Mike Medlock, chairman of the Arkansas State University Board of Trustees died Wednesday at a Houston, Texas hospital.

Medlock was president of Insurance Network in Jonesboro and was the tax liaison to the Governmental Affairs Committee of Independent Insurance Agents of America. He was past chair of the Greater Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce Board, and he was a past chair of the Jonesboro Municipal Airport Commission. He was also a member of the Jonesboro Industrial Development Corporation Board. Medlock was a 1968 graduate of Little Rock Central High School, and he received a bachelor of science degree in Business Management from Arkansas State University-Jonesboro in 1973, where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

He was appointed to the ASU Board of Trustees in February 2000 by Governor Mike Huckabee, and he was re-appointed to the ASU Board of Trustees in March 2005. His term was set to expire January 2010.

"We have lost a great friend," said Dr. Robert Potts, chancellor of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. "Mike loved ASU and was deeply involved with every aspect of university life. He was a caring person who took a personal interest in our university. His leadership will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to his family."

Dr. Les Wyatt, president of the Arkansas State University System, said "All of us at ASU are sorry to lose Mike Medlock as our leader and friend. His gentle manner and thoughtful insights served to guide the university during the 10 years he served as our trustee. We are saddened now with his family in their loss, and we are grateful to have shared with them his joyful and productive life."

Medlock began his career at Jonesboro Insurance Agency in 1973 with a total of four employees who specialized in the construction segment of the insurance industry. As the business grew, he turned Insurance Network into one of the top 12 insurance agencies in Arkansas before it became a division of Bancorp South Insurance Services of Arkansas in 2007. He recently served as executive vice president for Bancorp South Insurance Services, the nation's 23rd largest insurance broker, with offices in eight states.

Medlock was a long-time supporter of numerous local organizations, including United Way, St. Bernards Regional Medical Center, Arkansas State University, and the Phil and Flo Jones Hospice House, among others. He worked with the Jonesboro Industrial Development Corporation and served on the board of Healthcare Medical Group. He is
survived by his wife, Lynda Medlock, three children, Mary Katherine, Julie, and Matt, and two step-children, Ashley and Aubree, and one grandchild, Molly. Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro is handling the visitation and funeral arrangements for Mr. Medlock. Click here to leave condolences.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Insurance Network Scholarship in care of the ASU Foundation at P.O. Box 1990, State University, AR 72467. This scholarship benefits students at Arkansas State University in the College of Business majoring in Banking, Finance or Insurance.