Clay Farrar, a local attorney and amateur historian who worked "tirelessly" on behalf of the Hot Springs community, most recently spearheading an effort to preserve the former Army and Navy General Hospital, died Saturday, his family said Sunday afternoon.
"This is a heartbreaking time for our family. We sincerely appreciate the many calls and expressions of sympathy from so many friends in our community and state. But for now we simply ask for a bit of privacy as our family begins to recover and find peace," the family said in a statement to the newspaper.
"Clay has been my dear friend since high school. I do not know of anyone who loved our community more, knew it better and worked so tirelessly on its behalf," said Eric Jackson, senior vice president of Oaklawn Racing Gaming Resort. "In particular, had it not been for Clay and efforts here and in Washington, I'm not sure we would have been able to hold onto our National Park designation. That we did will be a legacy of his forever."
"We are saddened to announce the passing of Hot Springs National Park Rotarian Clay Farrar. Clay was a giant in our club -- as a leader as well as a friend. He was a mentor to our club's current and past leadership and he will be missed greatly," Chuck Launius, HSNP Rotary Club president, said in an email Sunday.
"Clay served as the club's president in 1986-87 and was Rotarian of the year in 1996-97. He was also instrumental in a leadership position with the club while working to maintain the designation of Hot Springs National Park in 1985, as well as countless other leadership positions with other HSNP Rotary endeavors and projects. Our sincere condolences and prayers to the family of Clay Farrar," Launius said.
"The passing of Clay Farrar leaves a tremendous void in the ranks of those who are passionately dedicated to Hot Springs and its residents," Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, said in a statement Sunday afternoon.
"It is impossible to overstate Mr. Farrar's contribution to our city and its vibrant rebirth since the 1980s. It was Clay Farrar who spearheaded the preservation of Hot Springs National Park when there was an attempt to downgrade its status to that of a federal reservation. His passionate defense of the National Park and his continuing dedication to the city's rich history and its glowing future were both amazing and admirable," Arrison said.
Arrison noted that Farrar previously authored a monthly column in The Sentinel-Record, the "Amateur Historian," that included an installment outlining the "rich history" of the former Army and Navy General Hospital and "pointing out the challenges we face in preserving this important Hot Springs landmark."
"He will be missed not only for his dedication to our city but also for his many longstanding friendships with the people who live here," Arrison said. "My condolences to his family and his many friends."
According to a biography published by the newspaper in 2014 as part of its "Gold Standard" publication, Farrar was a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis and Southern Methodist University Law School in Dallas. He returned to Hot Springs in 1975 after completing his education, and was a trust and estate planning attorney.
In 1985, Farrar, Jackson and another lifelong friend, Mark Fleischner, "teamed up to work on improving Hot Springs National Park and also downtown Hot Springs. Clay served as chairman of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Hot Springs National Park, which successfully lobbied Congress for $6 million for the redevelopment of Fordyce Bath House as the National Park Visitors Center," the biography said.
Farrar previously served as president of The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club. He was one of the founders of Hot Springs Fifty for the Future, and also served as president of the organization.
In 2014, Farrar organized a series of programs for Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club on the topic of improving downtown Hot Springs. Farrar said, "Our goal is to encourage a second wave of revitalization in downtown."