Joe Dillard Recounts Democrats’ Contributions to Baxter County

Local Democrat Joe Dillard was elected to the school board, served as Mayor of Mountain Home for several terms, and County Judge for several other terms. For over forty years Joe was in political capacities to the benefit of Baxter County.

Thursday, March 02, 1978 - Baxter Bulletin

In reflecting upon his career Joe began by listing the achievements of Democratic Representative Marion Berry who represented our District One from 1997 to 2011. As Mayor, Judge, and Regional Representative, Joe worked with Berry in gaining federal funding of over a million dollars to provide the airport landing lighting system that was installed at our Midway airport.

Baxter Bulletin - 27 Nov 2006, Mon

Berry was also a key player in passing the Minimum Flow legislation which affects the stable outflow of water from our two dams. This provides better feeding habitats for fishes, as well as better reproduction environments in the outflowing rivers....and therefore, better fishing and more fishermen/tourists.

11/24/2005

They were also able to garner over four million dollars to help build the 65,000 sq. ft. Vada Sheid Community Development Center. From 2002 to 2010 Dillard was the Regional Representative for Barry and established an office in the Baxter County courthouse. This was an advantage for Baxter County citizens since it provided easy access to their congressmen. Do you drive Hwy 412 east to Jonesboro/Memphis? The passing lanes between here and Ash Flat are the results of federal funds secured by Democrat Berry for North Central Arkansas.


Looming large in Joe’s memory were the accomplishments of Democratic State senator AND Representative Vada Sheid. She was the first woman to hold both posts in a career lasting five decades.

Baxter Bulletin · Thursday, July 05, 1956

Mountain Home, Arkansas · Thursday, January 02, 1969 - Baxter Bulletin

Perhaps her greatest achievement was gaining the funding for the Lake Norfork bridges from Republican President Nixon with the assistance of our two Democratic Senators, McClellan, and Fullbright. Later she secured funding for the Community Development Center on the ASUMH campus which is now a keystone of our community. One of the last Sheid contributions to Baxter County and especially Mountain Home is the Sheid-Hopper Bypass which sees much traffic every day and greatly reduces congestion of interstate trucking traffic through the town. She was also a key proponent for the bridge over the White River providing access to the Push Mountain Road and the southern parts of Baxter County.

Saturday, June 22, 1985 - Baxter Bulletin

Baxter Bulletin - 15 Nov 1979, Thu

Dillard himself served Baxter County almost as long as Mrs. Sheid. For over forty years Joe was in political capacities (Mayor, County Judge, Regional Representative ) to the benefit of Baxter County.

Long before ADA ramps were required Judge Dillard had the access ramp laid to the courthouse AND had an elevator installed. A major accomplishment was working out a deal so that the existing county hospital could be leased to a Memphis hospital group. That lease was later passed to the Hospital Board. That financial deal has allowed Baxter Health to be independent.

Thursday, April 24, 1980 - Baxter Bulletin

Before ASUMH, Dillard was instrumental in gaining the funding to buy the old Baptist Church and neighboring funeral home to be the first college campus in Mtn. Home. It was the North Arkansas/Harrison College which later built a campus in Harrison. ASU then took over those buildings and began the progression to what it is today. Another major achievement was the adoption after two failures of a one-cent sales tax. This relieved the tax burden on residents and shifted county income to visitors and others buying goods in Baxter County. Gaining funding for sewer services led to the layout of the Industrial Park. That area has provided many jobs and income for Baxter County residents.

Photo: Kevin Pieper / Baxter Bulletin

Another ongoing benefit from his Democratic administration was the installation of a countywide early warning system of sirens and horns. The lunchtime horn is a daily reminder of the testing of that system.

Mountain Home, Arkansas · Friday, July 02, 1993 - Baxter Bulletin

Baxter Bulletin 24 Sep 1997, Wed

Local Democratic leadership has made North Central Arkansas what it is today. Key features are the three bridges, a showpiece college, an independent hospital, a busy industrial park, a safer airport, a storm early warning system, better rivers, and better highways. Democrats = Infrastructure.

Special thanks to Joe Dillard for sharing his time with us.

-From the Historical Committee of the Baxter County Democratic Party
Mike Breton /
Derek Huber

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