Former Commissioner Sonny Varnell Dies 

Sonny Varnell, 87, a member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission from May 2003 through June 30, 2008, died Sept. 21 at home in St. Paul (Madison County) after a lengthy illness.

Varnell was appointed to the Commission by Gov. Mike Huckabee to complete the term of Bill Ackerman of Fayetteville. Ackerman was appointed by Huckabee July 8, 2001, and resigned April 29, 2003. It was unusual that two commissioners would be appointed in a short time span; Brett Morgan of Little Rock was appointed in June 2003 to succeed Commissioner Jim Hinkle of Mountain View.

Varnell also was a member of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission at one point.

Huckabee praised Varnell, 64 when he was appointed to the AGFC, for his knowledge and love for the state’s fish and wildlife resources.

“Sonny Varnell and I have spent many hours fishing together on the Arkansas River, Bull Shoals Lake, Lake Ouachita and numerous other lakes and streams across this state” Huckabee said.

The two became friends when Huckabee lived in Pine Bluff during 1980-86.

“Because of his background as an engineer, Sonny is analytical when it comes to looking at problems and how to solve them,” Huckabee said. “He’s also one of the most even-tempered people I’ve ever known. He loves this state.”

Some of the highlights of Varnell’s term on the Commission include the beginning of the Youth Shooting Sports Program, the establishment of Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA in Calhoun County and construction of four nature centers.

At its November 2008 meeting, the AGFC voted to name part of Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area in Varnell’s honor. The property on the east side of the WMA was dubbed Sonny Varnell Richland Valley Elk Conservation Area.

Sanford Lee “Sonny” Varnell Jr. was born Feb. 2, 1939, at Lake Dick (Jefferson County) and grew up in Pine Bluff. He graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1957, attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello for two years and graduated with a BA in mechanical engineering from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1963.

He met and married Rachel Corienne Hawkins in 1962, and they settled in Pine Bluff in 1963.

Varnell worked for International Paper Co. at its Pine Bluff facility from June 1963 until his retirement in November 1997.

They moved to St. Paul in 1997 and built a home. Varnell was a former chief of the St. Paul Volunteer Fire Department, and was a deacon and teacher at First Baptist Church of Elkins. He also played an important role in bringing water to rural Madison County.

Varnell is survived by his wife, Corienne, and their sons, Steven and Randy.

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CUTLINES:

SONNY
Sanford Lee “Sonny” Varnell Jr. served as a commissioner from May 2003-June 2008. AGFC photo.

DEDICATION
Varnell was honored with the naming of the elk conservation area on Richland Valley in Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area upon the completion of his term. AGFC photo.

SHOTGUN
The popular Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program began under Varnells’ appointment and he was a strong advocate for the program. AGFC photo.