Public Service Award Named After Percy Malone

June 18, 2009

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PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD NAMED AFTER PERCY MALONE

LITTLE ROCK - Senator Percy Malone of Arkadelphia has been honored by the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, which named its new public service award after him.

Malone received the first award on June 12 at the association's 127th annual convention here, which was attended by about 400 members. Statewide, the association has about 2,500 members.

Malone was recognized not only for his legislative efforts to help practicing pharmacists and the Pharmacy School at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, but also for his work on a broad array of social and fiscal issues.

"Percy is well known for his knowledge of the budget process, which takes hard work and a lot of time to learn, " said Mark Riley, executive vice president of the association."Therefore, he is extremely valuable to the citizens of Arkansas particularly in the term limited environment."

"He is willing to take on the tough issues and will battle for what he thinks is right," Riley said. "Issues like protecting neglected and abused children or obtaining funding for nanotechnology research at UALR; a program that has real promise for improvements in medicine, communications, transportation, agriculture, military, and industry in general.

"Therefore, we felt like it was time to recognize Senator Malone’s body of work for pharmacy, and for Arkansas, by creating an award which carries his name. This award will honor other pharmacists who offer their time and talents to public service," Riley said. "The inaugural recipient of the 'Percy Malone Public Service Award', quite fittingly, is Senator William Percy Malone," he said.

"This is humbling. When I entered public service my goal was never to be recognized with plaques and awards, it was to make a positive difference in people's lives," Malone said.

"This honor is special because it comes from a group of people for whom I have the greatest respect, due to their hard work and high standards. I am very, very grateful," Malone said.

Malone served for six years in the House of Representatives, from 1995 through 2000. Since 2001 he has represented Senate District 26, which includes Clark, Dallas and Nevada Counties and parts of Columbia and Ouachita Counties.