TEXARKANA, Ark. - The Arkansas State University Alumni Association will hold its 37th annual Distinguished Alumni Award Ceremony later this month - and one of those to be honored is a Texarkana, Arkansas, resident.
Retired Arkansas Air National Guard Lt. Col. Anderson Neal Jr., who graduated from ASU in 1978, will be one of three distinguished alumni who will receive recognition for both professional and civic achievements during a homecoming and dinner awards ceremony at 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at the ASU campus in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
"I heard about this honor back in late July or early August and I'm still excited about it," Neal said Sunday. "In many ways, I still can't believe it."
Born in Augusta, Arkansas, Neal, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree from ASU in 1978, went on to work for as a soil conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service (now known as the Natural Resources Conservation Service), according to biographical press release information.
Neal's occupation included providing technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers regarding soil, water and natural resource issues on private lands in various Arkansas counties for nearly 38 years. He finished his career as deputy director of the USDA's Office of Advocacy and Outreach in Washington, D.C.
Besides his civil service occupation, Neal also served in the Arkansas Air National Guard, starting in 1985. There he began as an airman first-class, working in aircraft mechanics, before eventually becoming an air crew chief. He would go on to earn an officer's commission as a second lieutenant in 1989, serving at various times in transportation, logistics and maintenance with the 188th Fighter Wing stationed near Fort Smith. Later, he was assigned to the 189th Airlift Wing stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Ark.
Neal also was deployed to other places throughout the U.S. as well as to Saudi Arabia for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom following the 9/11 terrorist attacks 19 years ago. He retired as a lieutenant colonel while commanding the maintenance unit he initially joined as a crew chief with the 188th Fighter Wing, in Fort Smith.
Apart from both his military and civil service occupations, Neal also participated in community involvement activities by serving as past president of the Clarksville, Arkansas, Lions Club. He's also served as a board member and past president of the Arkansas National Guard Association. Neal currently serves on the Arkansas National Youth Challenge Board as well as on the Arkansas-side's Planning and Zoning Commission.
Back in 2016, Neal received the National Presidential Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama for his lifelong volunteer and community service efforts.
Both Neal and his late wife Marietha raised two daughters, Miranda and Mylia and have two grandsons, Brian, 6, and Brayden, 3.