8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 11, 2006

SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Arkansas	0-6253	71-0407808
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

501 Main Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas	71601
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(870) 541-1000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM: 5.02(d) DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR PRINCIPAL OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

On Monday, December 11, 2006, Simmons First National Corporation Board of Directors approved the election of Stanley E. Reed as a director of the Company. Committee appointments for Mr. Reed are as follows: Nominating Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee and the SFNC Executive Committee.

Mr. Reed, president of Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance of Arkansas, is serving his fourth term as president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau. He has held numerous county and state chairmanships with Farm Bureau and the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty and Life Insurance Companies and is currently vice chairman of the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Company.

ITEM: 9.01 STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

Exhibit 99.1 Press Release of the Company dated December 17, 2006, announcing the appointment of Stanley E. Reed.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

	SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION
Date: December 15, 2006	/s/ Robert A. Fehlman____________________
	Robert A. Fehlman, Executive Vice President
	and Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR RELEASE: Sunday, December 17, 2006

STANLEY E. REED JOINS SIMMONS FIRST CORPORATE BOARD

Pine Bluff, AR - - Stanley E. Reed, a third generation farmer from Marianna, and president of Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance of Arkansas, has joined the Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ-GS: SFNC)  board of directors according to J. Thomas May, chairman and chief executive officer.

May noted, “I have had the opportunity to know Stanley and his family for many years, and have worked with him on several different boards of directors. He is a tremendous business man, and, more significantly, a great family man. His knowledge and commitment to agriculture and higher education is unequalled. He gets involved to make a difference and he has certainly been successful in helping several organizations improve the economic opportunity and quality of life for many Arkansans. I’m very proud to have him as a member of our Corporate Board.”

Reed is a graduate of University of Arkansas School of Law and received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, both with highest honors.

He serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees for the University of Arkansas System and is on the board for Baptist Health System and was elected to a second, two-year term on the American Farm Bureau Federation’s board of directors at their national convention in January 2006.

Reed is a member of the Arkansas Academy for Agricultural Engineers and has been honored as a Distinguished Alumni of the College of Engineering.

He has served on numerous commodity promotion boards, including past chairman of the state Soybean Promotion Board and has been active in Cotton Incorporated and served on the State Support Committee for Cotton Research.

Reed is serving his fourth term as president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, and has been on the Arkansas Farm Bureau state board for over 20 years, including four years as vice president and secretary / treasurer for six years. He has held numerous county and state chairmanships with Farm Bureau and the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty and Life Insurance Companies.

He is currently vice chairman of the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Company.

Simmons First National Corporation is a $2.7 billion financial holding company, with eight community banks in Pine Bluff, Jonesboro, Lake Village, Rogers, Searcy, Russellville, El Dorado and Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Company’s eight banks conduct financial operations from 84 offices, of which 81 are financial centers, in 46 communities.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

ROBERT A. FEHLMAN

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Simmons First National Corporation

(501) 558-3141

P.O. BOX 7009     510 MAIN STREET     PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS 71611-7009     (870) 541-100     www.simmonsfirst.com