Banker Johnny Allison of Conway, chairman of Home Bancshares, also directs financial institutions such as First State Bank of Conway, Twin City Bank of North Little Rock, Community Bank of Cabot, and Marine Bank of Marathon, Florida. His financial holding company is among the ten largest in the state. He was former chief executive of Spirit Homes in Conway and Belmont Homes of Belmont, Mississippi. He was a member of the Murphy Commission, an organization that studied how to make state government more efficient, and was appointed to serve on the Arkansas State Police Commission.

Dr. Anas Al-Rasheed of Kuwait City, Kuwait, is a professor of journalism and media at Kuwait University, and is respected worldwide for his leadership as former Minister of Information for Kuwait and member of the Kuwaiti cabinet. He served on the faculty at Kuwait University, and was named media advisor to the Kuwait Minister of Education, a post previously held by individuals twice his age. Dr. Al-Rasheed has chaired numerous international conferences on media and ethics, both in Kuwait and throughout the world. Under his direction, Kuwait passed a law making it the country with the greatest freedom of the press in the Middle East. He was A-State's first international Distinguished Alumnus.

As owner and president of Jonesboro's Angelo Manufacturing Co., one of the top 10 percent nationwide in the production of wooden pallets, Frank Angelo helped market many local products to major retailers. His community involvement includes serving as Rotary president, Red Cross Blood Donor program chair, and Chamber of Commerce board member. He was instrumental in securing the construction of the Armory at ASU, and retired from the National Guard as a lieutenant colonel. Along with endowing several scholarships for deserving students, Mr. Angelo also employed or directly aided a large number of deserving students attending ASU. Mr. Angelo passed away in 1993.

For the first time in its history, the ASU Alumni Association board voted to present a joint Distinguished Alumni award, feeling that the achievements of Mr. and Mrs. Baker, of Jonesboro, could not be separated. In 1959, they established W. F. and V. R Baker Enterprises, reflecting the partnership that included Baker Rentals and Sales, Baker Health Care Specialties, and Northeast Arkansas Fence Company. They serve the Craighead County Community Foundation, ASU Campaign Leadership Council, Chancellor's Cabinet, and College of Nursing and Health Professions advisory board.

Rosalie Barber of Jonesboro was the Wilson Award winner for 1960, returning to campus as an instructor in Health, Physical Education and Recreation 1969-2000, as well as directing men's and women's intramurals, the first woman to head a men's program at the university level. She was a member of the University Athletic Committee, the first female faculty member to serve. She serves on ASU's Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded Veterans National Advisory Council. A member of Alpha Omicron Pi, she served for eight years on the AOII International Executive board and was president of the AOII International Foundation board. She was included as one of the '100 Arkansas Women of Achievement' in Horizons, and was featured in the World Who's Who of Women.

Maj. Gen. (ret.) George Barker was twice awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal. Since retiring from the Army, he has devoted his life to humanitarian causes. He is a volunteer for Concern Worldwide USA, donating time and money to projects in poorer countries, especially Sri Lanka and Haiti. Along with currently serving on the Board of Trustees of the Army War College Foundation in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he is a founding member of ASU's Beck PRIDE Center for America's Wounded Veterans National Advisory Council and a co-founder of the Helping Hands Foundation in his home town of Rector.

Dr. Barnett is the first female president in the 135-year history of William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. A former faculty member and chair of Business and Economics at William Woods, she was selected to be the institution's 12th president in 1990. One of her first accomplishments was steering its transition to university status. She was featured as one of the 20 most influential women in central Missouri by Mid-Missouri Magazine and has been honored as a Distinguished Alumna of the ASU College of Business.

Known as 'Mrs. B.' by her students, colleagues and friends, Pauline Bartholomew was a teacher and counselor for more than 40 years, beginning her teaching career at age 16 while holding the only teaching certificate in Poinsett County. She spent summers and weekends working toward her college degree, and encouraged her students to attend ASU. A university endowment was established by her family to honor Mrs. B as well as those students who followed her advice to further their education. She was an active member of the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association, serving as president and vice-president, and was a 4-H leader for more than 30 years. This recognition was awarded posthumously.

Buddy Beck of Fairfax Station, Virginia, was awarded three patents in computational engineering and advanced sensors, founding a number of companies involved in energy, defense and medical technology. He founded Trans Digital Technologies, a leader in advanced technology identity solutions which was acquired by Viisage Technologies and produces secure identity solutions. He sits on their board as well as those of six other companies plus a number of national security boards and non-profit organizations. He serves on the board of the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute and the U. S. Army Science Board, providing counsel to the Secretary of the Army in scientific and technology matters.

The Hon. Mike Beebe of Little Rock is the 46th Governor of the state of Arkansas, having served previously as state Attorney General, State Senator (1982-2002), president Pro Tem of the Arkansas Senate (named by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette as one of 'Arkansas' Best Legislators') and as a successful attorney, being named 'Outstanding Trial Lawyer' by the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. He was appointed to the ASU Board of Trustees, 1974-79, and served as chairman, 1977-79.

Betty Beene of Front Royal, Virginia, is director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D. C. She is a founding board member of the Bennett College Women's Leadership Institute and a member of the advisory board of the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research. She previously served as the president and CEO of the United Way of America.

Jake Bell of New York City is a graduate of the Department of Theatre. He set his sights on Broadway and attained his goal when he became stage manager for the 1979 national tour of the Broadway production of Grease. In his subsequent 30-year career, he has served as stage manager and/or technical production manager for many of the most successful and longest running shows in Broadway history, including Cats, A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon and most recently, Wicked. He currently has eight companies of different shows running in New York, Las Vegas and touring the United States.

Bell is the principal in a legal consulting firm that provides educational services concerning health care law to hospitals and other health care providers. Bell earned his bachelor's degree in social studies education at Arkansas State in 1971, then pursued his juris doctorate degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law. While at A-State he also was designated Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as an Army officer through ROTC. His long list of public service activities include serving as chair of the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission, White County juvenile judge, special justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court, chairman of the Arkansas Board of Law Examiners, and chair of the board of directors for Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp. in Memphis. He and his wife, Jean Ann Langley Bell, also an A-State alumna, have two children, Laura Elizabeth Bailey and Arthur Watson Bell Jr., and two grandchildren.

Bob Blanchard of Tampa, Florida, is chairman of WRB Enterprises, a holding company for highway equipment dealerships and real estate, as well as the Rozier Machinery Co., and the Blanchard Machinery Co. He has served as a trustee for the University of Tampa, chairman of the Tampa Committee of 100, and executive committee chair for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce.

Attorney John Bobango is chief manager of the Memphis-based Farris Bobango PLC, which also operates in Nashville, one of the most successful business law firms in the U.S. His achievements have brought him numerous accolades, including Memphis ‘Lawyer of the Year.’ Called a consummate professional, ardent public servant and impassioned volunteer by his peers, Bobango is a past member of the Memphis City Council, an advocate for several Mid-South causes and an outspoken proponent for A-State and his fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha, in which he was elected as international president.

Jerry Bookout of Jonesboro served in both the Arkansas House and Senate since 1966. He was the floor leader for several governors and was elected President Pro Tem in 1989. He was one of the original sponsors of the legislation to bring university status to Arkansas State, and has helped secure funding for most of the current buildings on campus as well as for the first doctoral and physical therapy programs. In 1990, he developed the legislation that became the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, which helps students from lower income families to attend college. During his legislative career, Bookout authored approximately 400 bills, most of which became law. In addition, he served in the Arkansas National Guard for 30 years, retiring with the rank of colonel. Mr. Bookout passed away in 2006.

Col. Jerry Bowen of Jonesboro was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve with the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He was confirmed by the U. S. Senate as Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs and director of the National Cemetery System in 1993, managing an operating budget of almost $150 million. He was the highest-ranking ASU graduate in the Clinton administration. After two combat tours in Vietnam, he served the Department of the Army staff at the Pentagon as chief of protocol. Among other awards, he received the Legion of Merit, the highest Army decoration for exemplary service during peacetime.

Chucki served on the ASU Board of Trustees from 1989-99, including two terms as board chair, and was an inaugural member of the Chancellor's Cabinet, also serving as chair. She co-chaired the university's first academic capital campaign, raising $21 million on a goal of $8 million. She is a 1924 Sustaining Life Member of the ASU Alumni Association and has served on the ASU Foundation board. Chucki and her husband Curt funded an endowment to create ASU's Bradbury Gallery, housing works from the university's permanent collection and serving as home of the prestigious Delta National Small Prints Exhibition.

Mr. Bradford was senior partner in the law firm of Bradford, Snyder and Stevenson in Dallas. He served on the board of directors of First City Bank in Farmers Branch, Johnson Electric, Texas Sign Supply and Texas Screen Process. He is listed in editions of Who's Who including those covering America, the world and the law. He also served on the City Council of Farmers Branch, Texas. Mr. Bradford passed away in 1993.

Dr. Branchis a board-certified urologist who is an affiliate professor of surgery at theUniversity of South Florida's College of Medicine and is a nationally knownspeaker. Dr. Branch has served as an officer in most local, state or nationalmedical and surgical organizations in which he has held membership. He is anaffiliate member of The Royal Society of Medicine, and has been named one ofAmerica's Top Physicians. He is very active in the Tampa area community,including the Tampa Chamber of Commerce which named him a Super Star of Tampa.His biography appears inWho's Who in AmericaandWho's Who in theWorld.

Larry Brewer of Paragould expanded the Brewer Brothers Oil Company from three small service stations to one of the largest independent gasoline marketers in the state, also entering the liquefied petroleum gas business which is used for weed control in cotton crops. He served on the ASU Board of Trustees, and was chairman of the board of First National Bank in Paragould, Corning and Jonesboro.

Dr. D. L. Broadway of Marked Tree has had a distinguished career in optometry as well as civic involvement which included serving for several decades on the Marked Tree City Council and Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed to serve on the Arkansas Motorist Vision Committee of the Arkansas State Police which developed a screening form that is still in use. He has served on the State Board of Optometry and the Arkansas Optometric Association along with helping organize the first Indian Club at ASU.

Brown is President and CEO of Brown's Graduation Supply Co., a Herff Jones Company. In his role he served as an unofficial goodwill ambassador for Arkansas State while regularly visiting high school students throughout Arkansas. He was inducted into the Herff Jones Hall of Fame in 2009 in recognition of his outstanding career. Herff Jones previously had recognized Brown and his company as Outstanding Man and Outstanding Company of the Year, respectively. While a student at A-State, Brown joined Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, with which he has remained closely involved throughout the past four decades. Called a cornerstone for the fraternity's alumni activities, he has organized alumni tailgating events, annual golf tournaments and many other activities that promote connectivity between Pike and the A-State community. The international fraternity recognized him in 2014 with its highest honor, the Order of the West Range, for lifelong service to the fraternity and the Delta Theta chapter at A-State.

Bobby Caldwell of Wynne is owner and CEO of East Arkansas Broadcasters, Inc., which broadcasts radio to the entire region. By developing the Indian Sports Network, he set a new standard with ASU's radio network which is unmatched by our peers, with ASU currently the only Sunbelt Conference school to have all of its football, baseball, and men's and women's basketball games broadcast on FM radio. He serves on the board of First National Bank of Wynne, is a member of the ASU Foundation board of directors, and serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Broadcasters.

James Callaway of San Antonio has had an outstanding career in the communications industry. In 2005, he led the efforts leading to Southwestern Bell’s acquisition of AT&T, and held the same position the next year for AT&T's BellSouth acquisition. He is currently senior executive vice president for executive operations, responsible for executive support, merger integration and flight operations. He currently resides in San Antonio, where he serves on the boards of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center, St. Mary's University, San Antonio Sports Foundation, Free Trade Alliance, and the AlamoBowl.

Following his appointment as a Secret Service agent for Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, Bill Carter earned a law degree. He became American legal representative to the Rolling Stones and ultimately represented stars too numerous to name, as well as producing the Gaither Gospel Hour, an Elvis Presley gospel collection and a video biography of Billy Graham. He has been instrumental in the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation, and volunteered countless hours for the Johnny Cash Music Festival to finance ASU's Dyess project. His memoir, Get Carter: Backstage in History from JFK's Assassination to the Rolling Stones, was published in 2006.

Carvell enjoyed a long career in broadcasting and higher education before retiring in 2008, concluding a 37-year career at Arkansas State. For the last 20 years of his career he was assistant professor of radio-television, and during 19 of those years also served as department chair and director of broadcasting. A native of Brinkley, Carvell earned a bachelor's degree in radio journalism at A-State in 1966 then started graduate studies at the University of Illinois, but he interrupted his education to join the Air Force. After completing USAF Officer Training School he served for four years, including a year in Vietnam in charge of a reconnaissance unit's photo lab. He rose to the rank of captain and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. After his discharge, he resumed his formal education, returning to Illinois to complete a master's degree in broadcasting, then he joined the A-State faculty. His numerous public service activities include military veterans' organizations and activities, the Northeast Arkansas United Cerebral Palsy Board, and the Kays Foundation board of directors. He and his wife Sue raised five sons, Rich Jr., Dean Collins, David, Jonathan and James, and have five granddaughters.

Sandra Cherry of Eden Isle is co-founder of Aromatique, which was at the forefront of the concept of decorative fragrance for the home. As one of the largest employers in its region, the company is one of the most successful in the state with annual retail sales exceeding $100 million. Its products are sold in more than 9,000 gift shops and major department stores in the U.S. and abroad. She has served on the ASU Foundation board of directors and was instrumental in the creation of ASU Heber Springs.

Steve Clark of Fayetteville served as Attorney General for the state of Arkansas from 1986 through 1990. Previously, he had a general practice of law, was a lecturer in law at the University of Arkansas Law School, and was executive secretary for Arkansas Governor David Pryor. He has served on the faculty at the St. Thomas School of Law in Miami, Florida, and as an instructor for the Texas-based Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Darrell Cooper of Clarkston, Michigan, is chairman of Fernco Inc., a manufacturer of flexible connectors of pipe, with plants in Michigan, Nevada, Canada and the United Kingdom. He is a director of the Davison State Savings Bank in Michigan and has published several books. He has provided funding support for Youth Homes, Inc. Through their generosity as major donors, the Darrell and Charlotte Pugh Cooper Alumni Center at ASU has become a reality.

His career as a professional fundraiser has spanned more than 30 years, during which time he has raised more than $600 million while working in advancement at five universities, including Florida A&M, Wake Forest, George Mason and Southern Illinois. Currently, Cotton is vice chancellor for institutional advancement at the University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff. He also served as senior vice president of development for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. Among his many service activities, Cotton has been a member of the A-State Alumni Association board, and president of the Strong-Turner Chapter of the Alumni Association.

Niel Crowson is president of E.C. Barton and Co., a 16-state lumber and building supply business that started more than 100 years ago in Jonesboro. A dedicated alumnus who serves A-State on the ASU System Foundation and on the Chancellor’s Cabinet, he also has served the community through his work with the United Way and on the board of St. Bernards Healthcare. Crowson is past-chair of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. His skill as an innovator in business was recognized in 2002 when he was named Arkansas Economic Developers’ Volunteer of the Year.

Asa Crow, M. D., of Paragould served the region as a physician for more than 30 years. Among his many memberships, he serves in the Arkansas Medical Society, the Southern Medical Society, and the American Medical Society. He is a past diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice and board certified by the American College of Review Physicians. He served as chief of staff for Arkansas Methodist Hospital, physician advisor-consultant for the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, the state Longterm Care Advisory Board, the Arkansas Indigent Health Care Study Board, and the Medical Services Review Committee for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. After his retirement, he continued to serve the healthcare field as a consultant for DRG Management with hospitals in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Dr. Darrel Cunningham, of Fort Smith, had distinguished careers in both the media and the United States Army in which he retired as Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve in 1989. After beginning his communications career teaching at A-State, he joined the staff at KAIT-TV, becoming station manager just two short years after and then president of Sigma Broadcasting. He was instrumental in developing the local station into a top-rated, small-market news operation. After KAIT was sold, he joined KHBS/KHOG in FortSmith/Fayetteville as general manger until it was sold 11 years later. As a leader in the industry, Cunningham served as president of the Arkansas Broadcasters Association and later received the ABA's Pioneer Award for Outstanding Service to the Broadcasting Industry. In addition to numerous civic activities in Fort Smith, he is a 1924 Sustaining Life member of the ASU Alumni Association, for which he also served as a board member and chair of the scholarship committee.

Dawson, a 1978 graduate in accounting, has thrived during a 35-year career with First Tennessee Bank. He currently is senior vice president for FTN Financial, one of the bank's major divisions. His background as a certified public accountant was a key to his success with the company, where he is valued as an extraordinary performer in securities trading, adviser to his peers, and mentor for new employees. He and his wife Kay provided funding to build the Dawson Capital Markets Lab in the Neil Griffin College of Business, where students can learn the trading floor environment with the latest finance industry technology. The couple also established Dawson Den, where student athletes have access to helpful resources to help them reach their academic goals. His longtime devotion to A-State athletics is exemplified by his service as a former president of the athletics foundation. Dawson has served extensively in civic leadership roles in his community.

Bob Earwood of Collierville, Tennessee, was a four-year letterman on the ASU football team, being elected permanent captain of the 1978 conference champion team. After graduation from ASU, he was employed by Holiday Inns-Worldwide as a project manager, and was a member of the original design team that developed the Crowne Plaza, Embassy Suite, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suite and Perkins Restaurant concepts, and participated in Holiday Inn’s acquisition of Harrah’s Gaming Corporation. He is currently Sr.VP of Construction & Engineering for EdR, a $2.5 billion collegiate housing REIT. He is a former President of the ASU Indian Club (now Red Wolves Foundation), President of the ASU Alumni Association and Chairman of the ASU Foundation. A member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, he is also a member of First Baptist Church of Collierville where he is Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Steve Edwards of Marianna, an accomplished commercial pilot, soared to greater achievement as owner and president of GES, a corporation which owns and operates the Food Giant chain of supermarkets. He was named Marianna-Lee County's 2002 Citizen of the Year, and the Marianna-Lee County Airport was named Steve Edwards Field in his honor.

