at his home in Monticello, AR. He was born May 3, 1952, in Monticello, AR to Hugh Warden
Pennington and Robbie Christine Rodgers Pennington.
In addition to his father, he was also preceded in death by his grandparents, Lloyd Ervin and
Lelia Mae Goyne Rodgers and Charles Leonard and Susie Warden Wilson Pennington.
Mike grew up in the New Hope Community and attended the Drew Central School District
where he graduated in 1970. While in high school, he played basketball, served as a class
officer, Student Council President, and was Mr. Drew Central High School. He attended
Arkansas A & M College, later UAM for three years majoring in economics and marketing and
was Freshman Class President. Mike was a member of First United Methodist Church in
Monticello.
In the summer of 1973 Mike went to work for Georgia Pacific as a Woodsman and in 1978 he
was promoted to a timber procurement position in Crossett which he held for three years. In
1981, he began working for J.P. Price Lumber Company as a procurement forester utilizing
his experience he gained at GP and his job there included timber buying, forest management,
GPS applications, and working with individual landowners. While working at Price''™s, he
became a Vice President and a Registered Professional Forester in Arkansas. After
twenty-seven years at Price''™s, he left in 2008 and entered logging, becoming the President of
longtime Arkansas logging firm, L.D. Long, Inc. He never did run much logging equipment; he
played to his strength - timber procurement. With his background, cruising and purchasing
timber were some of his strong points.
Besides working, Mike was heavily involved in supporting the community and the state. He
served as a board member for the associations Arkansas Forestry Association, Arkansas
Timber Producers Association, and Drew County Farm Bureau. He advanced the goals of the
Arkansas Pro Logger training program and helped to build and sustain through activism and
leadership a political and economic climate in which the forestry industry could survive. In
addition, he was a school board member of the Drew Central School District from 1987- 2021.
Mike enthusiastically advocated for the Arkansas Log a Load for Kids Program and was a
founding member of the Drew County Log a Load for Kids which began with just a few
loggers in 1993. He devoted endless hours to the program helping to raise over $2.2 million
dollars.
Throughout the years, Mike received numerous awards. While working at J.P. Price Lumber
Company, Arkansas Timber Producers Association honored him as Forester of the Year. In
2005, he traveled to California to accept the National Log a Load for Kids Volunteer Award.
By showing his exceptional support of the Drew Central athletic program, the football stadium
was dedicated to him in 2008 and became known as the Mike Pennington Stadium. AFA
presented Mike with the Outstanding Log a Load for Kids Volunteer Award in 2011. In 2013,
he was given the Drew Central Hall of Fame Award in recognition as an exemplary graduate
of the Drew Central School District. For significant contributions and meritorious service to the
public schools of our state, the Arkansas School Boards Association paid special tribute to
Mike by bestowing upon him the honor of its twenty-sixth annual Dr. Daniel L. Pilkinton Award
for outstanding service to public Education in 2018. In addition, Monticello-Drew County
Chamber of Commerce recognized him as the 2021 Man of the Year. Last, but not least, the
Arkansas Forestry Association presented its first ever Lifetime Achievement award to Mike at
their annual meeting in 2025.
Mike''™s passions were elk hunting, cooking for large crowds, and mowing. Starting in 1989
and continuing for over thirty years, Mike and some friends and relatives traveled to the same
lodge on the Rio Grande in Colorado. He loved the mountains and the friends he made while
there. He wasn''™t much of a home cook, but he certainly enjoyed cooking his famous fish fry
which not only included fried catfish, hush puppies, french fries, but biscuits with honey. Mr.
Mike''™s baked beans are known throughout his family and the community. People at family
reunions, his places of employment, Drew Central''™s end of year staff celebration and the
basketball hospitality room all thoroughly appreciated his cooking. Mowing seemed to satisfy
and relax Mike and there was only one way to mow and that was Mike''™s way. When he
climbed on his Kubota mower, there was no stopping him from mowing yards, such as
neighbor''™s, relatives''™, and company land.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Susan Lee Pennington of Monticello, two daughters,
Michelle Pennington of Monticello and Laura Hartley and husband Cody of Chesapeake, VA,
four grandchildren, Grace, Asher, Liam, and Harper of Forney, TX who called him Papa,
PopPop or Babby, mother, Christine Pennington of Monticello, sister, Gayle York and husband
Roy of Monticello, two loving cats, Eve and Stormi, three granddogs, Maggie, Lily, and
Monkey and one grandcat, Emmy of Chesapeake, VA.
Memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Drew Central Earl Willis
Auditorium in Monticello, Arkansas. A private family burial will be held in Green Hill Cemetery
in Green Hill, Arkansas. Serving as pallbearers are Mark Addison, Jason Allison, David Ball,
Alan Bickford, Reggie Goodman, and Aaron Tooke. Honorary pallbearer is Tommy Robbins.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care, 989 Hwy 425, Monticello, AR 71655; Drew
County Log a Load for Kids, PO Box 702, Monticello, AR 71657; Drew Central Foundation Fund, and Green Hill Cemetery.
Condolences(16)
Barry Haisty Pulpwood & Logging
Monticello, AR Friday, October 2, 2026 I Corinthians 15:55; Psalm 23Jane Jo Summerford
Monticello, AR Thursday, October 1, 2026 Mike will be greatly missed in our community. Many thoughts and prayers for all of you, his family, in dealing with the loss of your loved one.Becky kossover
Little Rock, AR Tuesday, September 29, 2026 Susan, Michelle and Laura, my deepest condolences on Mikes passing. He was a really good guy! Cooked the best fish dinners for our Johnson reunions. Wonderful obit. Obviously lots I didn’t know about Mike! Prayers for your peace and thankful for all the good memories you share. Love you, your cousin BeckyJerry hughes
Little Rock, AR Tuesday, September 29, 2026 Mike was a good man !prayers for his familyPat Matthews
Maumelle, AR Monday, September 28, 2026 Susan & Family,I am so sorry for your loss of Mike.He was a great person, and a great cheerleader for Monticello and Drew Central.
Ralph and Teressa Hunter
Monticello, AR Monday, September 28, 2026 We are so sorry for your loss. Prayers for your comfort during this time.Clay Adams
Ruston, LA Monday, September 28, 2026 RIP Mike. May God Bless and Comfort all the Pennington family Always. The Lumber Industry lost a good man in Mike. I remember many good times and meals with Mike when I purchased hardwood lumber from J.P. Price Lumber Company years ago.ronny williams
PONCA CITY, OK Monday, September 28, 2026 Mike was a great man. His legacy in Monticello will live forever.Freda Scogin Baker
Oak Grove, MO Monday, September 28, 2026 Gayle Christne and familyI am so sorry to hear that Mike passed away. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. God was ready for a good man to come home
Jeff Rains
Fordyce, AR Monday, September 28, 2026 I moved to Arkansas in September of 1992. Met Mike a J P Price mill. He has been one of the best carrying people I know. He has help everyone any anyway he could. He will be greatly missed throughout the logging community from local and far away. The ATPA is for sure going to miss him and his service along with the Log-A-Load in Arkansas. Thank you, my friend for being my friend.Rest In Peace
Jeff
Regina Gorman
Monticello, AR Monday, September 28, 2026 Susan,I pray for God’s comforting arms to surround you and your family during this time of loss.
~ Regina Gorman
Kent Davis
Maumelle, AR Monday, September 28, 2026 I am so sorry, Mike was a long time friend and a good man. PrayersMary marlar
Hot Springs, AR Monday, September 28, 2026 Mike was a good man and will be missed! The family is in my prayers ??Gloria Schwab
Rogers, AR Sunday, September 27, 2026 Susan and family , I am so sorry for your loss . Prayers for you all .J. King
Guntersville, AL Sunday, September 27, 2026 I had the honor to work with Mr Mike during the 10 years I lived in Monticello. He was great about making me feel at home and introduced me to people in the community and the Forest Products business.A true man of integrity !
Rest easy my friend
Sherry Ellis O'Neill
Monticello, AR Sunday, September 27, 2026 Mrs. Christine, Gayle and Mike's family,I am so sorry to read of your loss. Mike was such a great person. I have many fond memories of Mike when we were in school, & riding the bus together every day. I know there are no words that can ease your heartache at this time, but please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. May God bless and comfort you. ~Sherry~