The Apple Blossom, The Underappreciated Career of Vada Shield and the Titan II Missile Explosion

The Apple Blossom, The Underappreciated Career of Vada Shield and the Titan II Missile Explosion

Presented by James L. ‘Skip’ Rutherford III

Ever wonder about things that happened, OR things that didn’t happen that affected ALL Arkansans?  Well, Skip Rutherford has had a front row seat to his share of some of the biggest events in recent Arkansas history.

Skip Rutherford is Dean Emeritus of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, the nation’s first to offer a Master of Public Service (MPS) degree. Rutherford served as Dean from 2006-2021.  Prior to becoming Dean, he coordinated the planning, construction and opening of the Clinton Presidential Library and Park in Little Rock.

A graduate of the University of Arkansas, he received the Journalism Department’s first Distinguished Alumnus Award. He has an extensive private sector background in communications and public relations. He has served as a visiting professor at Lyon College, University of Arkansas, University of the Ozarks, and the University of Central Arkansas and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Hendrix College.

He serves on the Board of Trustees at Lyon College, the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) and the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital System.  He was the founding chair of the advisory board of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science and the Arts in Hot Springs.

He has been named “Headliner of the Year” by the Arkansas Press Association; “Arkansan of the Year” by the Arkansas Broadcasters Association; “Arkansan of the Year” by the Arkansas Times; and was recognized as “Tourism Person of the Year” at the Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

He and his wife, Billie, are the parents of three adult children and have two grandchildren. They are members of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church where he co-teaches a young adult Sunday School class, is a past chairman of the Board of Stewards and co-chaired the church’s centennial.  Skip co-owns and manages two family farms in Independence and Jackson counties.

Skip Rutherford chat

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