Biography: Floyd G. (Buddy) Villines, 76, died in Little Rock on October 21, 2023, after a brief illness. Buddy’s public service career, spanning 45 years, included appointed and elected positions in city, county, and state governments. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Hendrix College and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University School of Law, Little Rock. Buddy received a Bronze Star as an artillery officer in the Vietnam War in 1970-71.
 
Son of a Methodist minister, Buddy grew up in seven Arkansas cities and towns, including Van Buren, Beebe, Piggott, Morrilton, Siloam Springs, North Little Rock and Conway. His mother started calling him “Buddy” due to his befriending most kids at church and school. His high school years were spent at Siloam Springs where he excelled in football and track.
 
Buddy didn’t follow his father into the ministry but, he participated as an active member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. He met his wife, Beverly Couch, at a going away party for a work friend, and it turned out to be the Young Adult Sunday School Class to which they still belong, though it is now named for Dr. James B. Argue, Sr. Both Buddy and Beverly sang in the Chancel Choir and the Joyful Noise, later, New Song Choir. In 1980, friends at PHUMC formed a rock and roll dance band called Little Joe and the BKs, and Buddy learned to play the bass guitar for the band. He and Beverly were part of the band for several years, and half the band proceeds from their “gigs” were used to create the Little Joe and the BKs Scholarship fund. PHUMC youth Mission funds and individual scholarships have been given from the fund since the 1980s.
 
As their family grew with the additions of daughters Meredith and Corey, the Villines family moved to a larger home, and in 1983, a tornado substantially damaged their home. Neighbors came quickly, cut away the fallen trees, and helped cover the open roof. Buddy’s personal, first-hand experience gave him an empathetic understanding of how natural disasters affect people. This understanding served him well as Pulaski County Judge where he managed the response to eight federally declared disasters during his tenure.
 
Buddy began his public service career after Vietnam when he joined the Little Rock City Manager’s staff as the first zoning enforcement officer, and assistant to the City Manager, while attending law school. He joined Governor David Pryor’s administration in 1975, working in the Department of Local Services as the Director of the Arkansas Manpower Program. Under his tenure, the Arkansas Manpower Program provided Arkansas Cities and Counties funding resources for hiring 2,500 public employees statewide. After his state government experience, he managed several candidate and public initiative campaigns, honing his political operations skills.
 
Buddy spent his entire public service career in Pulaski County and the State of Arkansas. His early work in the Little Rock City Manager’s Office gave him direct experience with city departments and the opportunity to learn directly about the other cities and communities in Pulaski County, ACORN, and community activism. He communicated informally with neighborhood leaders and learned about their frustrations with city hall. These experiences gave him the equivalent of a PhD in the dynamics of community politics. The state government experience introduced him to elected officials statewide. His nomadic childhood gave him a statewide network of local contacts.
 
In 1984, Buddy won election to the City of Little Rock Board of Directors, where he served three 2-year terms and was Vice Mayor and Mayor. In his first major initiative as City Director, Buddy proposed an Interlocal Agreement among six local governments that redefined power sharing and funding responsibility for public transportation. The partner cities and Pulaski County accepted the proposal and Rock Region metro continues to provide a modern, reliable transit system, including the River Rail Streetcar.
 
In 1990, Buddy was elected Pulaski County Judge, the elected Chief Executive Officer of Pulaski County Government. He served 24 years as County Judge. His first official act was to revise the County Dress Code to eliminate the requirement that employees and officials wear coats and ties. In an immensely popular act, he introduced the mock turtleneck and sports jacket wardrobe style.
 
Buddy transformed the County Judge’s position. Previously, county judges attended to roads, bridges, storm drainage and garbage collection in the unincorporated areas of the county. Seldom did county judges also attend to public services within city limits. Through his experience, Buddy knew that in an urban area like Pulaski County, development and urban services crossed city limits and any effective work had to be done in partnership with cities and other governmental agencies. What’s more, Buddy knew the mayors, city council members and other public officials personally, which gave him the access to pick up the telephone and call them about mutual interests.
 
Buddy moved through these circles, pragmatically but also with an uncommon vision about how to solve problems. Often confronted with intractable issues, he cut through conventional wisdom and showed people a better way. He has been an advocate and leader in creating places where people want to be; places where people want to live, work and play.
 
Buddy has overseen the construction of nearly 150 million dollars in construction projects including: Two Rivers Park and the Two Rivers Park Bridge, the Big Dam Bridge, which is the longest pedestrian/bicycle bridge designed and built for that purpose, “The Junction Bridge” a historic railroad bridge converted for pedestrian use, a regional jail, courthouse renovation and three health clinics. In addition, the River Project tax issue provided approximately 100 million dollars for the development of the 18,000 seat Simmons Bank Arena and the expansion of the Little Rock Convention Center. The arena regularly scores in the world Top 30 concert venues.
 
Despite the high price tags of these projects, Buddy gave first priority for use of county funds to basic county services, which included the replacement of 86 bridges in the unincorporated areas of Pulaski County. He brought people together to improve basic county services, addressing crime, including the Our Club Program as an alternative to gangs. He also supported and raised funds for the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children program. Other community-oriented programs included the Section 8 Housing Program, the Brownfields Program and Water and Sewer grants for rural, unincorporated areas.
 
Realizing the importance of MacArthur Park as the City’s historic first park, Buddy spearheaded the major improvements of Pulaski County Lane and McMath Ave.  In his retirement, he remained a committed member of the MacPark Group and its efforts to work with the city on improvements to the park including the universally accessible playground, the pond, and the dog park. Additionally, Buddy volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and responded to natural disaster sites with the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
 
More than any of these professional accomplishments, Buddy was a family man enjoying many adventures with family and friends.  He is predeceased by his father, Floyd G. Villines, Jr, his mother, Hazel Carlton Villines, and his brother-in-law, Jim Linebarger. He is survived by his wife, Beverly, daughters, Meredith Hope Villines and Corey Villines Brooks (Charles), his grandchildren Hazel Rose Villines, Carter Thomas Brooks and Camren Tate Brooks, his sister, Sally Linebarger, brother, Dr. Gary Villines and Linda Fletcher, nephews Jackson and Taylor Villines (Kate) and niece Holly Villines.
 
Celebration of Life service for Buddy will be Monday, October 30 at 11:00 AM at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Villines Family Endowment, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Foundation, 4823 Woodlawn Dr, Little Rock, AR 72205, or to the Pulaski County Public Arts Endowment c/o Arkansas Community Foundation, 5 Allied Dr # 51110, Little Rock, AR 72202 or online at www.arcf.org/villines. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com