On a sunny, crisp Friday morning, friends of the late Arkansas Circuit Judge Jim Hudson gathered to honor his memory as a memorial bench was unveiled on the Miller County Courthouse lawn.
Surrounded by a bed of coral-colored roses, the bench sits in the shadows of the American and Arkansas flags.
The inscription on the bench reads,
“Honoring the Memory
James S. Hudson
1954-2009
Judge, Scholar, Protector of Children, Friend to All.”
The bench was donated by the Miller County Democratic Committee.
Hudson, who died in early May after post-surgical complications, was loved and admired by many.
The granite bench with its gavel and scales of justice, will be a reminder of Hudson’s life, said Ann Nicholas, Miller County Clerk and Hudson’s childhood friend.
“The bench is a tangible reminder for us all of the greatness of the man and the fact that he is still with us,” she said.
“It’s a pleasure to be here, but it’s somewhat sad. I think Jim’s untimely demise is still pretty fresh in a lot of memories. It chokes a lot of throats,” said Wayne Dowd, fellow attorney and friend. “I was told to be fairly short ... but it’s hard to be short when you’re talking about Judge Hudson ...
“I didn’t really know him until he graduated and showed up in my office one day seeking advice about a legal matter and it quickly turned to politics.
“For somebody fresh out of law school, he seemed to be more worried about politics than he was about earning a living at the time,” Dowd said.
He said Hudson worked hard as a practicing attorney, but he was first impressed by him with local politics.
“Something about Jim that is not true of most lawyers or most judges: He had a sense of justice and fair play that they don’t teach you in law books or law school. I’m not sure how you come by that but he had it. He was also as dedicated a Democrat as I believe I ever knew,” said Dowd.
Those who knew Hudson best say his legacy lives on in the community.
“I’m a firm believer that anybody who leaves an indelible mark, as Jim did upon a community, never really dies. They pass on into another existence but they live on within us,” said Carlton Jones, Miller County deputy prosecutor. “In assuming (the position) of prosecuting attorney and circuit judge ... (you) swear this oath, to uphold the constitution of this state, this nation and to apply the law equally and without favor regarding person. This, my friends, is many times easier said than it is done. Jim’s character allowed him to fulfill this obligation with ease.”
Brent Haltom, chief prosecutor for Arkansas’ 8th Judicial District South, recalled Hudson’s drive and determination.
“When I first met him back in 1986, he was seeking the Democratic nomination for the prosecuting attorney job and he sought my help ... This selection was against a seasoned politician. It was a tough race ... He ran that hard race and believe me that was a hard race,” Haltom said. “I think at that point he showed he was the young lion that you recognized early on ... because he worked hard and he made promises of the things to come and every one of those things he promised back then, to have honor of the office and the integrity of the office and to work hard, followed him all the way until his death.
“Those things are things he strived for, he talked about and he practiced and I think that’s why he was so well-loved in this community,” Haltom said.
State Rep. Steve Harrelson, D-Texarkana, said he looked up to Hudson.
“He really helped me. A lot of times I didn’t know what I was doing,” Harrelson said. “I was trying to stumble my way through an agreed divorce and he would always be the person afterwards to give me pointers, to give me tips. He made me a better lawyer, but more than that he made me a better person.”
Harrelson said Hudson was an inspiration to him, not only as an attorney but as an aspiring politico.
“I always called him my mentor and thought of him as someone I should look up to.”
Members of the Miller County Democratic Committee wanted to honor Hudson for his many contributions to the community.
“I think back over some of the times we spent together having a laugh or having a real serious discussion about politics and boy he could do that, we all know,” said Larry Dowd, Miller County Democratic Committee chairman. “Jim was former chair of the Democratic committee back in the Carter days and he always did the committee a great service. He never forgot us. He always seemed to stay involved ... He was certainly a good friend of ours.”
Larry Dowd said doing a memorial for Hudson was an easy decision.
“I know when it came up in the committee that we ought to do something for our former chair and have a way to recognize him that the community would remember ... it seemed like the fastest thing that ever went through the committee. It must have took about 60 seconds.... Everybody loved Jim so much it was real easy to do this,” he said.
Hudson’s wife, Kathy, was honored to have him recognized by his peers and friends.
“It’s a representation of what Jim meant to the community, to his friends, his family ... We knew he was special,” she said.
His daughter, Sarah Hudson, agreed.
