Margaret “Peggy” Meads has lived in Searcy for over thirty years.  She graduated from Arkansas State University in 1971 with a B.A. in political science.  She obtained her J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law in 1982.  She worked with the Searcy law firm of Pollard & Cavaneau for several years and established her own solo law practice in Searcy in 1993.  Governor Mike Huckabee appointed Peggy to the Arkansas Court of Appeals, where she served as an Appellate Judge from 1997 - 2000.   She then served six years as Chairman of the Arkansas Board of Review, which is the appellate division of the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services.  Peggy was a member of the Searcy School Board from 1985 – 1995, serving two terms each as President, Vice-President and Secretary.  She also served on the Board of Governors of the National Association of Unemployment Insurance Appellate Boards from 2003 – 2007, where she chaired the newsletter committee, edited the thrice-yearly newsletter, and served as Board Secretary.  Honors include her selection in 1996 by the White County Legal Secretaries Association as “Boss of the Year”;  in 1999 as one of Arkansas Business’ Top 100 Women in Arkansas; and in 2001 as a “Pacesetter” for the Southern Women in Public Service Conference, organized by the Stennis Center for Public Service, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS.