Biography of Marvin Brooks Norfleet, St Francis County, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Paul V Isbell Date: 19 Nov 2008 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** The name of Marvin Brooks Norfleet, attorney at law, State Senator, civic leader, is closely interwoven with the history of St. Francis County and Arkansas. He moved to Memphis in 1952 to establish law offices in the Sterrick Building, but he often returns to, and may continue to live in his old hometown, Forrest City. He was born April 29, 1899 in Little Rock, and moved to Forrest City with his family in 1910, and received his early school here in grammar school, and the high school, Crowley Ridge Institute. He continued his education at the Massey Preparatory School, Pulaski, Tenn.; Little Rock College; Georgetown University, Washington, D. C.; and at the Little Rock Law School, obtaining A. B., M. A., and L. L. B. Degrees. During World War I, Mr. Norfleet served as an officer in the U. S. Army Infantry. He has held many offices, State Representative in 1921, and was the first person to hold the office of City Judge of Forrest City, State Senator for the 32nd Senatorial District in 1931 and 1933 for four years. Mr. Norfleet married Miss Burnham Martha Judge of Albany, N. Y., whom he has now since always referred to as the "apple of his eye" on Sep. 18, 1918 at Plattsburg, N. Y. on the day he was commissioned an officer in the U. S. Army. To this union was born one child, a son. Per HISTORY OF ARKANSAS-1911: Whatever else may be said of the legal fraternity, it cannot be denied that members of the bar figure more prominently in public affairs than do any other class of citizens. This is but the natural result of causes which are manifest and require no explanation. The ability and training which qualify one to practice law also qualify him in many respects for duties which lie outside the strict path of his profession and which touch the general interests of society. For seventeen years Hon. Marvin B. Norfleet held marked precedence among the members of the bar of Tennessee, where he was also recognized leader in Democratic circles, having been the recipient of various important offices of public trust, including those of representative and senator in the state legislature. In 1909, however, on account of impaired health, Mr. Norfleet was forced to leave Tennessee for a more salubrious climate, with the result that in April of the year 1910 he came to Forrest City, Arkansas, where he has established himself in the active practice of his profession and where his already large clientage is rapidly growing in importance and influence. On the tenth of June 1871, in Marshall County, Mississippi, occurred the birth of Marvin B. Norfleet, and he is a son of John Randolph and Laura Martha (Benton) Norfleet, both of whom are now at Forrest City. The father was born in Mississippi, from which state he served as a gallant soldier in the Confederate Army. He lived for a long number of years near Memphis, Tenn., where he was identified with the plantation business. The mother was a representative of the old Thomas H. Benton family in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. John R. Norfleet became the parents of nine children, of which number Marvin B. was the fifth in order of birth. He received an excellent education in his youth, having been a student in the Livingston Military Academy at Livingston, Alabama, where he was under the preceptorship of the late Captain W. A. Wright, a famous southern educator. Subsequently he studied law in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was admitted to the bar in 1892. He initiated the active practice of his profession in the city of Memphis and was there identified with much important litigation forthe ensuing seventeen years, gaining eminent prestige as one of the ablest attorneys in the state. He enjoyed a long and distinguished career in public and political life in that state, and it may be said of him that he was most faithful to his duty, laboring earnestly to advance the welfare of the state along lines of material progress and substantial improvement. His first public office was prosecuting attorney of Shelby County. Following this, after a six years' law partnership with General George P. Peters, he became judge of the criminal court of Shelby County, his appointment coming from Governor Benton McMillan. For several years he represented Shelby County in the state legistlature, and he was also chosen as state senator. He was a Colonel on Governor Taylor's staff and during the regime of Governor Benton McMillian was judge advocate general of the state militia, with the rank of Brigade General. In 1903 he served one term as president of the civil service commission of Memphis, and prior to his removal to Arkansas he was a prominent candidate fo the Democratic nomination for Governor of Tennessee. Ill health, however, suddenly curtailed his metoric career in Tennessee, and in 1910, as previously stated, he was forced to remove further west. Since coming to Arkansas Mr. Norfleet has established himself in the practice of law, and here a brilliant future is predicted for him. Mrs. Norfleet, who was formerly Miss Susie Thomas, is a woman of magnetic personality and gracious sincerity. She was born and reared in Memphis, Tenn., and is a daughter of the late Henry Thomas, who for many years, was a member of the firm of Schoolfield, Hannauer & Company, one of the largest commercial establishments in Memphis. To Mr. & Mrs. Norfleet have been born two sons, Marvin Brooks Jr., and Edmond Randolph, whose birth occurred in 1900 and 1905, respectively. In politics, as already intimated, Mr. Norfleet is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Democratic party, and ina fraternal and professional way he is affilitated with various organizationsof representative character. After his arrival in Forrest City, he purchased for a home the noted Stuart Springs, a tract of thirty six acres situated in the northeast section of the city, where he has arranged to erect a fine residence. In his religious faith, Mr. Norfleet is a devout member of the Methodist Church, and he is a most active factor in behalf of the its work. Mr. Norfleet is a man of notable intelligence and stern integrity and honesty of principles. He despises all unworthy or questionable means to secure success in any direction, whether political or otherwise. It is with pleasure that we mark our appreciation of such a man, a man true to every relation of life, faithful to every trust, a statesman diligent in the service of his country and seeking only the public good. Mr. Norfleet at present is President of the Forrest City Business Club. SOURCE: HISTORY of ST. FRANCIS COUNTY, ARKANSAS, 1954 - Robert W. Chowning Copyright, with Permission: Weston McCollum Lewey, Publisher -Times Herald Publishing-Forrest City, Arkansas