calsfoundation@cals.org
August 14, 2007
Izard County native Vada Sheid won her first political office as Baxter County treasurer in 1960. She quickly moved up the Arkansas political ladder and was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1965. In 1976, she became the first woman elected to the Arkansas Senate without succeeding a deceased husband who held the position. She held the office until defeated in 1985. Among her political accomplishments were being involved with the construction of two bridges across Lake Norfork and introducing the measure that created North Arkansas Community College.