On the recordSeptember 6, 2023
I rise today to honor Keith Stokes, a dear friend, a beloved Arkansan, and a trusted aide. On August 18, Keith tragically passed away from a heart attack at age 59. He is in our prayers, along with the entire Stokes family, especially his wife Julie and his children Chip and Abbey. Keith wasn't only a colleague, though; he was a close family friend. The Cottons lived just up the road from the Stokeses in Yell County. Julie and my mother worked together in middle school for years. Keith was a pillar of the Dardanelle community, from the school board to the hospital board, to mentoring young athletes, to cooking meals for teachers, charities, and even the Sand Lizard football press box, my father included. A year into my term in the Senate, I heard that Keith was looking for a new job. I jumped at the opportunity to hire him as an agricultural adviser. I knew how much Keith cared about Arkansas farmers, foresters, and ranchers. It was one of the best decisions I made as a Senator. Keith understood the Arkansans who lace up their boots in the morning and work with their hands, who aren't afraid to get dirty to get the job done--the men and women who shower at the end of the day, not at the beginning of it. He understood them because he was one of them. He lived on a farm.…
