for two p.m. Saturday at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. Pryor shall be laid to relaxation at Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock.

Arkansas Advocate is a part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit information community supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arkansas Advocate maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sonny Albarado for questions: info@arkansasadvocate.com. Observe Arkansas Advocate on Facebook and Twitter.

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