Lynda Hollenbeck: A Legend in Saline County Journalism
By Cody Berry
Photo above of Lynda Hollenbeck courtesy of Destin Davis at the Saline Courier.
On January 6, I learned about the passing of a legendary figure in modern Saline County history, the great Lynda Hollenbeck. Lynda was born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas on August 8, 1941, to Paul and Lillie Parnell. A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Lynda went on to become an award-winning journalist.1 In 1970, Lynda was hired by then editor Bob Ferguson and she stayed there until her retirement in 2018. Lynda was then introduced to the great cartoonist Ron Meyer and publisher Sam Hodges.2 In 2019, the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce gave Lynda their Lifetime Achievement Award.3
For her work as senior editor and longtime reporter at the Saline Courier, Lynda was honored by several organizations including Arkansas Press Women, the National Federation of Press Women, the Arkansas Press Association, and Associated Press Managing Editors. She was also an accomplished musician and former chairman for the Saline County Humane Society.4 Lynda began singing in her local Methodist church when she was just a child. She even started taking piano lessons at 6, probably because her mother was a church organist for 55 years.5
Lynda was also involved with the Royal Theater, where she performed in many plays over the years. Local artists Dianne Roberts and Mark Davey used Lynda as a model for one of their characters on the mural in downtown Benton.6 She even worked as a pianist and music director for several local churches. Lynda died on January 5, 2025, at the age of 84.7 Lynda was married to Dr. Ed Hollenbeck for 36 years at the time of his death in 2012.8 Her work chronicling the history of Saline County is an invaluable source that we all can benefit from.
Citations:
1 Judy Smith, Saline County Women 150 Years, Arkansas Women’s Business Association, 1986, p. 56.
2 Josh Briggs, “Former Senior Editor of The Saline Courier Dies at 84,” Saline Courier, Friday, January 10, 2025, p. 1.
3 Carol Rolf, “Benton area Chamber honors community, members,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, January 20, 2019, https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/jan/20/benton-area-chamber-honors-community-members/, Date Accessed 1/6/2025.
4 Judy Smith, Saline County Women 150 Years, Pine Cone Chapter, Arkansas Women’s Business Association, 1986, p. 56.
5 Josh Briggs, “Former Senior Editor of The Saline Courier Dies at 84,” Saline Courier, Friday, January 10, 2025, p. 1.
6 Dianne Roberts, “What Do The Benton Mural and Norman Rockwell’s Art Share,” https://www.drartstudio.com/benton_mural_project, Date Accessed 1/10/2025.
7 “Death Notice,” Saline Courier, January 8, 2025, p. 3.
8 Ashby Funeral Home, “Dr. Ed Hollenbeck,” May 4, 2012, https://www.ashbyfuneralhome.com/obituary/1473205, Date Accessed 1/22/2025.