Former State Senator Gene Roebuck of Jonesboro has died
by March 9, 2021 1:24 pm 978 views
Photo courtesy of Arkansas State Senate.
One of Northeast Arkansas’ most well-known former state senators has died.
Gene Roebuck, 85, of Jonesboro passed away Monday (March 8) at NEA Medical Center. The cause of death was not released.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. at Emerson Memorial Chapel on Friday (March 12).
Roebuck served as a state senator for two terms during the late 1990s.
He served as chair of the Legislative Audit Committee and held numerous vice-chair positions, including vice-chair of the Education Committee, Children & Youth Committee, Public Transportation, and Aging & Legislative Affairs Committee. He also served on the Arkansas Early Childhood Development Advisory Board.
He was a candidate for the state House District 74 seat in 2002 and a candidate for the State Senate District 21 seat in 2014.
Born in the town of Gould, Roebuck played football as a guard and a tackle for the Arkansas Razorbacks in 1957 and 1958. From 1960 until 1966 he was the head football coach at Trumann, then moved to Jonesboro as the head coach.
He also served his country for over 30 years in the U.S. Army retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served in Korea and in Vietnam.
He was a founding member of the Grace Missionary Baptist Church.