Family: I’ve been married to Becky 31 years. Children: Ray, 22, is in the Navy in San Diego; Rachel, 20, is a junior at Arkansas Tech; Max, 18, is a freshman at Arkansas Tech.

Occupation: Minister of music at East End Baptist Church.

Volunteer activities:  East End Fire Department chaplain, former firefighter, and election worker. I assist with raising funds for the fire department, work on youth mission trips and children’s camps, and serve as “Burnney the Clown.”

Hobbies:  I enjoy hunting, fishing, clowning, Christain illusion, pickin’ and grinnin’, Razorback sports, and cooking on a smoker.

My favorite thing about East End: As Christians, we are to put Christ first, others second, and ourselves last. East End puts that to practice.
 
I want to tell East End: In the 1940s my great-grandfather had a 10-acre farm on Lorance Drive. Robert Haynes told me he would ride his cart by his mom’s and dad’s house every evening. They would shake hands and say, “It’s been a pleasure passing the word with you.” So I’d  like to say, “East End, it’s been a pleasure passing the word with you these past 54 years, and I’m looking forward to the future.” Give a smile and hug a child!

The last book I read: My dad’s 1935 Arkansas History fifth-grade text book.

My favorite movie: The Longest Day.

My favorite food: Pork steak and fried taters from Lamberts.

Three words that describe me: Boistorous, humorous, country.

Nickname: Gomer.

My biggest pet peeve: People who mistreat kids and talk down to them instead of building them up. And gossip.

My favorite music: Southern Gospel, Country and Blue Grass.