To Remember Lawrence Ervin Bearden And To Recognize His Lifetime Of Dedication To His Family And Community, The State Of Arkansas, And The Nation.
HMR1005 is a House Memorial Resolution honoring the life and service of Lawrence Ervin Bearden, formerly of Smackover, Arkansas, who died on February 3, 2025, at age 86. The resolution recounts his upbringing in Chidester, education at Fairview High School and Southern State College, his marriage to Ann Oliver, and his long record of service in the United States Army Reserve, where he retired as a lieutenant colonel after 28 years.
The resolution also highlights Bearden’s professional and civic contributions, including his work in the oil industry, his service on the Smackover School District Board of Directors, the Southern Arkansas University Foundation Board of Governors, and the Southern Arkansas University Board of Trustees, as well as his appointments to workforce and adult education bodies. It further notes his church leadership, community involvement, and mission work, presenting him as a figure of leadership, faith, and public service. The resolution directs the House to remember and recognize his contributions and to provide a copy to his family as an expression of condolences and esteem.
Because HMR1005 is a memorial resolution, it does not change Arkansas law, create new programs, or appropriate funds. Its effect is ceremonial and commemorative: it formally records the General Assembly’s tribute to Lawrence Ervin Bearden and directs the Chief Clerk to transmit a copy to his family. The resolution also serves to preserve legislative recognition of his contributions to education, workforce development, military service, and community life.
The sentiment around the resolution is uniformly positive and respectful. The text is written in a commemorative tone that emphasizes Bearden’s leadership, integrity, faith, and long record of service to his family, community, state, and nation. No opposition or controversy is reflected in the bill text, and no committee debate or recorded votes are provided in the available context.
There is no apparent contention in the available materials. The resolution is a noncontroversial memorial measure, and the context includes no committee transcripts, amendments, or recorded votes suggesting disagreement. Any discussion would likely have centered on honoring Bearden’s legacy rather than debating policy.