Remembering Gwatney: Passionate, Outspoken (Commentary by Jeff Hankins)

The stunning, tragic and senseless murder of Jacksonville businessman and Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney sent emotions soaring across the state.

First came news of shots fired at the party headquarters in downtown Little Rock. We quickly learned that Gwatney, well-known from politics and car dealership advertisements, was the victim. Multiple shots to the torso sounded deadly, but everyone held out hope.

Rumors that Gwatney hadn’t survived began circulating a couple of hours later, followed by word that the alleged gunman had died.

And then came the police announcement that Gwatney was dead.

The disbelief continued to escalate – a high-profile individual shot in the middle of the day with no apparent motive.

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Like most people who knew Gwatney, I thought about my last visit with him, which was about six months ago. We talked business, politics and a little golf – all standard fare for Gwatney. He was irritated about some media-related stuff, excited about Gov. Mike Beebe, engaged with some auto marketing initiatives and sharing his opinions on other topics of the day. He was predictably high on Hillary Clinton and down on Mike Huckabee in the presidential race.

Gwatney was an interesting personality. Likable and smart, but with some ego and arrogance. Fiercely independent and outspoken. Able to get things done, and always passionate about his views and whatever project he was working on. He was entertaining on the golf course and a good golfer to boot.

He made a name for himself as a young state senator back in 1995, when he took the lead on the so-called “any willing provider,” or Patient Protection Act, legislation. Gwatney took a populist stance, battled health care titans like Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield and Baptist Health and won passage of the bill — as well as a lasting legacy. Colleagues referred to him as “Gwatzilla” in honor of his aggressiveness and the Godzilla promotional balloon that makes its way to the roof of his car dealership in Jacksonville each year.

Gwatney was proud to see Beebe elected governor and had worked hard for him as chairman of his finance committee. He didn’t need or necessarily want the job of leading the Arkansas Democratic Party, but he was well suited for it and likely would have done anything Beebe asked him.

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While most people will focus on his political career and public service, his success in business can’t be overlooked. He resisted selling to the big chain dealerships and instead expanded through acquisitions. He had recently taken on a leadership role with an automotive advertising cooperative group.

When Arkansas Business selected him to be in the inaugural “40 Under 40” class of up-and-coming business and political leaders in 1993, he acknowledged that he was a member of the “lucky sperm club” who had a head start in business thanks to his successful father, auto salesman Harold Gwatney.

But Bill Gwatney started by washing cars on the lot at age 14. He then built on his father’s success, made a name for himself in the Arkansas Senate and proved to be his own man in both business and politics.

Before getting into the family auto business, he was a banker in Jacksonville. He supported that city in many ways, using his political and business influence to provide leadership and support numerous community service efforts.

At this writing, we don’t know why in the world Timothy Dale Johnson of Searcy decided to walk into the state Democratic Party headquarters and kill Bill Gwatney. But no explanation will bring Gwatney back, and today there’s a void in Arkansas politics and business, and, most importantly, in his family.

(Jeff Hankins is president and publisher of Arkansas Business. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected])