Dennis Byrd

   Dennis A. “Bubba” Byrd is a retired journalist, who spent almost 50 years as a writer, editor, bureau chief, and publisher, working at newspapers in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. He also spent about nine years writing for The Associated Press, the world’s largest newsgathering organization.

Byrd got into the book-publishing business as a collaboration with friend and author Stan Parris, a college friend (Henderson State University) and retired minister. 

Byrd offered to help Parris with his first book, “Just Outside of Hope” as editor. Pard Publishing, a partnership between Byrd and Parris, was born out of that experience.

Retirement has enabled Byrd to pursue other interests as well. He is a travel agent with more than 20 years experienced, which included his part-time pursuit while still in the newspaper business. He also was campaign manager for Tom Farmer, who entered the race for mayor of Benton, Arkansas, Byrd’s hometown, in 2018. Farmer is a former coach, athletic administrator, and transportation supervisor in Benton and Bryant (Arkansas) school districts. He defeated two strong candidates without a runoff in his initial campaign and did not draw an opponent in a re-election bid in 2022.

Byrd said his interest in travel and experience as a writer and editor, who covered state and national politics, allowed him to branch out into new interests since leaving the news business.“Life is an adventure and it has been fun pursuing interests outside of journalism,” Byrd said.

Church life has been important to Byrd his entire life. He served as a substitute teacher in children’s Sunday School classes while still in high school and renewed his interest in teaching since moving to Benton. He taught youth Sunday School and was a department director at Highland Heights Baptist Church before teaching a men’s class there. He began teaching an Ushers and Greeters class at First Baptist Church more than 20 years ago and continues to lead classes in what has become the Adult 7 department.

“Pard Publishing has been an interesting experience and a blessing,” Byrd said. “Although I had spent a career around writing, I had no idea of the complexities involved in being a book publisher.” Byrd said his connection with Parris was the primary factor in entering the world of book publishing. He credited H.K. Stewart of Little Rock, who works with authors throughout Arkansas to help get books published, for his help and guidance in learning the ropes.

Parris’ first book, “Just Outside of Hope,” about the author’s experiences as a foreign missionary in Maricaibo, Venezuela, as a missions pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church of Little Rock, was also the first book published by Pard. The company’s second book, also by Parris, is a compilation of Facebook posts, and carries the title, “Just Unfriend Me … Or Not.”

Byrd is working on a memoir and has at least one other book under consideration under the Pard Publishing label.