Jack L King, known as Jacky in his earlier years, was born on November 11, 1939, to his parents Winnie and Arthur King of Havana, Ark. and succumbed to death on December 3, having fought a courageous battle with cancer diagnosed earlier in the year.  Jack was the next to youngest of five brothers, having been preceded in death by his three older brothers, Wiley, James and Raymond, and survived by his youngest brother Jim.

Jack is also survived by his wife Diane, his son Charles (Dana) and daughter Amy Moore, and twin stepsons, Matthew (Ashley) and Alan (Leigh Anne) Bennett and a nephew Don King.  He was the proud grandfather of 13 grandchildren Courtney, McKenzie, Grayson, Charlie, Davis, Owen, Molly, Robert, Reagan, Jessica, Mary Elizabeth, Laura Kate, and Rachel and two great-grandchildren, Charolette and Jack.

Jack was raised in Havana, in a home with no modern conveniences, no electricity or running water and attended Havana High School where he played all sports, being captain of the basketball team his senior year, and graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1957.

Jack became the first member of his family to attend college, attending Arkansas Tech University from 1957-1959, receiving an associate's degree in 1959, and transferring to the University of Arkansas in 1960 where he received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1962 and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1963.  He became active in the ROTC to help fund college and entered the Army following graduation, where he proudly served for over three years, including the period of the Vietnam conflict, achieving the rank of Lieutenant as a pilot, flying planes and helicopters including the Beaver, Caribou, and Apache.

Jack left the Army in 1966 and began his career in utilities as a cadet engineer with Arkansas Power and Light (AP&L) in Pine Bluff.  He was promoted and moved to Little Rock, holding various positions of increasing responsibility including relocations to Russellville and Harrison before returning to Little Rock with a promotion to Director.  Jack received additional promotions in Little Rock becoming Vice President of Divisions, SVP of Divisions and working his way to the role of Chief Operating Officer of AP&L in 1983.  Jack then joined the parent company of Entergy, promoted to president and CEO of Entergy Enterprises, and relocated to New Orleans where he became President of multiple subsidiaries.  He eventually became EVP of Operations for Entergy where he served on the Board of Directors for Arkansas Power & Light, Louisiana Power & Light, Mississippi Power & Light, and New Orleans Public Service.  During his career, he furthered his training graduating from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Management in 1988.

Jack retired from Entergy in 1995 and built upon his career in utilities by accepting the position as President of the Broadband Control Systems of Scientific Atlanta (later Cisco).  He then completed his full-time career serving as President and CEO of Oglethorpe Power Corp from 1999-2001.  Following his full-time career, he served on multiple Boards including the Aspen Institute, Keystone Energy Board, and the Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC) from 2000-2009, serving multiple terms as board chair.  Spanning his career, Jack served as President, CEO, and Board member in 22 different roles.

Jack was recognized as a thought leader in the utility industry during his career, with countless speaking engagements and publications, active engagement in advisory boards, and testimony to many federal committees, including Congress for both utilities and telecommunications, helping to introduce broadband and the internet to better manage energy demand, response, and real-time communications.

As an alumni, Jack was honored by both of his prior universities, achieving their highest honors, being elected to the Hall of Distinction at Ark Tech in 1993, and being elected to the U of A Engineering Hall of Fame in 2013, while also serving as commencement speaker in 1994.  Jack was a founding member of the U of A Chancellor's Society, and a member of the National Development Council and Towers of Old Main, was selected as U of A Outstanding Volunteer of the Year in 1991, and in 2007 was a recipient of the College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award.  He served as a member of the Dean's Advisory Council at the U of A from 2000-2019 and the Arkansas Academy of Electrical Engineering since 1982.  He also served as vice-chair of the committee that led the first major private fundraising effort to establish the Bell Engineering Center.

For his retirement project, Jack purchased a large parcel of land on Table Rock Lake, developing a new community of multi-acre home sites on the lake with amenities and boat docks now populated by many residents.  He loved to host family and friends at the lake, with large holiday and special event gatherings.   Jack's lifelong passion which he enjoyed throughout retirement was his faithful following of the Razorbacks, attending home games of most every sport and proudly dressing in red.

He was also an active philanthropist and community leader.  Jack established multiple academic scholarships at both Arkansas Tech and the U of A, which will continue honoring his career and legacy, supporting students in building their future careers.  He was also recognized for his efforts in creating local ambulatory services in Stone County MO, and helping those in need, receiving the volunteer of the year award in 2016.  He also spearheaded expansion and improvement of the Havana, Ark Cemetery where he will be interred, constructing a community pavilion and organizing a long-term maintenance model.

Graveside service will be 1;00 P,M. Saturday, December 7, 2024 at the Havana Cemetery in Havana, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jack's honor to his scholarship fund at the University of Arkansas, or Arkansas Tech University.

Make Check Payable to: University of Arkansas Foundation

Memo: Jack L. King Scholarship #30-003677

Mail To: University of Arkansas

ATTN: Gift Administrations

481 S. Shiloh Drive, Suite 170

1 University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR 72701

Make Check Payable to: Arkansas Tech University Foundation –

Memo: Jack King Scholarship

Mail To: Arkansas Tech University

PO Box 1105

Russellville, AR 72811

Arrangements by Cornwell Funeral Home Danville and River Valley Crematory Dardanelle.