Alec Farmer is president of Farmer Enterprises, Inc., a family-owned farm and property investment and management company. Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Farmer to a 10-year term on the Arkansas State Highway Commission in 2015. He established the Dalton A. Farmer Family Scholarship in honor of his late father who attended Arkansas State College. He has served on the boards of the Alumni Association and the Central Arkansas Indian Club and is a 1924 Sustaining Life Member. In 2019, he was inducted into the Arkansas Conservation Hall of Fame.

Dr. Bob Ferralasco of Jonesboro began his association with Arkansas State as a student in 1946. He retired as professor of administrative services and chair of computer information services after more than 35 years of service to the university. He was active with Sigma Pi fraternity from the time it was chartered on the Arkansas State campus in 1948 and has touched the lives of hundreds of students in a very positive way. A fully endowed scholarship was established in his name and is open to students majoring in business.

John I. 'Jack' Fleischauer of Little Rock was president of the Western Region of Regions Financial Corp and a member of the executive management team of Regions, a Fortune 500 company and one of the 25 largest financial service companies in the nation. His oversight responsibilities included all Regions Bank operations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Memphis, Tennessee. He served on the ASU Foundation Board along with extensive professional, civic and community service organizations. Mr. Fleischauer passed away in 2007.

For more than 20 years, Roy Fogle of New Bern, North Carolina, was executive director of the Neuse River Council of Governments, an economic and community development organization serving a large region of North Carolina. He has been recognized by the National Association of Regional Councils for his efforts in small business and economic development. The J. Roy Fogle Leadership Award, named in his honor, is given annually to the individual who has excelled in economic development work. In addition, he was a founder of the National Educational Institute for Economic Development.

Danny Ford, of Rector, is president and CEO of Glen Sain Motors, Inc. with dealerships in Rector, Paragould and Kennett, Mo. A member of the ASU Foundation, Inc., Board and the Chancellor's Cabinet, Ford's assistance to the university and its projects, especially the Johnny Cash Music Festival and restoration of Cash's boyhood home in Dyess, has been extensive. He is well-known in Rector and the surrounding region for the financial support given to civic projects. He is a longtime member of the Arkansas PArks, Recreation and Tourism Commission, as an appointee of three different governors.

Gene Foreman joined the faculty of Penn State in 1998 after retiring from the Pulitzer Prize-winning Philadelphia Inquirer, where he managed the newsroom for more than 25 years as executive editor. He also was a vice president of the company. Foreman spent more than 40 years in journalism, previously serving as managing editor of the Pine Bluff Commercial and the Arkansas Democrat. He was a reporter and assigning editor at the Arkansas Gazette, copy editor at The New York Times and senior editor in charge of news and copy desks at New York's Newsday. He was president of the Associated Press Managing Editors, a board member of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, a presenter at the American Press Institute, and was a Pulitzer Prize juror three times. In 1998 he received a career achievement award from the Philadelphia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

After teaching in Mississippi and Illinois, Fowler was a television reporter before joining A-State’s faculty as assistant professor in 1978. He quickly earned promotions to associate, then full professor. He also served as interim dean of the Honors College, Graduate School, and College of Communications during a career spanning 43 years.

Judge Tommy Fowler was elected State District Judge for the 19th Judicial District, composed of Craighead County, in 2016. His previous experience includes serving as circuit judge in the Second Judicial District, a special associate justice for the Arkansas Supreme Court, more than two decades in private practice, and including deputy prosecutor for 15 of those years. Judge Fowler was recognized for his progressive thinking and for the judicial reforms implemented in the Craighead County District Court when he was named a '2017 Visionary Arkansan' by the Arkansas Times news magazine. He also served on the American Legion Arkansas Boys State board for over 30 years.

Dr. Charles Frankum of Memphis has been called the "surgeon's surgeon" by his peers, the ultimate compliment in a competitive field. At Baptist Memorial Hospital he was elected president of the surgical staff, a member of the Medical Staff Executive Committee, and chairman of medical staff. Additionally, he continued to serve as a clinical assistant professor of the Department of Surgery at the University of Tennessee's College of Medicine. He pioneered new and effective surgical techniques at Baptist Memorial Hospital and set the stage for further refinements in general surgery, while being active in the community through support of the Memphis Symphony and care for the less fortunate at Les Passes Rehabilitation Center.

Dr. Joel Gambill was the first journalism instructor hired by ASU's renowned Tex Plunkett, the father of ASU's journalism program. Gambill spent the next four decades building the department into a national powerhouse. Many former students have gone on to distinguished careers in journalism. His recognitions include being named Outstanding Educator by the Arkansas Press Association as well as their highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. Though he is most well known as Arkansas' foremost journalism educator, he has served as official scorekeeper for ASU men's and women's basketball, missing only three games since 1975.

Gates is provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs at the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) System Office, the most recent stop on her career in higher education. After completing a bachelor's degree in political science at A-State in 1973, she went on to earn a master's in public administration at the University of Arkansas, and later completed a Ph.D. with concentrations in organizational behavior and public policy analysis at Southern Illinois University. A published author, she has often been recognized for her advocacy for ethnic diversity and better opportunities in higher education for disadvantaged youth. She has served as principal investigator for more than $2 million in awards from state and federal agencies, including the Department of Juvenile Justice and the National Science Foundation. Her list of civic activities and contributions is extensive, and includes Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Greater Hartford Chapter of the Links, Inc. She is married to Alfred J. Gates, who also is an A-State alumnus. They have a son, Jerron Vincent Gates, and two grandchildren.

Mike Gibson is the senior partner at the Gibson Law Firm of Osceola. He serves as trustee of the Judd Hill Foundation, a charitable organization which has endowed several programs and professorships at ASU in agricultural biotechnology and the environmental science. Among his extensive community activities, he has served as a trustee of the Baptist Hospital Health Care Systems of Memphis, Baptist Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Arkansas Community Foundation.

