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James Terrell Jordan, age 84, of Monticello passed away Sunday, December 27, 2009, at Drew Memorial Hospital. Born May 30, 1925 in Drew County, AR, he was the son of the late Alvin “Bud” Jordan and Linnie Fee Deal Jordan.
James was born and reared in Drew County, AR and attended schools in Monticello, AR and California. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II and member of the 101st Airborne Division where he served as a paratrooper and was a Purple Heart recipient. In 1956 he entered public office, serving as Drew County Treasurer for four years. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church of Monticello and a member of the Optimist Club.
In 1960, he was elected Drew County Judge, serving for eight years and not seeking re-election for this office. In 1968, he went into the retail lumber business with his two sons and in 1969, he was asked to run for mayor of Monticello, following the resignation of the former mayor. He was elected from among a field of seven candidates in the race. James was well-known and respected throughout the State of Arkansas at every level of politics in local, state and Federal government.
In 1970, Mayor Jordan ran unopposed for the mayor’s office and also ran unopposed in 1974 and 1978. In 1982, he was re-elected for another four-year term. He served as President of the Arkansas Municipal League in 1978-79 and also served on its Executive Committee. James was also Chairman of the Ten-County Resource, Conservation and Development Council, and organized the State Association of RC&D Councils. He also served as President of this association along with serving on the board of the National RC&D Council. Two RC&D scholarships are awarded each year to families of firemen in his honor.
He was named as liason between the Arkansas Association of RC&D Councils and the Lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission. Governor Bill Clinton then appointed him to Arkansas’ 32-member Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the Delta Commission and to the Wastewater Task Force, where he served as vice-president.
Mayor Jordan has also served as President of the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development Council, Chairman of the Board of the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, and was a member of the Board of Delta Counseling and Guidance Center, which he founded. He also served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1979-80. He was a tireless public worker as he had a keen interest in schools, highways, industrial development and human services.
James was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives and served in that capacity for 12 years representing District 92. Representative Jordan served on the Committee on City, County and Local Affairs and the Committee on Public Transportation.
In July of 1984, Governor Bill Clinton appointed him as a member of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission. James received the 1985 Man of the Year Award from the Drew County Chamber of Commerce. In March of 1986, he was elected to the Southeast RC&D Council as Vice-President representing the six states that make up the Council. Governor Mike Huckabee then appointed James to the University of Arkansas at Monticello Board of Visitors.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Nichols Jordan of Monticello; two sons, Terrell Laron Jordan and wife, Carol Bond Jordan of Jonesboro and Jerry Lavon Jordan and wife, Sara Hesser Jordan of Maumelle; one daughter, Cindy Jordan Davis of Conway; one sister, Mable Jordan Echols of Bastrop, LA; nine grandchildren, Paula Jordan Beavers, Johna Anderson, Jim Bob Jordan, O’Neal Jordan, B.J. Lafferty, Lauren Lafferty Beam, Elizabeth Davis Bradley, Jeremy Hart Davis and Austin King; and eight great grandchildren, Layne, John Issac, Linley, Ava John, Vivian, Mallory, Emory and Kyra.
James was born and reared in Drew County, AR and attended schools in Monticello, AR and California. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II and member of the 101st Airborne Division where he served as a paratrooper and was a Purple Heart recipient. In 1956 he entered public office, serving as Drew County Treasurer for four years. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church of Monticello and a member of the Optimist Club.
In 1960, he was elected Drew County Judge, serving for eight years and not seeking re-election for this office. In 1968, he went into the retail lumber business with his two sons and in 1969, he was asked to run for mayor of Monticello, following the resignation of the former mayor. He was elected from among a field of seven candidates in the race. James was well-known and respected throughout the State of Arkansas at every level of politics in local, state and Federal government.
In 1970, Mayor Jordan ran unopposed for the mayor’s office and also ran unopposed in 1974 and 1978. In 1982, he was re-elected for another four-year term. He served as President of the Arkansas Municipal League in 1978-79 and also served on its Executive Committee. James was also Chairman of the Ten-County Resource, Conservation and Development Council, and organized the State Association of RC&D Councils. He also served as President of this association along with serving on the board of the National RC&D Council. Two RC&D scholarships are awarded each year to families of firemen in his honor.
He was named as liason between the Arkansas Association of RC&D Councils and the Lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission. Governor Bill Clinton then appointed him to Arkansas’ 32-member Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the Delta Commission and to the Wastewater Task Force, where he served as vice-president.
Mayor Jordan has also served as President of the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development Council, Chairman of the Board of the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, and was a member of the Board of Delta Counseling and Guidance Center, which he founded. He also served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1979-80. He was a tireless public worker as he had a keen interest in schools, highways, industrial development and human services.
James was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives and served in that capacity for 12 years representing District 92. Representative Jordan served on the Committee on City, County and Local Affairs and the Committee on Public Transportation.
In July of 1984, Governor Bill Clinton appointed him as a member of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission. James received the 1985 Man of the Year Award from the Drew County Chamber of Commerce. In March of 1986, he was elected to the Southeast RC&D Council as Vice-President representing the six states that make up the Council. Governor Mike Huckabee then appointed James to the University of Arkansas at Monticello Board of Visitors.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Nichols Jordan of Monticello; two sons, Terrell Laron Jordan and wife, Carol Bond Jordan of Jonesboro and Jerry Lavon Jordan and wife, Sara Hesser Jordan of Maumelle; one daughter, Cindy Jordan Davis of Conway; one sister, Mable Jordan Echols of Bastrop, LA; nine grandchildren, Paula Jordan Beavers, Johna Anderson, Jim Bob Jordan, O’Neal Jordan, B.J. Lafferty, Lauren Lafferty Beam, Elizabeth Davis Bradley, Jeremy Hart Davis and Austin King; and eight great grandchildren, Layne, John Issac, Linley, Ava John, Vivian, Mallory, Emory and Kyra.