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SMR 5

TO REMEMBER ATTORNEY JOHN GILL FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AND TO THE PRACTICE OF LAW IN ARKANSAS.

2026 Fiscal Session Introduced by Mark Johnson and 2 co-sponsors

Honors John Gill for lifelong contributions to Arkansas law, public service, civic projects, and scholarship, recognizing his impact on the state and Little Rock communities.

Sine Die adjournment
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Bill Summary · SMR 5

Summary of Senate Memorial Resolution 5 (SMR 5), 2026 Session, Arkansas

Purpose

  • SMR 5 is a Senate memorial resolution honoring the life and contributions of John Purifoy Gill, a prominent Arkansas attorney based in Little Rock. It recognizes his impact on the city, the state, and the practice of law in Arkansas.

Main Provisions and Content

  • The resolution provides a biographical overview of John Gill, including:
    • Birth: December 9, 1936, in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
    • Education: Attended Hendrix College, then transferred to Vanderbilt University (undergraduate and law degrees). Participated in Naval ROTC.
    • Military service: Served in the United States Marine Corps at Marine Corps Base Quantico as an infantry officer and later in the Naval Judge Advocate General's Corps, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
    • Legal career: Admitted to the Arkansas Bar in 1962; founder of the law firm Gill Ragon Owen, P.A.
  • Notable roles and achievements:
    • Delegate to the 1969 Arkansas Constitutional Convention.
    • Special counsel to the Governor for the proposed Arkansas Constitution Revision of 1996.
    • Faculty member at the Arkansas College of Trial Advocacy.
    • Founding member of the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure.
    • Member of the Arkansas Water Code Study Commission (1981–1982).
    • Past President of the Arkansas Bar Association and Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
    • Instrumental in adding the Attorney Oath of Office to the Arkansas Attorney's License.
    • Appointed by Governor Mike Beebe to the State Parks, Recreation, and Travel Commission (2011–2023).
  • Civic and cultural contributions:
    • Founder/leader roles with Preserve Arkansas; recipient of the Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement (2019).
    • Involvement in landmark projects across Arkansas, including:
    • Little Rock Visitor Information Center (Curran Hall) and Firehouse Hostel renovations.
    • La Petite Roche plaque and historical marker at the Little Rock River Market.
    • Installation of the glass sculpture "Straight Lines on a Round World" at the Statehouse Convention Center.
    • Portrait of Scipio Africanus Jones at the Scipio A. Jones Post Office in Little Rock.
  • Authorship:
    • Wrote seven books, with four focused on Arkansas topics (examples include "On the Courthouse Square in Arkansas" and "Open House: The Arkansas Governor's Mansion and Its Place in History").
    • Academic and intellectual pursuits included work on "The Trial of Jesus" and related lectures/workshops, including endowing the John and Marjem Gill Preaching Workshop and Lecture.
  • Community and faith involvement:
    • Active member of First United Methodist Church in Little Rock; roles include trustee, Bowen Sunday School Class organizer, and leadership positions on the Administrative Board (vice chairman and chairman).

Who Is Affected

  • Recognition affects:
    • John Gill’s family (notably his wife Marjem Gill and surviving relatives).
    • The broader community of Little Rock and Arkansas through acknowledgment of his contributions to law, civic life, and public landmarks.
  • No new laws or fiscal changes are proposed; the memorial is symbolic and ceremonial.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Filed and introduced in the Senate on April 23, 2026.
  • Action history:
    • Read the first time and rules suspended; read the second time and placed on the calendar.
  • Sponsors:
    • Primary: Senator M. Johnson
    • Co-sponsors: Senator Fred Love, Senator Clarke Tucker
  • Effect: Upon adoption, an appropriate copy of the resolution will be provided to Marjem Gill and family by the Secretary of the Senate.

Notes

  • As a memorial resolution, SMR 5 serves to honor and memorialize an individual rather than to enact policy or authorize expenditures.
  • The bill emphasizes Gill’s multifaceted legacy in law, public service, civic improvement, historical commemoration, authorship, and faith-based community leadership.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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