Maj. Gen. Granger is Deputy Director of TRICARE Management Activity, a Department of Defense field activity operating the Military Health System as a fully integrated health care system. He is responsible for TRICARE health and medical resources, administering TRICARE programs, funding and other resources. Gen. Granger directs a staff of more than 1,800 people and an annual Defense Health Program budget of $22.5 billion with oversight including the provision of high-quality, accessible health care for 9.2 million beneficiaries worldwide. After attaining his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1980, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and has held leadership positions including Task Force 44th Medical Command and Command Surgeon for Multinational Corps-Iraq, in Baghdad, Iraq.

Terry Gwin of Dallas is board chair of Terry Gwin & Associates, a commercial real estate sales and leasing firm. He is also president and/or partner in Gwin/Slaughter Financial Corp., Terry Gwin Residential Realtors, and Lewis/Gwin Ltd., all multi-million dollar enterprises in the Dallas metroplex. A former football player at ASU, he has remained connected to the university through his support of the Lettermen's Club, Indian Club and the Terry Gwin Scholarship as well as by his generous sponsorship of the annual Terry Gwin Award, which recognizes ASU's top male and female student-athlete each year.

Dr. Hall of Jonesboro is a physician and founder of the NEA Clinic. He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Society of Internal Medicine, and the Arkansas Medical Society. He serves on a large number of professional and community boards including the Chamber of Commerce, Jonesboro Fine Arts Council, Hospice Board, and is an advisor to the Jonesboro chapter of the American Heart Association.

J. Sherland Hamilton of Rector has continued to serve Arkansas State University and northeast Arkansas throughout his life. He was an owner of Crockett Farms and Crockett Oil Company. Much of his time and talent has been in support of his alma mater, serving on the ASU Foundation for many years. His leadership led to the purchase of the property which became ASU's Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott. Through a matching funds challenge, he encouraged others to join this historic undertaking, and today ASU's Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum is an official visitor center for the Crowley's Ridge Parkway, a state and national scenic byway. It provides a living laboratory as the place where author Ernest Hemingway wrote portions of his classic works.

After a business career of more than 30 years, Don Harmon retired in 2016 as CEO and president of Home Décor Holding Co., the success of which has been credited to his leadership. The company had grown to more than 300 employees and $250 million in annual sales. With a business degree, he had joined Jimco Lamp Corp. as salesman, working his way up to president. He is also a 1924 Sustaining Life Member of the Alumni Association and a member of the Chancellor's Circle. He is a past recipient of the Neil Griffin College of Business - Business Executive of the Year in 2008 and has served on various committees for the university.

Russell Harrington of Little Rock is president of the Baptist Hospital System, overseeing four hospitals and the Parkway Village retirement community. Among his many memberships and honors, he was named a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a board member of the Arkansas Hospital Association, president of the Baptist Hospital Association and a board member of the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute. He was also appointed to the Governor's Task Force on Child Care and is a member of the Health Services Commission for the state of Arkansas.

Wayne Hartsfield of Searcy, who served on the ASU Board of Trustees, was chairman of the board of Regions Bank in Searcy. He is past president of the Arkansas Bankers Association and the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. He also served for six years on the Federal Reserve Board in Little Rock and on the Arkansas State Board of Education. He was inducted for membership in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Mr Hartsfield passed away in 2009.

While an A-State student, Howard Hicks of Alief, Texas, was editor of the first Indian yearbook. In Houston, he worked in banking, insurance, oil drilling, and as administrative aide in the Texas House of Representatives. In 1996, an elementary school in the Alief Independent School District was named in his honor, and he visited the school and its students almost daily. He was founder and president of the Alief Historical Society, chief executive of the Alief Chamber of Commerce, and was founder and director of the Alief Community Association, all of which contributed to his becoming known as 'Mr. Alief.' He passed away in 2007.

Dr. Thomas Hill, vice president for student affairs at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, was ASU's first Olympic athlete, earning the bronze medal for the 110-meter high hurdles at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. That same year, he graduated from A-State as Distinguished Military Graduate and was awarded a commission as an officer in the U. S. Army Adjutant General Corps. He served as a coach at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, assistant director of athletics at the University of Oklahoma and Tulane University, was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, and has served as dean of student services and adjunct professor of counselor education at the University of Florida.

Bobby Hogue of Jonesboro was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives and served as Speaker of the House, a position to which he was elected by his peers. When he was re-elected for a second term as speaker, he was only the second person in 100 years to achieve such an honor. He was named by Governing magazine as one of nine 'Public Officials of the Year' in recognition of the leadership ability and his visionary efforts toward modernizing procedures in the Arkansas statehouse. He owns an insurance agency in Jonesboro and continues his support for education, having earned three degrees from ASU.

Marilyn Hummelstein of Jonesboro has supported ASU by participation in the Legacy Society, President's Partners, the ASU Museum, several scholarship programs, and fund drives for such landmarks as the Library bell tower. She has served on the ASU Community Development Board, College of Business Advisory Council and the ASU Foundation. A small sampling of her community activities include the Foundation of Arts board; United Way of Greater Jonesboro; Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce; Rotary Club of Jonesboro, where she was the first female president, and Rotary District 6150 governor. She is currently president of the St. Bernards Development Foundation

In a banking career that spanned 35 years, Marlin Jackson of Conway led Citizens Bank of Jonesboro, Security Bank of Paragould, Worthen National Bank of Conway and Union Planters Bank of Northeast Arkansas. He served Arkansas as state banking commissioner from 1983 to 1987, and was widely praised for averting a banking crisis in 1985. Jackson was named Jaycees Outstanding Man of the Year and served on the President's Advisory Council of Winrock International, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, and as president of the Paragould Chamber of Commerce. He was Justice of the Peace in Greene County for more than two decades and served on the board for the Arkansas Department of Higher Education for 10 years. Mr. Jackson passed away in 1998.

Gary Jones is president of Jones Productions and its subsidiaries in Little Rock., a major player in the TV and film production business in the South. The productions and TV specials he has directed and/or produced include names like Charlie Pride, Anne Murray, Johnny Mathis, and Jack Jones. His production work in the field of athletics includes clients such as RayComm and ESPN. He also offers a free seminar each year for students in communications, and provides a cash award to the senior with the highest grade point average in RTV or communications at ASU.

Bill Keedy of Newport has been a teacher and coach for almost 40 years, currently serving as a fundraiser for A-State's Indian Club and as color commentator at ASU football games. He was inducted into the Arkansas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and was the AHSCA Lowell Manning Award recipient for Outstanding Coach of the Year. He was named Conference Coach of the Year 17 times, was the Newport Daily Independent's Man of the Year twice, was the first recipient of the Newport Kiwanis Club's Distinguished Service Award and first recipient of the Jonesboro Sun's 'Best Under the Sun' Coach of the Year. As a lasting tribute, the Newport High School athletic facility was named the Bill Keedy Athletic Training Facility.

Dr. Shelvy Keglar of Indianapolis is president and director of the Midwest Psychological Center, Inc., which has worked with the U. S. Department of Labor, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the state Department of Mental Health and the Department of Children and Family Services as well as local courts and hospitals. He is also president of Joy Adult Day Care, Inc., to provide quality services for senior citizens. He was previously a successful franchisee of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Indiana, winning awards for operating excellence, beautification and employment opportunities, and also served as vice-president of the KFC Minority Franchisee Association.

Kruse, a fourth-generation family farmer, is retired from an 18-year tenure as president of the Missouri Farm Bureau. He also served as a member of the American Farm Bureau Board of Directors and one of four persons on the American Farm Bureau's executive committee.

In 1964, Julia Lansford accepted a "temporary" position at the ASU Music Department, planning to stay a short time before embarking on a professional career as an opera singer. That "temporary" job lasted more than 40 years. She fell in love with teaching, and said she could never find a point when she felt she could leave her students. Lansford has been well known as the "singing voice of ASU" and received honors including the Arkansas Governor's Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement. She has created an ASU scholarship endowed in her name that will assist students for generations to come.

Charles Luter, a resident of Paragould, is president of Peoples Bank of Paragould and CEO of Spring River Bancshares Inc. He is also chairman of Peoples Bank of Imboden and director of First Delta Bank in Marked Tree. He has served as regent of the Mid-South School of Banking, president of the Arkansas Community Bankers Association and state director of the Independent Bankers of America. A strong supporter of education, he sponsors an annual banquet for outstanding high school graduates from Greene County and Clay County.

Steve McFerron, senior vice-president for lending at BancorpSouth in Jonesboro, has been involved in banking in northeast Arkansas for 34 years. His community involvement includes serving as president of Jonesboro's Church Health Center, board member of the Jonesboro Economic Development Corporation for the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce, First United Methodist Church Administrative Board, and the Jonesboro Rotary Club. He served as president of the NEA American Institute of Banking Board and the Jonesboro University Heights Lions Club, board member of the Arkansas Bankers Association, Jonesboro's City Youth Ministries, treasurer of the Boy Scouts of America Eastern Arkansas Council, finance committee chairman for the American Red Cross board, a member of the Jonesboro Public Schools Board of Education, and member of the City Water & Light board.

Actively engaged in community banking for 40 years, Joe served as president of Integrity First Bank of Mountain Home and was a member of the Integrity First Bank board of directors. Since graduation he has served his Alma mater as a member of the ASU Foundation Board of Directors from 1993-1996 and again from 2009-present, including his role as chairman from 2014-2016. A former member of the A-State Alumni Association Board of Directors and a 1924 Sustaining Life Member, Miles is a member of the Board of Regents at the Barret School of Banking in Memphis, former chairman of the Arkansas Bankers Association and the Arkansas State Police Retirement System Board of Trustees and past president of the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also a former member of the Newport School Board and was elected to the Newport School District Hall of Fame in 2009.

Served on the Alumni Association board for 26 years, including a term as president. Among the association’s achievements during his tenure, the Cooper Alumni Center was planned and built, and he and his family sponsored one of the center’s offices. He has worked in the association’s “watering hole” project every residence hall move-in day since its inception, and he is a 1924 Sustaining Life Member of the association. Miles has enjoyed a long career, with over 20 years as owner and general contractor for RPM Development, LLC, a residential and commercial construction firm. His long list of community service activities includes serving as vice chair of the Jonesboro Board of Zoning Adjustment, president of University Heights Lions Club, a board member of University Rotary Club, charter member of St. Bernards Advocates, and board member of United Way of Jonesboro, Northeast Arkansas Food Bank, and Habitat for Humanity. Rotary also named him a Paul Harris Fellow.

Upon his commission as an Army officer following graduation, Ron Miller became a highly accomplished military pilot, flying a helicopter gunship during three tours of duty in Vietnam. His lengthy list of military achievements during his 20-year career includes two Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Bronze Stars, among many others. He was a presidential appointee as director of the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Leadership program, where he assisted thousands with employment, job training and small business assistance over a 13-year period. He is a vigorous supporter of the Beck PRIDE Center for Wounded Veterans at A-State since its inception. He was inducted into ROTC’s Hall of Heroes in 2002, and into the Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame in 2012. Mr. Miller passed away in 2016.

Jerry Mooney of Germantown, Tennessee, was the founder, chairman, president and CEO of VHA Long Term Care, which grew to become the nation's largest management company for nursing homes and related projects. He currently owns several companies including Bond, Johnson & Bond; Trinity Mission; BJB Administrative Services; Deuteronomy Inc., and Polar Wrap, LLC. He serves on the board of directors of Concord EFS, a publicly traded company recognized by the Wall Street Journal in 1997 as the top company in the nation in shareholder returns over the prior 10 years, just ahead of Microsoft and Oracle.

Col. Douglas Moore of Burke, Virginia, served 30 years on active duty in the U. S. Army, including two tours in Vietnam. In addition, he served nine years in the Pentagon as chief of a world-wide inspection team for the Office of the Army Inspector General, as a war planner and as Executive Officer for the Army Surgeon General. He is one of the Army's most highly decorated officers with more than 50 awards for heroism and meritorious service, and is ASU's most highly decorated living war hero. After his military service, he served as project manager for PHP Healthcare Corporation, and consults with A-State's ROTC department to improve its program.

