Danny Arlen Stedman
Danny Arlen Stedman was born in Warren, Arkansas, June 5, 1948.He grew up and attended several schools as his father worked oil exploration which required constant relocation.
Fordyce, Arkansas, where his grandparents lived, was where he mostly attended school.
Danny grew up understanding patriotism and service with an abiding love of God and country. His journey of service to his country,
state and community began in 1970 after graduating from Southern State College (now Southern Arkansas University) in Magnolia, Arkansas. He joined
the United States Air Force in 1970, graduating Officer Training school at
Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, April 7, 1971, commissioned a Second Lieutenant. That same day he
married his wife, Barbara Weeks, of
Fordyce in a military ceremony.
His first assignment was Navigator
training at Mather AFB, California. Upon graduation, he was assigned to duty on the KC-135.After proficiency training at Castle AFB, California, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and assigned to the 11th Air Refueling Squadron, Strategic Air Command (SAC), Altus, Oklahoma.
Upon arrival in May 1972, he learned his
unit had been deployed to Southeast Asia in support of the Vietnam War. He joined his unit in Takhli, Thailand, 4101Expeditionary AREFS, as the youngest
navigator. He was credited with flying 85 combat missions, awarded two air medals, his last 7 missions during Linebacker II, the aerial bombardment blitz of
North Vietnam that brought the North
to the Paris Peace Talks and ultimately ended the Vietnam War.
After the unit returned to Altus AFB, the SAC mission encompassed Cold War Nuclear Deterrence of strategic alert, in which aircrews of B-52s and KC-135s stood alert around the clock. Danny
rose to the rank of Captain and attained Instructor Navigator status. In1976, his service to his home state began when the Arkansas Air National Guard converted
from the F- 101 to the KC-135. Yearning to return to Arkansas, he joined the 189th Air Refueling Group and
was soon promoted to the rank of Major and was selected for an Air Reserve Technician position. From 1976 until his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1999, he held an array of leadership positions including Wing Executive Officer, Squadron Commander,
Squadron Operations Officer, Director of Quality Management and Evaluator
Navigator. He logged over
4,500 flying hours in the KC-135 and C-130
and earned the Master Navigator rating.
Danny's service to community began when he returned to Arkansas. He purchased property and built the first fast food restaurant in Sherwood, Arkansas. Even with the demands of the Arkansas Air National Guard, business and family, he had a desire to be active in his community. Danny and his young family joined the Sylvan Hills United Methodist Church. He joined the North Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce the forerunner of the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce. He was selected "Man of the Year'' for 1989. He held several committee assignments with the Chamber and was selected President of the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce in 1988. He held an array of other positions on civic boards, committees and commissions. He felt strongly about giving back and enjoyed dressing as "Uncle Sam" for the Sherwood 4th of July celebration and leading a patriotic ceremony recognizing all veterans in 2002 to 2006.
Upon military retirement in 1999, he was hired by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce as
Director of Economic Development. In 2002, Danny began teaching for ASU-Beebe at the Little
Rock AFB Education Center. He was on the Adjunct Faculty and taught
Introduction to Management and State and Local Government. His classes consisted mainly of young airmen and dependents. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching. In 2002, he filled a vacancy on the Sherwood City Council. He was re-elected twice and in 2007, was elected Sherwood Mayor, but was unable to complete his term due to health issues.
In 2005, he was able to embark on a very meaningful
project, the Sherwood Veterans Memorial. It was
something he felt was needed in his city to
honor and recognize those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. As President of the Sherwood
Rotary, he proposed the project
to meet the challenge of Rotary international's request that each club complete a project in recognition of Rotary's 100th birthday
(i.e., Centennial Project). The
project was approved by the Sherwood
club and Danny was named Project Chairman. He selected the
property location, designed the layout,
raised the capital (i.e., veteran engraved bricks & donations), supervised the construction and was master
of ceremonies on Memorial Day 2006 as the Memorial was dedicated and given to the city of Sherwood. It is
located at 1111West Maryland Avenue at the entrance to Sherwood
Forest and is one mile from the Arkansas
Veterans Cemetery.
Danny is a dedicated husband of 43 years, a father of two; one a dentist and the other a bank executive both located in central Arkansas, and grandfather to three wonderful grandchildren.
His dedication to country and in Vietnam, his service to Arkansas during many military and humanitarian missions and his leadership and contributions to the betterment of his community have been exemplary.
