Sen. Gary Stubblefield has died

Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, who has represented parts of the Fort Smith metro in the Arkansas Legislature since 2011, has died. His passing was made public on Tuesday (Sept. 2). He was 74.

Stubblefield, who recently worked to push back against a planned state prison in Franklin County, represented Senate District 26, which includes parts of Franklin, Johnson, Logan and Sebastian counties.

He was chair of the Senate City, County and Local Affairs Committee and was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Joint Energy Committee, the Senate Efficiency Committee, the Joint Budget Committee, and the Legislature Council.

Stubblefield was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2010, and served one term (2011-13) before being elected to the Arkansas Senate in 2012.

”Bryan and I send our deepest condolences to Sen. Gary Stubblefield’s family, colleagues, and friends after learning of today’s heartbreaking news,” Gov. Sarah Sanders said in a statement. “I don’t know if Gary earned his toughness playing Razorback football, raising dairy cows in Branch, or participating in the contact sport that is Arkansas politics, but everyone knew him as a tough leader who would work hard to serve the River Valley — and still end the day with a smile on his face. His passing leaves a hole in the Senate that will be hard to fill, and my prayers right now are with Kathi, the Stubblefields’ two children, and all who knew and loved this hardworking public servant.”

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, said Stubblefield was “relentless” in his legislative pursuits.

“Gary and I began our service together in the Arkansas Legislature, and from the day I met him, I felt a kindred spirit,” Westerman said in a statement. “Not only did we share a similar college experience at the University of Arkansas, with both of us being former Razorback football players, but we also shared a common faith and a common worldview on the roles of the God-ordained institutions of government, commerce, family, marriage, and the church.”

Stubblefield’s four-year Senate term expired in 2029, which means Gov. Sanders will have to set a special election for the now-vacant Senate seat.

Stubblefield attended the University of Arkansas and was a member of the Arkansas Razorback football team. He was a dairy farmer in Branch, and he and his wife Kathi had two children.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of State Sen. Gary Stubblefield, who passed away today,” Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement. “Sen. Stubblefield was a strong advocate for his constituents with deeply held conservative values and a fierce love for his family. He was proud to have walked on and played for Arkansas Razorback Football under legendary coach Frank Broyles, and he served Arkansans as a state senator, state representative, justice of the peace, school board member, and Farm Service Commissioner.”

“Senator Stubblefield was a faithful servant, passionate legislator and bold advocate for those he represented,” said Sen. Justin Boyd, R-Fort Smith. “He is missed, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

Stubblefield was a conservative legislator with several of his legislative actions focused on reducing or eliminating abortion in the state. Following are some of the pieces of legislation he either sponsored or co-sponsored.

• During the 2019 session he co-sponsored Act 506 to create a farm to school and farm to preschool program, which was designed to improve nutritional offerings for children.
• He sponsored Act 700 to provide that only physicians with a degree in OB-GYN may perform abortions. He also co-sponsored Act 392 of 2017 to create born-alive infant protection.
• He was the sponsor of Act 1076, which prohibits cities from becoming sanctuaries for illegal immigrants.
• He co-sponsored Act 332 of 2017 to enhance penalties against offenders who target current or former law officers, first responders and their families.
• He was the Senate sponsor of Act 742 to expand the development of agricultural schools.