Born on February 13, 1953, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Robin French Wynne, who died last week, was raised in a political family.
His grandfather, Thomas Duncan Wynne Sr., practiced law in Fordyce, served as mayor of Fordyce, and served on the board of trustees of the University of Arkansas before his death in 1934.
Robin Wynne’s father, Thomas Wynne II, was a law partner with his brother, Frank Wynne, and served as mayor of Fordyce for 12 years, as well as deputy district attorney and circuit and district judge. Thomas Wynne II, who served as a B-17 bomber on 28 missions over Europe, gained international fame as the judge who set bail for Keith Richards and Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones along with partner Freddy Kessler when they were arrested in Fordyce. July 5, 1975.
Robin Wynne and his older brother, Tom Wynne III, joined the family business after receiving their law degrees.
Wynne died Wednesday at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock surrounded by his family.
A lifelong Democrat, Wynne was elected state representative from 1985 to 1988 and served as a Dallas County district judge from 2004 to 2010, followed by four years on the Court of Appeals. He came to the Supreme Court in 2014 and was re-elected for a second eight-year term in November 2022.
A 1971 graduate of Fordyce High School, Wynne held many positions during his time there. He played starting quarterback for the Redbug football team his senior year and was an outside shooter as a starting point guard in basketball. He also served as a leading member of the Fordyce golf team all four years.
Wynne attended Boys State, was on the High Times Journalistic staff and was president of the Thespian Club. In addition, he was an elected member of Student Council all four years and represented Arkansas on the National Association of Student Councils European Tour from July 9 to August 31, 1970.
Called a “Hero” by Redbug football coach Jimmy Garrett, Wynne was also voted “Most Beautiful” of his senior class along with Barbara Daniels Barnes.
Dr. Chuck Kauffman, Fordyce’s high school classmate and dentist, said of Wynne, “She wasn’t afraid to run for a leadership position. She was a team leader since elementary school. She being the youngest in a family of leaders and entered into this. places easily.”
Current Fordyce Mayor John MacNichol said, “You were an outstanding asset to the city of Fordyce. You served as both the city and county attorney. Robin always seemed happy to see you. Our children went growing up together and were constantly at each other’s houses. Then he and Margo moved to Little Rock, I always wondered how things were going at Fordyce. A couple of things we’re very thankful for here is how he was very instrumental in establishing the Fordyce Civic Center.”
Wynne acted as a founding father in the concept, financing and construction of the Civic Center.
MacNichol continued, “He brought the Arkansas Supreme Court ‘Appeals on Wheels’ to the Civic Center on September 22, 2016, and that would never have happened if it weren’t for Robin.”
“Appeals on Wheels” is a show where the Supreme Court takes its show on the road and hears oral arguments in different arenas across the state.
MacNichol concluded, “He told me it was one of his favorite things he ever did. He cared about this city a lot more than most people realize. I plan to hold a future memorial event at the Center Civic in honor of Robin.”
A longtime friend, retired Entergy District Manager Mark Hunt said, “We coached Little League baseball together for several years. He was the best coach ever and he knew how to motivate kids . Nobody knew the rulebook better than he did.”
Hunt explained Wynne’s generous spirit.
“When we were only 24 and 25, both starting out with not much money, I remember every Christmas he and Margo would find one or two families in need and make sure they had everything they needed to make it right. Christmas. Robin had she liked to have fun, but she always knew where to draw the line. And when she saw a friend going down the wrong path, she had a non-judgmental way of admonishing her to do the right thing. No one has a clue. all the people in which he helped both morally and financially. That came from his strong faith,” Hunt said.
Wynne’s aunt, Agnes Wynne Phillips, said, “I think of Robin every day when I walk the nature trail at our Civic Center with its beautiful hardwoods, winding creek and wide, safe sidewalks. He had four children and see the need for a place like this. than in our community for them to grow.”
Former Fordyce Mayor Tom Wynne III, now a district judge for Dallas and Cleveland counties, said of his brother, “Robin was a wonderful brother, law partner, father and family man. Although he was my brother As a kid, I looked up to him in so many ways.”
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock, according to the Roller-Chenal Funeral Home website.
Shot in the 1971 Redbug, members of the Fordyce golf team were (from top) Paul Gray (left), Danny Dunn and Robin Wynne with Bobby Baker seated. (Special for commercial)
Barbara Daniels Barnes and Judge Robin Wynne were voted “most handsome” in Fordyce High School’s graduating class of 1971. (Commercial Special)
