James Staggs

James Wayne Staggs, 72, of Bald Knob, died Thursday, September 15, 2011. Born December 1, 1938 in Bald Knob, he was the son of the late Floyd Staggs and Lorene Patterson Staggs. He graduated from Bald Knob High School, the University of Central Arkansas (Arkansas State Teacher's College), and the University of Memphis and spent 33 years in the field of education. He began his coaching career at Heber Springs Public Schools in 1961, and then coached at Searcy and Hughes. In 1971, James became junior high principal before becoming superintendent of schools at Waldron. He went to Clarksville as superintendent of schools in 1981. He returned home to Bald Knob as superintendent in 1986. In 1990, he became director of the Wilbur D. Mills Educational Co-op. Later, he worked as an educational consultant for then-governor Bill Clinton. In 1992, he retired from education and spent his time on the family cattle farm and enjoying golf with his wife Linda and friends. After seventeen years of retirement, James was asked by the State Department of Education to return as superintendent of schools after the Bald Knob school system was declared in fiscal distress in 2007. He co-chaired the community effort which successfully saved the school system from consolidation. He was an avid sports fan. He lettered four years in football at ASTC. He enjoyed watching the Bald Knob Bulldogs, UCA Bears, and Arkansas Razorbacks football teams. He was past president of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators and the Arkansas School Plant Management Association. He served on the board of Citizens State Bank and was named Citizen of the Year in Bald Knob in 2008. He was an active member of Central Baptist Church where he taught the Coffee Shop Sunday School class. James is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Linda Fitzhugh Staggs; his daughter Dana Troutt and her husband Kelley, of Wesley; his son James Wayne Staggs, Jr. (Jay) and his wife Trisha, of El Dorado. He was lovingly known as Pops to his four grandchildren—Amanda Lee Jones, Laura Elizabeth Jones, Hannah Sue Dull, and Kaleb Everette Dull. He is also survived by his brother Dale Staggs and his wife Cheryl, of Batesville, and a host of extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Lorene, his brother Eugene Staggs, his sister Betty McGee. Visitation will be at Powell Funeral Home in Bald Knob on Saturday from 4 to 7 P.M. Funeral services will be held at Central Baptist Church on Sunday, September 18 at 2 P.M. Active pallbearers are Doug Stelly, Glen Reed, Larry Kirscher, Tim Fix, Wendell Nier, Eugene Steward, Terry Staggs and Jamie McAnelly. Honorary pallbearers are the Bald Knob Public Schools students and staff, and the members of the Coffee Shop Sunday School class. Memorials may be made to the Bald Knob Public Education Foundation for the James and Linda Staggs Scholarship Fund, or Central Baptist Church of Bald Knob. Arrangements entrusted to Powell Funeral Home Bald Knob-Judsonia. www.powellfuneralhome.net

James Staggs

December 1, 1938 - September 15, 2011