David Pryor and Skip Rutherford To Be Featured Speakers

            MONTICELLO, AR — Retired U.S. Senator David Pryor (D-Ark.) and Skip Rutherford, dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service will be the featured speakers at the next meeting of the Southeast Arkansas Political Animals Club September 29, according to Dr. John Davis, assistant professor of political science and director of governmental relations at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
            The event will be held at 6 p.m. in the Capitol Room of UAM’s John F. Gibson University Center. The public is invited to attend.
            Pryor served as Arkansas’ 4th District U.S. House of Representative from 1966 to 1973. From 1975 to 1979, he was the state’s 39th Governor. Following two terms in the Governor’s Mansion, Pryor was elected to the U.S. Senate, a position he held from 1979 to 1997. Since retiring from elected office, Senator Pryor has been a Distinguished Lecturer for the Blair Center at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, served as the State Chairman of the Democratic Party of Arkansas, and co-authored “A Prior Commitment: The Autobiography of David Pryor.” Pryor now serves on the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees.
            Prior to becoming dean of the Clinton School, James L. “Skip” Rutherford led the planning and construction of the Clinton Presidential Center and served as Founding President of the William J. Clinton Foundation. He is also a former administrative assistant for Senator Pryor. Rutherford is the founding chairman and creator of the Political Animals Club of Little Rock, the first organization of its kind in Arkansas.
            “We are honored to have Senator Pryor and Dean Rutherford speak at our next meeting,” said Davis, who serves as chairman of the Southeast Arkansas Political Animals Club. “These men are living legends of Arkansas and American politics. This event has been in its planning stage for several months and I am thrilled to see it come to fruition. Having this meeting on the UAM campus makes this meeting even more special because it allows us to not only showcase these wonderful featured speakers, but also the campus.”
            The Southeast Arkansas Political Animals Club is a non-partisan group for individuals in southeast Arkansas who seek civil discussion of political and policy issues impacting our region, state, and nation. There are no membership fees to join the Southeast Arkansas Political Animals Club, and all are welcome. Pizza and beverages will be provided. Persons planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP by emailing John Davis at searkpoliticalanimals@gmail.com or call (870) 460-1189.