[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 141 (Monday, October 31, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S12075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JOEL STUBBLEFIELD

 Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
life of Joel R. Stubblefield, president and chancellor of the 
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. For over 22 years, Joel made 
immeasurable contributions to education in Arkansas, serving the 
students and citizens of Fort Smith with passion and dedication.
  Following his studies at Ouachita Baptist University and Syracuse 
University and his military training at the Army Command and General 
Staff College, Joel dedicated his life to improving education 
opportunities for others. He strengthened programs and increased 
faculty at UA Fort Smith and established the Western Arkansas Technical 
Center for high school students who sought to take college courses to 
get ahead.
  With his vision and leadership, Joel elevated UA Fort Smith from a 2-
year to a 4-year institution. He increased enrollment by more than 100 
percent, while simultaneously improving the quality of the curriculum 
dramatically. As president and chancellor, Joel raised nearly $60 
million in private donations for new buildings, equipment, and 
scholarships. Yet as willing as Joel was to raise money for the school, 
he was just as eager to donate his own funds. Joel was known to use 
personal resources to pay students' tuition and he refused a salary 
increase for 5 years because he was unable to raise faculty salaries. 
Joel once even bought a bicycle for a student who did not have 
transportation.
  Earlier this summer, Joel shared with me his latest goals for higher 
education in northwest Arkansas. He loved the University of Arkansas at 
Fort Smith and dedicated himself fully to its continued improvement. We 
can honor Joel's memory by applying the same commitment and generosity 
toward improving educational opportunities for Arkansas 
students.

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