John F. Stroud III

John F. Stroud III, 54, passed away on Sunday, September 4th after a hard-fought battle against cancer. John was born in Washington, D.C. on February 20, 1962. He grew up in Texarkana, Ark. as a devout Razorback fan. He graduated from Arkansas High School in 1980 where he was a member of National Honor Society, a delegate to Boy's State and Presidential Classroom. He earned a BA in History from Hendrix College in 1984, but spent a year studying at the University of Arkansas, where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. John's strong work ethic began at an early age, spending summers and holidays during his youth in a variety of jobs including bus boy, as an assistant grip in two Charles B. Pierce films, construction worker, parcel deliveryman, and law clerk. After receiving his undergraduate degree, John lived in Vail, Colo. where he skied, waited tables and worked as a sales clerk. John returned to Fayetteville and entered the University of Arkansas School of Law where he was a member of Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity and earned a Juris Doctor in 1989. He was thereafter admitted to practice law in all courts in the states of Arkansas and Texas. Following law school John moved to Washington, D.C., the city of his birth, where he worked as a General Attorney in the Office of Review and Appeals at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. His passion for protecting the disadvantaged continued when he returned to his hometown of Texarkana to start his own law practice. John engaged in the general practice of law and also worked as a part-time public defender in Miller County, Ark. John cared deeply about his clients and worked tirelessly on their behalf throughout his career. John's proudest accomplishment was being a devoted father. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Martin Stroud, his children, John Luke Stroud, Emily Ann Stroud, Laikyn Crowson, granddaughter Jett Crowson, his sisters, Tracy Waters of Annapolis, Md., Kimball Stroud of Washington, DC and his parents John F. Stroud, Jr. and Marietta Kimball Stroud of Texarkana, Ark. John was a dedicated and experienced swimmer and loved the outdoors. He enjoyed leading hikes to Little Missouri Falls, fly fishing, and white water rafting in the Buffalo and Caddo Rivers. One of John's greatest gifts was his ability to make people laugh and to entertain his family and friends with colorful and humorous stories.  His favorite past time was spent at his family lake house on Lake Greeson in Daisy, Ark. There will be a memorial service at First United Methodist Church, 400 East 6th Street, Texarkana, Ark. 71854 on Friday, September 9th at 1:30 p.m. A reception and visitation will immediately follow the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to First United Methodist Church, Opportunities, Inc., 6101 North Stateline Avenue, Texarkana, Texas 75501, and Caddo Area Council-Boy Scouts of America, 24 Lynnwood Drive, Texarkana, Texas, 75503.