“We’re just honored that he made enough of an impact that people would want to do this for us and for him ... We’re just really grateful. It’s a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving,” she said.
Surrounded by a bed of coral-colored roses, the bench sits in the shadows of the American and Arkansas flags.
The inscription on the bench reads,
“Honoring the Memory
James S. Hudson
1954-2009
Judge, Scholar, Protector of Children, Friend to All.”
The bench was donated by the Miller County Democratic Committee.
Hudson, who died in early May after post-surgical complications, was loved and admired by many.
The granite bench with its gavel and scales of justice, will be a reminder of Hudson’s life, said Ann Nicholas, Miller County Clerk and Hudson’s childhood friend.
“The bench is a tangible reminder for us all of the greatness of the man and the fact that he is still with us,” she said.
“It’s a pleasure to be here, but it’s somewhat sad. I think Jim’s untimely demise is still pretty fresh in a lot of memories. It chokes a lot of throats,” said Wayne Dowd, fellow attorney and friend. “I was told to be fairly short ... but it’s hard to be short when you’re talking about Judge Hudson ...
“I didn’t really know him until he graduated and showed up in my office one day seeking advice about a legal matter and it quickly turned to politics.
“For somebody fresh out of law school, he seemed to be more worried about politics than he was about earning a living at the time,” Dowd said.
He said Hudson worked hard as a practicing attorney, but he was first impressed by him with local politics.
“Something about Jim that is not true of most lawyers or most judges: He had a sense of justice and fair play that they don’t teach you in law books or law school. I’m not sure how you come by that but he had it. He was also as dedicated a Democrat as I believe I ever knew,” said Dowd.
Those who knew Hudson best say his legacy lives on in the community.
“I’m a firm believer that anybody who leaves an indelible mark, as Jim did upon a community, never really dies. They pass on into another existence but they live on within us,” said Carlton Jones, Miller County deputy prosecutor. “In assuming (the position) of prosecuting attorney and circuit judge ... (you) swear this oath, to uphold the constitution of this state, this nation and to apply the law equally and without favor regarding person. This, my friends, is many times easier said than it is done. Jim’s character allowed him to fulfill this obligation with ease.”
Brent Haltom, chief prosecutor for Arkansas’ 8th Judicial District South, recalled Hudson’s drive and determination.
“When I first met him back in 1986, he was seeking the Democratic nomination for the prosecuting attorney job and he sought my help ... This selection was against a seasoned politician. It was a tough race ... He ran that hard race and believe me that was a hard race,” Haltom said. “I think at that point he showed he was the young lion that you recognized early on ... because he worked hard and he made promises of the things to come and every one of those things he promised back then, to have honor of the office and the integrity of the office and to work hard, followed him all the way until his death.
“Those things are things he strived for, he talked about and he practiced and I think that’s why he was so well-loved in this community,” Haltom said.
State Rep. Steve Harrelson, D-Texarkana, said he looked up to Hudson.
“He really helped me. A lot of times I didn’t know what I was doing,” Harrelson said. “I was trying to stumble my way through an agreed divorce and he would always be the person afterwards to give me pointers, to give me tips. He made me a better lawyer, but more than that he made me a better person.”
Harrelson said Hudson was an inspiration to him, not only as an attorney but as an aspiring politico.
“I always called him my mentor and thought of him as someone I should look up to.”
Members of the Miller County Democratic Committee wanted to honor Hudson for his many contributions to the community.
“I think back over some of the times we spent together having a laugh or having a real serious discussion about politics and boy he could do that, we all know,” said Larry Dowd, Miller County Democratic Committee chairman. “Jim was former chair of the Democratic committee back in the Carter days and he always did the committee a great service. He never forgot us. He always seemed to stay involved ... He was certainly a good friend of ours.”
Larry Dowd said doing a memorial for Hudson was an easy decision.
“I know when it came up in the committee that we ought to do something for our former chair and have a way to recognize him that the community would remember ... it seemed like the fastest thing that ever went through the committee. It must have took about 60 seconds.... Everybody loved Jim so much it was real easy to do this,” he said.
Hudson’s wife, Kathy, was honored to have him recognized by his peers and friends.
“It’s a representation of what Jim meant to the community, to his friends, his family ... We knew he was special,” she said.
His daughter, Sarah Hudson, agreed.
“We’re just honored that he made enough of an impact that people would want to do this for us and for him ... We’re just really grateful. It’s a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving,” she said.