Justices Robert Brown (left) and Paul Danielson welcome William H. Bowen as the newest member of the Arkansas Supreme Court after a swearing in ceremony today. (Lewis Delavan photo)

LITTLE ROCK — One more chapter has been added to William H. Bowen’s public life.

Bowen, 86, was sworn in today as an associate justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court. Gov. Mike Beebe appointed the retired lawyer and former bank executive and top gubernatorial aide to Bill Clinton to serve one year of the unexpired term of retired Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber on the state’s highest court.

At a ceremony in the Supreme Court chambers, Beebe described Bowen as an Arkansas icon who commands respect.

“There is no questioning Bill Bowen’s integrity, knowledge and experience,” Beebe said.

Bowen said it was a honor to be asked by the governor to serve.
“Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God,” Bowen said, reciting a favorite Bible passage from Micah.

Former law partner Byron M. Eiseman Jr. introduced Bowen as a charismatic man of many talents who has served the state as an attorney, business leader and dean of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law.

The law school was named for Bowen in 2000.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, Bowen earned law degrees from the University of Arkansas and New York University.

Bowen began his career as a tax attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. He later was a partner in the firm of Smith, Williams, Friday and Bowen.

He left private law practice to become president of Commercial National Bank and remained chief executive of First Commercial Bank after a merger with First National Bank in 1985. He created the second-largest banking network in the state and engineered its acquisition by Regions Bank, Eiseman said.

A self-described “yellow-dog Democrat,” Bowen served for a time as Clinton’s chief of staff when Clinton was Arkansas governor.

Bowen has been married to his wife, Connie, for 62 years and they have three children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, many of whom attended the ceremony today.

U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., also attended, along with members of the state Court of Appeals, Imber and several retired justices.