H. T. Moore of Paragould is a partner with the law firm of Goodwin and Moore. He has served as a delegate to the American Bar Association and as president of the Arkansas Bar Association, the first ASU graduate to attain that post. He has served as a Special Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court and was awarded the 'Golden Gavel' award for legal education presentations. Among his many community activities, he was named Volunteer Industrial Developer of the Year for helping bring four new industries to Paragould.

A longtime member of the Arkansas Air National Guard, Neal was commissioned in 1989 and served in numerous assignments, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel before retirement. He was deployed multiple times, including tours of duty in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, other NATO countries, and during 9/11, and received numerous commendations for his dedicated military service. In memory of his late wife, he endowed a scholarship fund to assist outstanding A-State students with completing their education.

Neeley is retired from a longtime career at the University of North Texas, where he was recognized numerous times for his excellence as an educator. The author of numerous textbooks and materials in public accounting, he was recognized as a Faculty All-Star Teacher in 1967 and Outstanding Professor in the College of Business in 1975. Former students established a professorship in his honor in 2006.

A Marine Corps veteran and former sales trainer for a Fortune 100 company, Niell started his primary business, Tiger Correctional Services, with five employees. Now the multi-million-dollar company employs more than 250 people in 21 states. The company develops multiple software applications that supports first responders and law enforcement including E-911 systems, jail management software and financial management software for tracking inmate money.

As CEO of St. Bernards Healthcare Associated Regional Providers (SHARP) Inc., Beverly Nix leads one of the largest physician hospital organizations in Arkansas. An Alumni Association member, she is the first Arkansan and non-physician to serve on a committee for the insurance company LAMMICO. She has served on local and regional advisory boards, and in 2012 was named one of the ‘Ten Most Powerful Women in Arkansas’ by AY magazine. A family gift from Nix and her two siblings in honor of their parents resulted in the popular Bill & Alice Nix Petting Zoo, held twice yearly on the A-State Farm.

Roy Ockert, of Jonesboro, is best known as editor of the Jonesboro Sun. He has also edited newspapers in Batesville and Russellville in addition to being a professional educator, teaching at Arkansas State University, Southern Arkansas University and Lyon College. Ockert as editor of the ASU student newspaper, The Herald, when Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller signed legislation in 1967 gibing ASC university status. His weekly column, "Behind the News," continues through the Arkansas News Bureau. After retiring from The Sun, Ockert and his wife Pat, who worked together on The Herals as students, established the Roy and Pat Ockert Herald Editors Scholarship. Ockert remains highly involved with his fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, and is a 1924 Sustaining Life Member of the Alumni Association.

Frank Oldham of Boerne, Texas, retired from Bancorp South in 2008 after more than three decades in banking. The financial institutions he has directed include Citizens Bank of Jonesboro, Security Bank of Paragould, Worthen Banking Corp. of Northeast Arkansas, which evolved into NationsBank and Bank of America. He became chairman, president and chief executive officer of American State Bank in 1997, which later merged with Bancorp South.

R. Wayne Oldham of Nashville, Tennessee, was chief executive officer of Southern Hospitality Corp., as well as a musician and popular public speaker. His franchise businesses included Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers, Mr. Gatti's Pizza, Ireland's Restaurants, Tempo's and The Cooker restaurants. He was a member of the Hospitality Hall of Fame and served on the boards of two hotel and restaurant schools, Wiley College in Texas and California Polytechnic. In 1984, he was named ASU's first Distinguished Alumnus and was chosen "Restaurateur of the Year' by the Tennessee Restaurant Association that same year. He passed away in 1999.

Ambassador Pardew, currently of Brussels, Belgium, is Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations at NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Previous posts include a presidential appointment to serve as U. S. Special Representative for Military Stabilization in the Balkans, and serving as representative of the Secretary of Defense with the U. S. peace negotiating team in the former Yugoslavia. He has received the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Award, the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service, and the National Intelligence Distinguished Medal. He is also the recipient of military recognitions including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.

Stan Peebles, CPA, joined the Little Rock office of the certified public accounting firm of KPMG Peat Marwick after graduation from ASU in 1969. Through the years, he advanced to the firm's executive office, being named a full partner in 1978. By 1990, he was Audit Partner in charge of the Little Rock office. He is a member of the firm's professional practice review committee for accounting and audit, and is partner-in-charge of the Little Rock office's banking and insurance practices. His many professional memberships include serving as president of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In addition, he is a computer audit specialist and a frequent speaker on accounting and audit matters.

Dr. J. B. Penn of Maclean, Virginia, is chief economist for John Deere and Co. In 2001, Penn received a presidential appointment to serve as Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at the U. S. Department of Agriculture. He has served on the President's Council of Economic Advisors as a senior staff economist and at the USDA as deputy administrator for economics. Penn co-founded and served as president of Economic Perspectives, Inc., an independent consulting company specializing in policy analysis, economic research and commodity market analysis for government, trade associations and non-profit clients.

Bill Phillips of Conway is president and owner of Phillips Management and Consulting Service, Inc. He was formerly vice-president for governmental relations and vice president for marketing at Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield. He played professional football for the NFL's Denver Broncos, is past chairman of the ASU Board of Trustees and co-chair of the U. S. Olympic Committee in Arkansas. He serves on the board of directors for the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Major Sports Association, and Governor's Council of Sports and Physical Fitness.

Jim Pickens of Little Rock was an advocate for ASU throughout his lengthy in the energy industry at Entergy Arkansas, formerly Arkansas Power & Light. He retired from Entergy as vice-president of public affairs. He served the university on the ASU Foundation Board, the Indian Club, and on the ASU Board of Trustees, who named him Trustee Emeritus at the conclusion of his final term. While director of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, he was instrumental in bringing notable industries, including Nestle USA, to Jonesboro. Mr. Pickens passed away in 2011.

