Inspired by Hope

Don Still, the mayor of Hope, Arkansas, values his hometown, his family, his business, and his hobbies   

by Amber E. Willman

photo by PEYTON SIMS

Betsy and Don having dinner at Pop’s Place, one of their favorite restaurants in Texarkana.

Charles Schultz (yes, that Charles Schultz of “Peanuts,” “Charlie Brown,” and “Snoopy” fame) said, “A whole stack of memories never equal one little hope.” 

Clearly, Mr. Schultz never visited Hope, Arkansas. Hope is a small town whose citizens are making big memories. Leading the charge is Mayor Don Still. 

By day, Don runs Still’s Auto Service with his brother, Jewell, and their families. The Still brothers are second generation owners; the company was founded in 1959 by their father.  “My daddy was the son of a sharecropper and later a carpenter,” Don says. “During the war [WWII], he was an Air Force mechanic and tail gunner man.”

Don, Rebecca, Betsy, and Samantha at the family farm in Hope at the golden hour this past March.

Like many returning soldiers, Don’s father returned home with a new set of skills thanks to the United States Army Air Force and put those skills to good use in a business of his own. Upon his retirement, Don and Jewell took over management.  “I think the one reason I followed my father into the auto repair business is because growing up beside him, he was willing to help people and enjoyed his work. I guess the joy of service was passed down,” Don says.

When Don isn’t working on cars, he is working on hope. And that isn’t a euphemism. For just over a year, Don has served Hope as its mayor. Unlike other cities, he didn’t have to run for the position. He did have to run for the city’s board of directors. The mayor is elected from the board while the city manager, a hired position, oversees the day-to-day workings of the city.  “I have always been proud of calling Hope my home,” Don says. “Being mayor makes it special. I am very proud to represent our city, and I plan on running in November for my next term.”

Hope Arkansas Mayor Don Still (center) with City Manager Catherine Cook and Police Chief/Assistant City Manager J.R. Wilson.

Don says learning the workings of the city has been a continuous process. He enjoys being involved with planning, zoning, tourism, and even wastewater. One of the biggest challenges has been keeping the city running through the pandemic.  “Good department heads and our city manager made it work. It was great to see everything start up again. It is wonderful to see people in our parks, downtown, and in restaurants and hotels,” Don acknowledges.

For those not “in the know,” Hope, Arkansas, is the birthplace of former President William J. Clinton. Don has had the opportunity to meet President Clinton and to know former Governor Mike Huckabee.  “It is quite an honor to have the Clinton Birthplace National Park in Hope,” Don says. “We welcome over 10,000 visitors to the city each year. We show them some good southern charm.”

Other city attractions include the Hope Watermelon Festival, which includes watermelon eating, softball games, crafts, and music. There is also the Train Days, July fireworks, and a Paul Klipsch Day.  “I cut the ribbon on the Paul Klipsch Heritage Museum Visitor Center. He is another famous son from Hope and the inventor of the Klipsch loudspeakers known worldwide.”

An avid runner, Don participated in the Boston Marathon in 2018.

Besides his hometown, Don’s other passion is running. “It has taken me all over America,” he says. 

Don has run races from the White House in D.C. with President Clinton to the streets of Boston to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado. What began as a fitness hobby has turned into a great way to clear his head. Since 1980, Don has run 80 marathons; five of them are Boston Marathons. Known as the Forrest Gump of Hope, he has met great people along the way, including his better half, Betsy, at a 5K in Texarkana.

Don encourages anyone who is interested to follow through and pursue running as a hobby. “Start slow and build up. Set a goal for a 5K. It is okay to run or walk. Just keep moving. Set a time to exercise two or three times per week and stay with it. You will feel better in two weeks. You can do it,” he says.

There is a man and his pride is in his town, a man and his passion for his hobby, but there is also a man and his love for his family. At the heart of the matter, Don is a husband and father. Betsy and Don have two daughters. Samantha is a Spanish teacher in Little Rock. Rebecca is in her second year of nursing school at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. The family enjoys traveling and spending summers on the water at Lake Greeson.

Don’s hometown pride extends to community service. He believes that to “live out loud” is to learn the gifts God has given him and then use them to give back to Him and the community. As such, he is an active member of the First United Methodist Church, Kiwanis Club, and sits on the boards for Klipsch Heritage Museum Association and the Arkansas Great Southwest Tourism Group.

And as if Don’s resumé wasn’t already impressive, add licensed pyrotechnic shooter to the list. For the last 11 years, he has shot displays at his church and last year at the Hope Municipal Airport.

Mr. Schultz probably had great intentions with his original quote. He probably hoped (pun intended) that it would serve as a reminder that a person can’t live in the past and has to keep moving forward. But for the citizens of Hope, Arkansas, it isn’t one or the other. They are doing both. None more so than Mayor Don Still. The people of Hope are living for the future by making memories. Memories are what sustains a person when the world shuts down, but Hope is the belief that the world will right itself eventually.