Slinkard takes down shingle

City attorney to several northwest Arkansas towns, Howard Slinkard has had a hand in the fabric of this fast-growing area of the state for more than four decades. He hung out his shingle in Rogers in 1972 going into practice with David Clinger in a building on Second Street.

He became the city attorney for Pea Ridge in 1975.

Now, he's retiring.

In announcing his retirement recently to Pea Ridge City Council members, Slinkard said he and Sandy Button, city clerk, had both been with the city since the 1970s and he would leave her to be the longest lasting city official.

"Howard's done a great job for us and we hate to see him go," Mayor Jackie Crabtree said.

Slinkard is also city attorney for Garfield and Avoca. Over the past two decades, he has served as the attorney for Centerton (15 years), for Tontitown (1 year), for Centerton Water and Sewer Commission, Gateway Public Water Authority and Lost Bridge Suburban Improvement District.

Slinkard did not set his sights on becoming an attorney.

Growing up on a farm in northeast Arkansas, he was determined to play football in college. The sixth of his parents' eight children and the youngest boy, he was the first of his family to attend and graduate college.

But, it wasn't to play football.

"I wanted to play football, but I didn't have a scholarship. The coach arranged a walk on at Henderson."

When he graduated from Trumann High School in 1965, Slinkard packed up his little car "with all my wordly possessions" and drove to Arkadelphia. But, he said he arrived a week early and was embarassed to go back home and tell his parents of his mistake so went to Eudora to stay with his elder brother who farmed there.

"After the crops were laid by, we piddled around. He asked what I was going to do. I said, 'I'm going to play football,'" Slinkard recalled.

His brother's next words were fortuitous.

"Only three things that can happen and two are bad. You can play and enjoy. You can play and get hurt. You can get hurt and not play.

"What you ought to do is go back to Jonesboro and become a lawyer," he said.

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Editor's note: This is the first in a three part series on Howard Slinkard, attorney at law, and city attorney to Pea Ridge and Garfield.

Community on 11/02/2016