EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Advanced degrees in Interior Design with emphasis on historic preservation and Pharmacy

20 years as professor teaching historic preservation, architecture history, art history, Renaissance studies in Florence, Italy

Trained in restoration of documents and works of art on paper (paper conservationist)

NCIDQ certified

extensive background in historic tax credits, preservation briefs, preservation grants, and National Register of Historic Places nominations

Serves on QQA Board of Directors

Serves on State Review Committee for Historic Preservation

Serves on Capitol Zoning Design Review

PRESIDENT

2nd Generation firefighter.

Professional firefighter and EMT for 19 years.

Named Firefighter of the Year in 2018 for community outreach program.

Fire and life safety educator for 7 years.

Car seat technician since 2007.

Camp Sunshine board member.

Extremely passionate about fire prevention and fire safety.

VICE PRESIDENT

3rd Generation firefighter.

Little Rock native/resident who has served as a professional firefighter and EMT for 14 years.

Actively serves in numerous ministries at his church in Little Rock.

Shares a love for service and firefighting history with his father, Johnny Reep.

TREASURER

Retiring after a fifty-six year career in transportation, John and his wife, Patti, settled in downtown Little Rock in 2015. In addition to being a board member of the Firehouse Museum, John is active in the Little Rock Downtown Neighborhood Association, the Pettaway Neighborhood Association, a regular participant in the Mac Park Group, and arts, history, and transportation groups. John grew up in Pennsylvania. He holds a bachelors degree from New York University and a masters degree from the University of Georgia. Although retired, John still does some consulting work in transportation.

SECRETARY

2nd Generation firefighter

Served as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Warren, Arkansas from 1968-1971.

Retired as a Captain from the Little Rock Fire Department in 2003 after 30 years of service.

Appointed to the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial Board in 1994 and served until 2014.

BOARD MEMBER

Marvin L. Benton is a native of Strong, Arkansas, who now resides in the city of North Little Rock. Marvin was employed with the city of Little Rock for 40 years before he recently retired. He served as a firefighter, recycling educator, community service manager, solid waste supervisor, and the downtown parking enforcement manager.

He is married to Valerie Benton, has four daughters, and ten grandchildren. His ultimate goal is to continue to flourish as a motivational speaker, using his book, Unfallen Hero, as a means to encourage others to persevere in the midst of difficult situations.

Marvin is qualified for this job as he survived a horrific accident as a firefighter that caused massive burns on 33% of his body. Marvin’s injuries required extensive and painful therapy. In the process of his rehabilitation, those injuries cost him his dream career and meddled with his sanity.

But, with the help of God, Marvin persevered and he thrives today on of the blessings of God, the support of his family, and the passion to push others forward in spite of their circumstances.

BOARD MEMBER

Graduate of Russellville High School with a Bachelor’s Degree of Fire Science and Administration from Waldorf University, and Paramedic Emergency Medicine Degree.

38 years of service in the Army National Guard (1st Sergeant) and Army Reserves (Master Sergeant).

35 years of service as a professional firefighter with Russellville and Little Rock Fire Departments.

35 years of service as a paramedic with MEMS.

BOARD MEMBER

Little Rock native, graduating from Catholic High School and studying at UCA in Conway before going to Europe with Student Over Seas Services in 1976. 

A program set up to provide short term work in a European country with opportunities to travel before returning home. Meeting others while working in a tulip factory in Holland, opted to experience Europe and Middle East through hosteling for almost 2 years before returning home.

Southern Office Services was started in 1980 providing office furnishings and services to the business community throughout the Southern States, retiring in 2021. He is married Vickie Lacey and they have a son and daughter and now are wonderfully blessed with 5 grandkids. Greg has volunteered with various school, community and charitable organizations such as Catholic High & Central High Schools, Komen Foundation-Race for the Cure and Riverfest. Past president, Design Review Committee in the River Market District and with his wife chaired the 30th Riverfest Festival.

BOARD MEMBER

Jimmy “Janzen” Woods is a graduate of Southern Arkansas University (Firefighter Standards I & II) and the University of Memphis with an BS in Fire Prevention/Public Administration.

Woods is the former State Fire Director with the Office of Fire Protection Services. Appointed by two (2) former governors (Huckabee & Beebe) and served the office from 2006-2011. Retired from the fire service April 1, 2016, after serving twenty-eight (28) years in the fire service.

He has served professionally, created Bootfest Arkansas, a music concert production, and has volunteered for many charitable and non-profit organizations that has raised over 2.1 million dollars for multiple building projects & fund raising events.

BOARD MEMBER

Little Rock native.

Graduate of SAU Magnolia and UAMS

Served as a paramedic before serving as professional firefighter for the last 10 years.

Devoted husband and father who serves at his church in Little Rock.

BOARD MEMBER

Lifelong resident of Little Rock.

Graduate of Hall High (1966) and UALR (1970).

Retired from a career in sales and management.

Has served in local organizations such as the Downtown Little Rock Rotary
Little Rock Executives Association, League of Women Voters and Volunteers in Public Schools.

“I am proud to be a board member of the Firehouse Museum of Arkansas, and I am committed to the  preservation of Arkansas’ firefighter heritage.”