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Pine Bluff Alliance <br />Names New CEO <br />The board of directors of the Economic <br />Development Alliance of Jefferson County (Pine <br />Bluff Ark.) has selected James V. Crider, CCD, <br />of Fayetteville, Ark., as The Alliance's new <br />president and chief executive officer. Crider will <br />relocate to Pine Bluff and assume his new duties <br />July 1. <br />The selection of the new CEO concludes <br />a five -month search to fill the top post for the local <br />community and economic development <br />organization, an affiliation that includes the <br />Greater Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce, the <br />Jefferson County Industrial Foundation, the Pine <br />Bluff- Jefferson County Port Authority, and the <br />Arkansas River Regional Intermodal Facilities <br />Authority. <br />Crider joined the staff of the Fayetteville <br />Chamber of Commerce in January 1991 and was <br />promoted to his latest post as director of <br />economic development for the Chamber and the <br />Fayetteville Industrial Development Corporation. <br />A native of Fayetteville, Crider earned an <br />undergraduate degree from Arkansas Tech <br />University and completed more than 30 hours <br />toward a Master of Science degree at Texas Tech <br />University. He also is a graduate of the <br />Community Development Institute at the <br />University of Central Arkansas at Conway, <br />earning the professional designation of Certified <br />Community Developer (CCD). <br />Beginning his Chamber of Commerce/ <br />economic development career in 1979, Crider was <br />economic development officer for both the <br />Midland and Lubbock (Texas) Chambers of <br />Commerce and subsequently was CEO with <br />organizations in Palestine and Plainview, Tex., and <br />Owensboro, Ky. <br />Abouthis new position, Crider comments, <br />"I am extremely proud to have been chosen to <br />lead The Alliance and look forward to continuing <br />its high standard of service and community <br />development." <br />CIVIC LEADER <br />JAMES C. LEAKE DIES <br />James C. Leake, 85, longtime member and <br />former chairman of the Muskogee City- County Port <br />Authority, passed away July 3, 2001. Leake served on <br />the Port Authority for 25 years — from 1975 until his <br />death. He presided as chairman from 1978 to 1984. <br />Well-known as a media pioneer, Leake went <br />on the air with KTUL -TV channel 8 in Tulsa Sept. 18, <br />1954. He sold the station to Allbritton Communi- <br />cation Co. in 1984. He also owned television stations <br />in Little Rock, Ark., and Puerto Rico. <br />In 1972, Leake started one of the nation's <br />largest rare automobile auctions. This past June, the <br />291' annual Leake Collector Car Show & Auction was <br />held in Tulsa and attracted 10,000 people. The <br />auction featured 600 vehicles valued at more than $20 <br />million. To date, it's one of the largest auctions in the <br />country. <br />Jim Leake helped found the Cowboy Hall of <br />Fame in Oklahoma City and served in leadership roles <br />on the Will Rogers Memorial Commission and <br />Gilcrease Museum. An inductee to the OklahomaHall <br />of Fame in 1979, Leake also was honored as an <br />Oklahoma Water pioneer at the 2000 Governor's <br />Water Conference. <br />Our thoughts and prayers are with his family <br />and friends. <br />Ammy Leake (coda), received the Oklahoma <br />Water Pioneer award from Duane Smith (left), executive <br />director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, and Bon- <br />in -law Richard Seveioaks (rigid), OWRB board manba. <br />Page 5 <br />