Colonel Capps was a leader and an inspiration to many throughout his years of service to his community and to the state of Arkansas. His dedicated commitment to making his beloved town of Gurdon and his state a better place to live was evident in everything he did.

Colonel Capps was a lifelong resident of Clark County and graduate of Ouachita Baptist University. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army where he served during World War II in North Africa, Italy and France. After the war, he returned to Gurdon where he continued serving his country by enlisting with the U.S. Army Reserves.

Colonel Capps’ diligence to duty and service to those around him carried over into his business, Austin’s Appliance and Furniture, which he operated in Gurdon for over 70 years. Due to his decades of hard work and commitment to improving the lives of Gurdon residents, I often thought of him as “Mr. Gurdon.”

Colonel Capps was a devoted, lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Gurdon where he served as an elder, Sunday School teacher and member of the choir. He was a man of strong faith that was evident in all he did. He also served as member of the Board of Trustees of Baptist Hospital in Arkadelphia and as a faithful Gideon.

I send my deepest condolences to his two sons Colonel James Capps Jr. of Hot Springs, AR, and William Roy Capps of Gurdon, AR, and to his two sisters Louise Mann of Houston, TX, and Alyene Fowler of Ft. Scott, KS; and to his seven grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren who affectionately called him “Big Daddy.”

Colonel Capps will be missed by his family, his church, his community and all those who knew him and called him a friend.  I will continue to keep his family in my thoughts and prayers.