Crego Retiring As City Attorney

A self-described “music buff” said city officials have worked in concert on many of the issues the city has seen in the past two decades.

Phillip Crego, who is retiring Dec. 31 after 20 years as Jonesboro City Attorney, said he has enjoyed working with city officials on the issues.

“I have been lucky. It has truly been a privilege to represent the city of Jonesboro, the city council and the mayor,” Crego, who will go to work as a part-time prosecutor in Poinsett County Jan. 1. “We are like a family. We may not have agreed all the time, but we worked together.”

Crego has worked with three mayors – former mayors Hubert Brodell and Doug Formon and current mayor Harold Perrin; city clerk Donna Jackson and several council members – during his career.

“Donna, she has been a mainstay,” Crego said of Jackson. “The fire department and police department, it has been a great pleasure to work with them.”

On a daily basis, Crego may work on everything from drainage issues to prosecuting misdemeanor cases in district court.

The issues and responsibilities have changed over the years, Crego said.

“When I first started, it was part-time. I was the first full-time city attorney in Jonesboro. The staff has also grown. We have since added a second attorney and a paralegal,” Crego said.

The Corning native, who received his undergraduate degree from Arkansas State University and a law degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, said Carol Duncan will take over as city attorney Jan. 1.

“She has been the assistant (city attorney) for 10 years. The city will be in good hands. She is a capable lady and she will do a good job,” Crego said.

Crego said he has no major hobbies, except spending time with his three children and going to blues events.

His office in Jonesboro is filled with photos of blues artists, like B.B. King. The next 12 days or so will involve loading up the photos and other items.

“In 18 years (since moving into the office), I have accumulated a lot of stuff. There is more here than I have at home,” Crego said.