About the Editor

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Every county needs an Earl Berry. He was born to Dink and Flossie Jenkins Berry in 1904 on his father's homestead located on the north side of Bull Mountain just west of the Crow-Barnes Resort. He attended grade school at the Newton Flat schoolhouse for the first six grades. He finished the eighth grade at Flippin and took the Teacher's Examination and secured a teacher's license. He taught his first term of school in the Cave Bottom District-a two month's summer term at $35.00 per month. For the next six years he taught in the rural schools of Baxter County. In 1930 he graduated from Arkansas Tech with an L. I. Degree and in September 1930 began teaching in the Flippin High School where he taught until 1937. While teaching in Flippin, he served two terms in the State Legislature, 1933-1936,

In 1938 he was graduated from Arkansas State Teacher's College with a B. A. Degree.

In 1939, he was employed in Washington, D. C. by the United States Department of the Interior, resigning this position in 1940 to return to Marion County to run for the office of County Judge, to which office he was elected in November, 1940. After serving in this position for three years, three months, and three days, he resigned to return to a position with the Department of the Interior. He served in this position for ten years.

In 1955 Governor Orval E. Faubus appointed him Director, Tax Division, Arkansas Public Service Commission, a position he held under four governors until his retirement, January 1, 1976. At his retirement he had thirty-six years of credited service in the State Retirement System.

Somehow with all this, he managed to return to Marion County one week-end each month for over thirty years to preach at the Fairview Church of Christ.

When the Marion County Bicentennial Committee centered on a History of Marion County as its chief project, it was determined that it must find someone to assemble, organize, supervise and edit this history. The Committee asked Earl Berry to assume the task, knowing of his interest in, and believing in his competence. He accepted.

If you have an opportunity to visit Earl and his wife, Guyla, who is also a native of Marion County, just mention the early days in this part of Arkansas. History is never completely written and there is much that Earl can tell you which is not in this history.

The Marion County Bicentennial Committee

By Lyle Wood, Chairman