Bill Harmon

Bill J. Harmon, Sr., 81, former Mayor of Sherwood, passed away after an extended illness on Friday, June 5, 2009 at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, surrounded by his family. Bill was born in Hughes, Arkansas on August 6, 1927 to Henry and Ailene Harmon. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Charles Harmon, and his sister, Edith McConnell. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marvelle S. Harmon of the home; three sons and one daughter, Billy J. Harmon, Jr. and wife Sue of Sherwood, Hank Harmon and wife Diane of Carrollton, Texas, and Lampe, Missouri, Charlie Harmon and wife Monica of Sherwood, and Mary L. Harmon of New York, New York. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews, all of whom loved him dearly. Bill joined the Navy at age 17, after convincing his parents to sign a waiver for him, and served on a tanker in the South Pacific during World War II. After being honorably discharged from the Navy following the War, Bill returned to Arkansas to attend Arkansas State College in Jonesboro where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, and afterwards farmed in Eastern Arkansas for several years before entering the insurance business. He then spend 41 years in the life and health insurance industry working at various levels and eventually opening his own insurance agency, Bill Harmon and Associates, Inc. in 1979. Bill first entered local Sherwood politics when he was elected Alderman in 1983. He served as Alderman for 10 years until 1993, when he was elected Mayor, receiving 69% of the vote in a five person race. Bill then served as the full-time Mayor of Sherwood from 1993 until 2007, and considered his years of public service to the citizens of Sherwood among the happiest and most productive of his life. Among his proudest accomplishments during his tenure as Mayor were the construction of the Kevin McReynolds Baseball Complex, the construction of the Soccer and Softball complexes, the construction of the state of the art Bill Harmon Recreation Center, the construction of the Senior Citizen?s Center, and the addition of numerous parks and recreation facilities to the City. Bill has been a member of First Baptist Church of Sherwood since 1966, and served as a Sunday school teacher there for many years. He was a 32nd Degree Mason with dual membership in Sylvan Hills Lodge in Sherwood and Red Gum Lodge in Hughes, Arkansas, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a lifetime member of the Arkansas Municipal League and received the Denver Gentry Distinguished Citizen Award in 2008 for his outstanding work and dedication to his community. He was also an avid duck and quail hunter who passed along his love of hunting to his sons and grandsons. Visitation will be at the First Baptist Church of Sherwood from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Sherwood, with burial to follow at Rest Hills Memorial Park in Sherwood. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Sherwood, or Union Rescue Mission. Arrangements by North Little Rock Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 1921 Main Street, 758-1170. Online obituary and guest register at www.nlrfh.com.