SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE
LEGACY LEADERS 2026
For over fifty years, the Arkansas Times has been a mirror reflecting the state’s growth, challenges, and triumphs. As we celebrate this milestone, we turn our spotlight on the individuals who have shaped our community. This special section honors our Legacy Leaders — the visionaries, innovators, and community pillars who have left an enduring mark on Arkansas. They are the entrepreneurs who built businesses from the ground up, the philanthropists who have enriched countless lives, and the activists who have championed progress. Through their perseverance, dedication, and unwavering commitment, they have paved the way for future generations.
Doe’s Eat Place | McMath Woods P.A. | JP Fitness & Recovery
JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THEIR EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEYS AND THE PROFOUND IMPACT THEY’VE HAD ON OUR STATE.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
ARKTIMES.COM
JANUARY 2026 1
JP FITNESS & RECOVERY
JP Francoeur, Owner
For nearly 40 years, Jean-Paul Francoeur has been a respected leader in fitness and recovery in Arkansas, helping clients of all ages restore movement, build strength, and achieve lasting physical performance. As the founder of JP Fitness & Recovery, Jean-Paul has dedicated his career to understanding how the body truly heals, adapts, and performs moving beyond traditional training models to create sustainable, results-driven outcomes. JP Fitness & Recovery is recognized statewide for its advanced neuro-based approach to fitness and recovery, utilizing Neufit technology to address the nervous system, the body’s primary control center. By training the nervous system alongside the muscular system, clients are able to improve mobility, accelerate recovery, reduce pain, and enhance overall physical performance more efficiently and safely. His facility serves a broad range of clients, including athletes, active professionals, and individuals recovering from injury or navigating age-related limitations. Every client begins with a comprehensive one-on-one assessment, allowing the team to create a highly individualized plan focused on optimizing health, movement quality, and long-term resilience. What truly distinguishes JP Fitness & Recovery is experience. With almost 40 years in the industry and a deeply knowledgeable team, Jean-Paul brings a level of insight that can only be developed through decades of hands-on work. His leadership continues to elevate the standard of fitness and recovery across the state, empowering clients to move more efficiently, build strength, perform better, and maintain physical independence no matter their age or starting point.
jpfitness.com
DOE’S EAT PLACE
Katherine Eldridge, Owner
When it comes to iconic locations in Arkansas, no one surpasses Doe’s. Since 1988, owner Katherine Eldridge and her father before her have provided a dining experience worthy of a shout out by former president Bill Clinton. But if you ask her, it isn’t just about the food – which is an outstanding example of down home cooking – it’s more important that patrons leave the restaurant feeling as though they’ve been adopted into one big happy family. Now preparing her son to take over the business, Katherine insists that Doe’s owes its success to the number one value they hold dear: quality service. Over the years she has kept her customers in mind, doing her best to keep prices reasonable and curating a staff that is sure to keep you smiling from the moment you step through the doors to when you put down your fork. Speaking of staff, when asked about recent accomplishments, Katherine mentions their induction into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame from a year ago. Rather than focus on the clout they earned from this, Katherine makes a point to say that the best part of this momentous occasion was that all of her long-term staff got to be present. It’s easy to see that the reason Doe’s is a leader in the industry is due to the time and dedication that Katherine, and her father, poured into the building of the restaurant. Without a doubt, they’ve earned themselves a permanent spot as a must visit location, and as an important fixture in the community they love so much.
doeseatplacelr.com
McMath Woods P.A. Personal attention, proven results since 1953.
Seated left to right: Sarah C. Jewell, Will Bond and David W. Wells Standing left to right: Charles Harrison, Neil Chamberlin, Carter C. Stein, Tim Giattina, Samuel E. Ledbetter and Grayson Hinojosa
For more than seven decades, McMath Woods has fought to hold corporations, insurance companies, and hospitals accountable for injuries and wrongs caused to hard working Arkansans. In 2026, our lawyers still stand ready to help individuals in injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, environmental, employment, and probate litigation cases. McMath Woods has played an impactful role in Arkansas’s legal landscape. The trial lawyer firm has built a reputation for representing individuals and families in complex civil litigation. McMath Woods has remained focused on one core principle: advocating for those seeking accountability through the justice system. The firm is known for preparing cases with the expectation of trial, a posture that distinguishes it in an era when many disputes are resolved before they reach the courtroom. This trial-ready approach reflects a belief that thorough preparation and strategic advocacy are essential to achieving meaningful outcomes for clients. The firm traces its origins to some of Arkansas’ most influential legal figures, including former governor Sidney S. McMath and federal judge Henry Woods. From its earliest years, the firm established itself as a plaintiff-oriented practice with a strong trial presence, rooted
firmly in their home state. Over time, McMath Woods evolved while maintaining its foundational commitment to courtroom advocacy. Unlike many firms that expanded beyond their place of origin, McMath Woods has remained anchored in Arkansas, building institutional knowledge of local courts, communities, and legal precedents that continues to shape its work today. Over the years, McMath Woods has secured numerous significant verdicts and settlements in personal injury and wrongful death cases. The firm has also played a notable role in environmental litigation in Arkansas, representing communities affected by contamination and industrial activity. While the firm does not emphasize volume, its record reflects a consistent ability to handle high-stakes cases requiring extensive investigation, expert testimony, and sustained trial advocacy. Collectively, these outcomes underscore the firm’s long-standing role in holding parties accountable through the civil justice system. McMath Woods maintains offices in Little Rock and Fayetteville, allowing the firm to serve clients across the state while remaining closely connected to the communities in which it practices. Its attorneys have been recognized by peer-reviewed legal directories including Best
Lawyers, Best Law Firms, Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell. These distinctions reflect sustained professional recognition rather than isolated accolades, reinforcing the firm’s standing within both the Arkansas legal community and the broader trial lawyer profession. Such recognition underscores a body of work built over decades rather than a single moment of success. As it moves forward, McMath Woods continues to operate with the same trial-focused mindset that defined its earliest years. While the legal landscape has evolved significantly since the firm’s founding, its emphasis on preparation, accountability, and client advocacy remains unchanged. The firm’s continued presence in complex civil litigation reflects a belief in the importance of the courtroom as a place for truth-finding and resolution. More than seventy years after its establishment, McMath Woods stands as an enduring presence in Arkansas law, shaped by experience and sustained commitment to its work.
mcmathlaw.com
4 JANUARY 2026
ARKANSAS TIMES