Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe will appoint Watson Bell of Searcy to chair the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission, replacing Olan “Butch” Reeves of Bryant.
Reeves will remain chairman of the WCC until mid-January when his new appointment to the Arkansas Public Service Commission takes effect.
Bell, 59, currently serves as the Searcy District Court Judge. A native of Searcy, Bell holds degrees from Arkansas State University and the William H. Bowen School of Law. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Bell has practiced law for more than 30 years and served as a City Court Judge and a Juvenile Court Judge in addition to his current post. He has represented clients on both sides of cases before the WCC.
Both Reeves and Bell will serve 6-year terms.
Source: Arkansas Governor’s Office


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