Jack E. Meadows Sr.'s Obituary
Jack E. Meadows, Sr., formerly of Crossett, Arkansas, passed away on September 21, 2020 in Fayetteville at the age of 101. He was born September 2, 1919 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Noel Etter and Nellie Conolly Meadows. He graduated from North Dallas High School in Dallas, Texas. From there he went to the University of Texas to study chemical engineering. He received a scholarship to play tennis (one new racquet and one ball per week) and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Upon graduation, he entered the US Navy as a second lieutenant, serving in World War II in the Aleutian Islands. On March 10, 1944 he married the love of his life, Jane Worthington Duls. They had dated for seven years and were married 70 years until her death in 2014. Jack completed his active duty assignment in Corpus Christi, Texas. In the fall of 1945, he moved to Crossett, Arkansas, taking a job in the boiler room of the paper mill division of the Crossett Company. The firm was acquired in 1960 by Georgia Pacific Corporation, and Jack progressed through management eventually becoming Vice President of Operations for the Crossett division. At the time, his operation was the largest industrial employer in Arkansas. As part of his continuing education, he attended Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program in 1963. He left Georgia Pacific in 1975 to become President of Publishers Paper Company in Toledo, Oregon and served as Senior Vice President of the Times Mirror Corporation.
Jack was very active in the local, state, and national Jaycees, as well as the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce. He was elected national Vice President of the Jaycees in 1952. He was appointed by Republican governor Winthrop Rockefeller for a term on the Arkansas State Board of Education which surprised him since he considered himself a “yellow dog Democrat.” During his tenure on the Board of Education, Jack was very proud to be a part of implementing the free kindergarten program for all Arkansans. He served on the bank boards of 1st National Bank of Crossett, 1st National Bank of Fayetteville and Commercial National Bank in Little Rock. After retiring to Fayetteville in 1985, Jack served on the board of JB Hunt and the United Methodist Foundation in Little Rock and was a trustee at Mount Sequoyah and George Fox University in Newburg, Oregon. He was active in the family business that included Summerhill Racquet Club and Stonebridge Meadows Golf Club. He and Jane were members of Sequoyah United Methodist Church where he served as finance committee chairman for many years. Tennis was very important to him as the Cedar Springs Lawn and Tennis Club is where he met Jane in 1936. He organized a state sanctioned tennis tournament in Crossett for 25 years and continued playing the sport into his 80s. Although Jack accomplished many things in his 101 years, he was most proud of his beloved family.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jane, and his younger son, William N. Meadows Sr.
He is survived by his older son, Jack (Carolyn) of Little Rock, former daughter-in-law Becky Meadows, daughter-in-law Susan Meadows (widow of William Sr.), grandchildren Jack E Meadows III of Hot Springs, Melissa Riley (Cooper) of Little Rock, William Meadows Jr (Sunny) of Byron, MN, Mary Jane Bryles (Roger) of Fayetteville, along with six great grandchildren Olivia, Rachel, and Sarah Cooper Riley of Little Rock, Sophie and Lily Bryles of Fayetteville, and Ryder Meadows of Hot Springs. The family would like to thank all the caregivers who provided warm and compassionate help to him: Antonia, Keaiuna, Kim, Linda, Marquette, and Michelle. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Sequoyah United Methodist Church or Mount Sequoyah. The family will have a private graveside service.
What’s your fondest memory of Jack?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jack?
Share a story where Jack's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jack you’ll never forget.
How did Jack make you smile?