Last Friday, the Arkansas Department of Workforce Service’s Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council held its quarterly meeting, where long time Arkansas SHRM member was honored with a commendation from the Governor, Capital award from Secretary of State and commendation from Lt. Governor, and March 11 was declared Daniel Woods day.
Dan Woods was initially appointed to this Council as a management representative in 1958 by Governor Orval Faubus. He has served continuously on the Council through 10 Arkansas Governors. Dan’s service on this Council since 1958, makes him the longest serving member of a state UI Advisory Council in the history of the national unemployment compensation program, which was initiated in the 1930s.
Dan’s health requires that his tenure on the Council should come to an end. This is unfortunate for the Council and the State Chamber/AIA. His knowledge and experience is a great loss to the State as well as the State Chamber/AIA. It is our desire, and that of AR-DWS Director Daryl Bassett, to honor Dan properly for his many years of service to the State of Arkansas. The Council meeting has been moved from the DWS offices to the Governor’s Conference Room in the State Capitol.
The State Chamber/AIA honored Dan in 1995 by naming him a Lifetime Board Member. Here are some highlights of Dan’s career and life:
Associated Industries of Arkansas
- Chairman of the State Chamber/AIA Unemployment Compensation Committee in 1963 and has served continuously as a co-chair
- Member of the AIA Board of Directors in 1972
- Served as AIA President in 1988-90
- Served as AIA Chairman in 1990-92
Employment
- Dan joined Timex in 1953 and became Human Resources Manager and Legal Administrator in 1954. He retired in 1992
- It’s believed that Dan hired or supervised the hiring of more Arkansans than anyone in the state as Timex grew from 500 employees in 1954 to 6300 in 1975
- He located and opened four new Timex plant locations
- Negotiated 73 labor contracts
- Remained on contract with Timex after his retirement as Timex’s Arkansas Governmental Affairs Representative
- Awarded the prestigious and rarely awarded Lehmkuhl Service Award by Timex
Central Arkansas Human Resources Association
- Joined during its charter year as the Arkansas Human Resources Association
- Served as President in 1960
- Served as Legislative Chairman 1960 to 1983
- He established the legislative program
Other Gubernatorial Appointments
- Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Study Commission (under three Governors)
- Arkansas Governor’s Council on Human Resources
- Arkansas Student Loan Authority
Additional Boards and Committees
- Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Board for six years and chaired the Governmental Affairs Committee for eight years.
- American Society for Human Resources and served three years on its National Governmental Affairs Committee
- President of Gulf States Industrial Conference, now South Central Management Conference in 1969
Elected Offices
- Little Rock School Board 1967-1971
- President 1970-71
Awards
- Received first annual Outstanding Member Award by Arkansas Human Resources Association in 1973
- Received the first accreditation in Arkansas by the American Society for Human Resource Management as “Accredited Executive in Personnel” now “Senior Professional in Human Resources” in 1976
- First Arkansas recipient of the Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Award in1963 and again in 1982
- Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arkansas State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management
Personal
- U.S. Army Korean War veteran
- Eagle Scout
- 50-year veteran, 4-year scout master
- University of Arkansas track letterman in 1947
- Church leadership
- First Christian Church
18 years as Elder and 27 years as Sunday School teacher - Fellowship Bible Church
Elder since 1984
Community Group Leader
- First Christian Church
Other
- Numerous speaking engagements on human resource issues
- Negotiated unemployment insurance with labor on behalf of the State Chamber/AIA since 1958
- Worked with national management groups addressing federal legislation and made key presentation to the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee in 1965
"It has been a humbling experience for me as I have reviewed Dan’s life of service to his employer, the State Chamber/AIA, the State of Arkansas, the United States, multiple organizations, his family and his church. It has been a blessing for me and the many of you that have worked with Dan over the years. It is also a great life example for us all," says Kenny Hall of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.
