PRAIRIE GROVE -- As the 29th elected leader of this mid-sized Washington County city, strangers, it seems, have to pry it out of Charles "Sonny" Hudson to find out just what he does on his job.
"I like to tell people, I work for the City of Prairie Grove, that's all," said the shy and quiet Hudson in a recent interview at City Hall.
"I don't go around saying "Sonny Hudson, Mayor," or "I am the mayor of Prairie Grove," or stuff like that," he said.
"I really do prefer to say I work for the citizens at the City Hall just like all the rest of our city staff. We all work as city employees for the betterment of our community."
And it is that betterment of a growing Prairie Grove that has kept the son of a Jones Transportation truck driver focused on community-based improvements and managing the future of one of the fastest growing cities in Washington County.
Born Charles "Sonny" Hudson II, the eldest son of Charles and Earline Hudson, on Sept. 15, 1953, in Springfield, Mo., the family in 1962 moved to Springdale, Ark., after a reorganization of Harvey Jones' Jones Truck Lines.
A graduate of Springdale High, Sonny as he and his dad preferred him to be known, is not a "Junior," something an uncle in the family way back disliked very much.
"I had an uncle whose name was Ray Hudson, but everybody knew he was Ray Hudson Jr., and focused on calling him 'Junior' all his life," Hudson said chuckling his quiet infectious laugh.
"Me, I have always been called 'Sonny', oh, I've had a teacher or two in my classroom career that tried to call me Charles, but that never lasted long."
After high school, a career with Arkansas Western Gas Co., called Hudson into a long career with the regional natural gas utility. It was a promotion that brought him, his wife, now of 44 years, and their young son to Prairie Grove.
Hudson has never left the city and says he probably will never leave -- even if he is no longer mayor.
Elected Alderman
He first got elected to Prairie Grove City Council back in 1989 and saw from inside city hall, what he was seeing as a working manager of the local gas company in Prairie Grove: "The community has vision," he said.
That vision kept him on the council and then in 2001, he was appointed to fill the shoes of Dr. Andrew Bain, the former mayor who could no longer serve because he was moving outside the city.
Hudson ran a spirited race against three other candidates, former Mayor Doug Manning, and two council members, John McMahon and Bruce Ketzler.
Just recently, Hudson said a city staff member noticed that Hudson now holds the record for the longest continuous mayor of Prairie Grove with 14 years in service. The previous longest continuous term was completed by Dr. Frank Rigall from 1947-1960.
Of the 29 different mayors, three have served separate, but multiple terms as Prairie Grove's mayor, according to a website posted on the City's office Facebook page.
J.S. Dill served as mayor in 1906-08 and 1913-14; J. L. McConnell, served 1919 (for a short term) and later 1930-32; and J. Frank Holmes served three separate terms, 1933-36; 1939-40 and 1942-46.
So actually, Hudson is the 26th individual to serve as the city's mayor.
And in all his 15-plus years, Hudson has only faced opposition on the ballot twice, once defeating three candidates to win the office and a single opponent four years ago.
Planning Ahead
Sitting in his office in a new municipal building located at the intersection of U.S. 62 and U.S. 62B, Hudson said the city's opportunity to purchase such prime real estate happened because of both planning and just good luck.
"We know in Prairie Grove that planning for the future works -- just look at the plans laid for the Aquatic Center and ball fields," he said. "That began long before I got into the mayor's office; actually it began when I got on the city council. We developed plans, knew what we needed to make it happen in the way of land, facilities and worked to slowly, but surely develop support among the citizens and when the time can for a step forward or vote, the citizens were ready and supportive."
The new city hall and accompanying courts building were much the same. For years the cramped city hall facilities and police and courts building operated in less than desirable circumstances.
"The City staff, council and all of us bought a large piece of property after study of how much land we needed, and where it needed to be. We were also quick to see this gateway property when it came open that this would work. We traded the land for a substantial down payment and a five year note. We are now almost debt free on this building and land. If we had passed and waited to develop a new city hall on that land we would probably still be in those old cramped quarters."
Hudson is quick, very quick to spread the praise around for city staffers and the public of Prairie Grove.
"This is a wonderful community. It responds to the needs of the city, the schools, and the industrial base. There is little we cannot do to make our city grow."
Hudson talked about the recent housing slump and how some city officials were afraid of all the undeveloped lots in Prairie Grove. But now that the slump is over, Hudson said there is new housing going up all over town.
"The city is in a prime spot for new housing. We have the lots and subdivisions laid out with city services, (streets, sewer, etc.) so it doesn't take long to sell these new home lots."
Other Service
Quietly serving on area committees is also a hallmark of Hudson's tenure as Prairie Grove's mayor.
He holds or has held offices on the NW Arkansas Intermodal Authority, NW Arkansas Development Commission, the board of Central Emergency Medical Systems, and just finished a term as the second vice president for the area on the Arkansas Municipal League.
"You can learn a lot at these meetings," Hudson said. "You can hear about problems other cities have and how to avoid them as well as hear of opportunities for funding for crucial city services."
Over the years the city has slowly but professionally expanded the city's water and sewer, city services (trash and recycling) and the city's police, street and fire departments.
"We run our own city," Hudson said. "We don't have outside contractors dictating our policy or our services."
Hudson admits his lengthy public service in Prairie Grove is the result of so many unique facets of the city. "We have a great school system, a state park that is a real treasure and great citizens."
The future in meeting needs of local citizens is possible, Hudson said.
It just takes patience and planning.
And possibly a mayor unassuming and hardworking like the quiet Sonny Hudson.
General News on 07/27/2016