Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County Loses Three Top Citizens To Death In 1996

The region lost three notable citizens during 1996, as Horace H. McKenzie, Charles Ray Cross and Gerald Hendrix died.

A freak riding accident claimed the life of Hendrix on April 24. Hendrix was in his first term as representative for District 28 in the Arkansas House of Representatives.

His death occurred after he was thrown or fell from a horse while riding on his farm at Antoine.

According to Hendrix's son, David, who was riding with him at the time, the horse either stumbled or pitched forward, causing him to lose his seat and fall on his head.

Those who knew Hendrix praised him as a man dedicated to his family and others.

On May 17, 1996, cancer claimed the life of Charles Ray Cross, who was the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services coordinator.

Cross's work with the OES earned him statewide recognition, as he battled for the county's fire departments.

Cross made sure Nevada County had the best firefighting and rescue equipment money could buy.

Those who knew Cross said he was one of the most community-minded people they had ever known as he put the welfare of others above his own.

But fire and rescue work was far from all Cross worked on. He also had a direct hotline to weather people at the OES in Conway.

During severe weather, Cross manned the radio, dispatching weather spotters to area "hot spots" to watch for potential severe storms.

At the time of his death, Cross was working on establishing a 911 emergency telephone system for Nevada County, along with getting a set of Jaws of Life for the Rosston Volunteer Fire Department and a weather radar in the county linked to the National Weather Service.

Cross was also working to establish a rural fire department in the Nubbin Hill/Redland communities as well.

As the end drew near for Cross, the Prescott High School burned. However, from what would prove to be his death bed, Cross orchestrated the county's firefighters, giving all directions on fighting the fire and still making sure the county was protected in case another fire broke out. He also reminded the older hands to watch out for the younger firemen while this was going on.

On Sept. 21, the county's third "Treasure" was called away, as H.H. McKenzie died.

McKenzie was called a pioneer in providing economic development to the region, as he played a vital role in getting industry to locate in Prescott and Nevada County.

He was a long-time member of the Prescott Rotary Club, where he served as past president and was bestowed as a prestigious Paul Harris Fellow.

McKenzie was the type of attorney who provided stability within the community, those who knew him said, along with being a staunch member of the First United Methodist Church in Prescott.

He was said to always be able to focus on the issue at hand, providing valuable and important insight in helping resolve problems.

But McKenzie will be remembered most as a man who had Prescott's future always near at heart.

His economic efforts helped land Prescott Manufacturing in the city, along with getting the Robbins Plant to locate here.

He was the primary organizer of Prescott Federal Savings and Loan Association in 1934 and was on the board of directors for the Ozan Lumber Co. before it sold to the Potlatch Corp. McKenzie was also on the board for the Logan Grocery Co.

McKenzie attained the rank of major in the U.S. Army, where he served in the Judge Advocate Corps from 1942-46.

When he returned to Prescott following World War II, McKenzie opened his law practice, later joining the firm of Tompkins, McKenzie and McRae.

But he was also a strong family man, who tried to pass on his beliefs and pride in Prescott to his children.