A long time ago, when I worked for Arkansas' environmental agency, each year employees throughout state government looked forward to obtaining the official state calendar printed by the secretary of state's office.

It was about a 4x4-foot display of that year's scheduled events, such as official state and federal holidays, election dates, and deadlines for things like registering to vote and assessing and paying personal property taxes. It also listed important telephone numbers and contact information for some elected officials and state agencies. The squares for each day of the year also had enough space to pencil in reminders of coming events not listed. A handy tool to put on your office wall.

Naturally, whoever was secretary of state prominently displayed their name and photograph on the calendar, but usually just in one location. That is, until Bill McCuen was elected to the office in the mid-1980s, and turned the calendar into a personal glamour poster rivaling those of Hollywood movie stars. The new design would feature several smiling photos of McCuen, and as many "Compliments of Bill McCuen" reminders as could be scattered around the available space.

McCuen carried that self-promotion over to other aspects of his job, as........

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