Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has recognized Floyd Brantley, a 101-year-old veteran from Conway, as the 11th subject of her Faces of Arkansas series. The monthly initiative highlights Arkansans through written profiles, photographs, and short videos, with each honoree’s portrait displayed at the entrance to the governor’s office in the state Capitol.

According to the governor’s office, the series aims to celebrate individuals who have strengthened their communities, overcome challenges, or made significant contributions to their fields. Brantley, whose military service spanned three wars, exemplifies those qualities.

Born in Lufkin, Texas, Brantley worked on a milk truck before school and at a grocery store afterward. When he received his draft notice during World War II, it included the option to defer service until completing high school. Instead, Brantley cut the deferment off the letter and told his mother, “Mother, I have to go to war.” His family had already made painful sacrifices; his brother, C.L., was killed aboard the USS Atlanta at Guadalcanal two years earlier.

Brantley enlisted in the Navy in January 1944 and served as a medical corpsman in the Pacific, seeing action in locations including the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and Guam. After the war, he returned to high school, graduating at age 20 in 1947 as the first in his family to earn a diploma. He later attended Baylor University, joined the Air Force ROTC, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve. During the Korean War, he served as a transportation officer in Pusan. At age 49, he resigned his commission to enlist in the Arkansas Air National Guard and retired in 1982 after 22 years of military service.

Brantley married Elizabeth “Beth” Pearson in 1953, a union he credited to mutual understanding and communication. They were married for 67 years until her passing in 2020.

In addition to his military service, Brantley pursued an active and giving lifestyle. He participated in cycling well into his 90s, including riding in New York City’s Veterans Day parade and completing the Big Dam Bridge 20-mile ride. In retirement, he built wheelchair ramps and porches for local families, volunteered with the American Red Cross, and assisted with Hurricane Katrina relief. He also spoke at schools about his experiences in World War II and the Korean War.

Brantley first met Sanders during a World War II Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., accompanied by former First Lady Janet Huckabee. Sanders later appointed him to the Arkansas Veterans Commission and celebrated his 100th birthday with him at the Capitol in October 2024. In 2025, the Arkansas Marine Corps League named Brantley its Marine of the Year.

Earlier this year, Brantley traveled to Normandy for the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. During the trip, he unexpectedly encountered a nursing student who had written him a letter for his 100th birthday, which he had answered personally. She recognized him immediately and offered him a watercolor painting she had created, which Brantley now shares copies of with visitors.

Reflecting on his life, Brantley credited his faith and perseverance in overcoming hardships, including a difficult childhood and a speech impediment. “I’ve been blessed in so many ways, and so every day, I thank God,” he said.

Brantley’s full profile and video are available on the governor’s website.