Attorney General Tim Griffin has announced plans to honor Staff Sergeant Denver "Bull" Randleman with a statue in downtown Little Rock. Randleman, an Arkansas native, was part of the D-Day invasion as a member of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. His service was depicted in Stephen Ambrose's book "Band of Brothers," which was later adapted into a miniseries by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
Griffin stated, “It is past time that we honor the selfless service of Staff Sergeant Denver Randleman." The statue will be sculpted by Kevin Kresse, known for his work on the Johnny Cash statue at the United States Capitol. Griffin praised Kresse's ability to capture the essence of his subjects and expressed confidence in his selection for this project.
The statue aims to preserve Randleman's legacy and highlight Arkansas's military heroes, particularly those from World War II. Born in Rector, Randleman passed away in 2003 in Texarkana, Arkansas.
The funding for the statue will come entirely from private sources.
Tim Griffin became Arkansas's Attorney General on January 10, 2023. His previous roles include serving as Lieutenant Governor and as a representative for Arkansas’s Second Congressional District. Griffin has been an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps for over 28 years and holds the rank of colonel.
In addition to his military career, Griffin has held various legal and governmental positions including U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas and Special Assistant to President George W. Bush.
Griffin resides in Little Rock with his family.