IN RESPECTFUL MEMORY OF REPRESENTATIVE STANLEY JACK "STAN" BERRY AND IN RECOGNITION OF HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS AND TO HIS LOCAL COMMUNITY.
SMR4 is a Senate Memorial Resolution honoring the life and public service of Representative Stanley Jack “Stan” Berry of Dover, Arkansas, who died on March 23, 2026, at age 71. The resolution recounts his background, family, military service in the National Guard, and long record of civic involvement, including service on the Dover School Board, Dover City Council, Tri-County Water Commission, and Pope County 911 Board. It also highlights his decades of membership and leadership in the Dover Lions Club, as well as recognition he received from his community.
The resolution further notes Berry’s service in the Arkansas House of Representatives, first from 2003 to 2007 and again from 2019 until his death in 2026, and lists his committee assignments and leadership roles in the legislature. It emphasizes his commitment to education, local schools, and public service, and concludes by directing the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to his widow and family. As a memorial resolution, SMR4 does not create new law or change state policy; it is a ceremonial measure expressing the Senate’s respect and condolences.
SMR4 has no substantive effect on Arkansas statutes, regulations, or agency authority. Its legal impact is limited to an official legislative expression of remembrance and recognition, with the only operative provision being the delivery of an adopted copy to Mona Berry and family. The bill affects no regulated parties and does not amend existing law.
The available context suggests overwhelmingly positive sentiment. The resolution itself is written in laudatory terms, emphasizing Berry’s service, kindness, leadership, and contributions to education and local government. There were no recorded committee transcripts or votes indicating opposition, amendment, or controversy, and the measure appears to have proceeded as a respectful memorial item before sine die adjournment.
No notable points of contention are evident in the bill text or available legislative history. Because SMR4 is a memorial resolution rather than a policy bill, there is no apparent disagreement over statutory changes, funding, or implementation. The only substantive focus is the public recognition of Representative Berry’s life and service, which appears to have been broadly uncontroversial.