Major Gen. Bobby Porter of Jonesboro served two combat tours in Vietnam in the 1960s and commanded the 1st Battalion, Airborne, 506th Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division and the elite 82nd Airborne. He served as a member of the Department of Army board for the review of education and training of the Army's Officer Corps and as director of Military Personnel Management for the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, United States Army, in Washington D. C., retiring from the Army in 1987. Gen. Porter passed away in 2007.

Judge Ann L. Pugh presided over the Domestic Violence Court of Memphis, which was featured on NBC News with Tom Brokaw as part of a series on domestic violence. She served as a General Sessions Criminal Court Judge since 1982. Judge Pugh was selected by Womens News of the Mid South magazine as one of '50 Women Who Make a Difference.' Her previous public service included serving as an assistant public defender and assistant city prosecutor for the Memphis City Courts.

Charles Rasberry of Jonesboro served the ASU Department of Radio-Television 1961-87. He was named Emeritus Professor and Chairman, Department of Radio-Television, and Emeritus Director of Broadcasting for KASU, ASU-TV and the Indian Sports Network. He received the Broadcast Pioneer Award from the Arkansas Broadcasters Association, the Distinguished Educator Award from the Arkansas Advertising Federation, and the Lifetime Member Award for Significant Contributions to the Broadcasting Industry from the Arkansas Broadcasters Association. Under his leadership, the ASU Department of Radio-Television is today one of the top majors on campus.

Steve Reynolds of Memphis is president and chief executive officer of the Baptist Memorial Health Care System. After joining Baptist Memorial Hospital as an administrative resident, he was named president and chief executive officer in 1992, then became chief executive officer of the Baptist Memorial Health Care System within two years. He has served as delegate to the American Hospital Association House of Delegates on behalf of the Tennessee Hospital Association, from whom he received a Distinguished Service Award.

Noah'Ness' Sechrest of West Memphis is president of Petro Tank Lines and West Memphis Petro Inc. He has served on the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Tourism Commission and on the board of directors of the National Association of Truck Stops. He is also vice president of Flash Markets, Inc., and Flash Market Oil Co.

Howard Slinkard is a senior member in the Slinkard Law Firm in Rogers, Ark., joining the firm in 1972. A 1924 Sustaining Life Member of the Alumni Association, he is a volunteer member of Arkansas Volunteer Lawyers for the Elderly and is noted for his pro bono legal council for numerous charitable organizations in Northwest Arkansas. He formerly served two six-year terms as a member of the Northwest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees, and is a member of the ASU System Board of Trustees, in which he has served in several capacities. Additionally, he is an active member of the Lions Club and the Benton County Bar Association.

During his time at A-State, he played on one national championship team and two conference championship teams as a defensive back. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Armor following his graduation from Arkansas State in 1974 and was later recognized as the highest-ranked officer commissioned out of the ROTC program in the United States. His military career spanned 35 years, commanding armor, infantry, cavalry and aviation forces in the United States, Europe, Korea and the Middle East. He was selected as a brigadier general in 1999, serving as the Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, Commander Combined Joint Task Force Kuwait, Commander Combat Readiness Center, Deputy Commander III Corps Forward, Kuwait and Iraq, Commander III Corps Rear and Fort Hood, Deputy Commander Multi-National Corps Iraq. He is a two-time recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal, a five-time recipient of the Legion of Merit and a recipient of the Department of Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and numerous service and campaign medals. He is a Master Army Aviator, earned his Airborne and Ranger qualifications in 1973 and in 2016, and was inducted in the Army ROTC Hall of Fame. A 1924 Sustaining Life Member of the A-State Alumni Association, has also been inducted into the Arkansas State University ROTC Hall of Heroes, the Arkansas State Sports Hall of Fame and the Arkansas State University Sports Hall of Honor.

The late Lt. 'Ken' Sisler of Dexter, Missouri, is the only ASU alumnus to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed members of the U. S. armed forces who distinguish themselves "by gallantry at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty." In 1967, Lt. Sisler led a mission in Vietnam when his platoon was attacked from three sides by a much larger enemy force. After rescuing wounded comrades, he charged the enemy, breaking up the attack but losing his life. He earned his officer's commission through the ROTC program at Arkansas State. This award was presented posthumously.

As principal of the Smith Law Firm and a partner in the law firm of Barrett, Wheatley, Smith and Deacon of Jonesboro, Berl Smith served as legal counsel for ASU for more than 40 years (1948-92). He worked closely with six A-State presidents and was presented numerous awards for dedicated and meritorious service. Smith also served two terms in the Arkansas State Senate. He served as chairman of the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee in Professional Conduct and as a special justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court. He was also admitted to practice before the United State Supreme Court. Mr. Smith passed away in 2000.

Smith retired from A-State after a 25 year career as the Executive Director of the A-State Alumni Association. She left an indelible footprint on the campus as the driving force behind the planning and construction of the Cooper Alumni Center, then spearheaded the effort that retired the bank loan on the facility in just over five years. During her tenure with Alumni Association, A-State's percentage of alumni giving led the Sun Belt Conference. Herself a 1924 Sustaining Life Member of the A-State Alumni Association, she was elected to the international board of trustees of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in July 2014 and received the CASE District IV Distinguished Achievement Award in 2016.

One of the best known and most respected members of the ASU faculty, Dr. Calvin Smith of Jonesboro joined the ASU faculty in 1970 as the first black faculty member. In 1986, he published his first book, War and Wartime Changes: The Transformation of Arkansas, 1940-1945, which is still used by teachers and scholars. He served as assistant dean and interim dean of the ASU College of Arts and Sciences, director of the Advising Center in the College of Arts and Sciences, and interim dean of University College. At his retirement in 2002, he was named ASU’s first Presidential Distinguished Professor of Heritage Studies. His most recent book is Educating the Masses: The History of Black School Administrators in Arkansas, 1900-2000. Dr. Smith passed away in 2009.

Dr. Eugene Smith of Jonesboro was the eighth president of Arkansas State University, and has seen the institution evolve from a unique perspective. He attended A-State as a student, served on the ASU faculty as a professor of education, was executive assistant to President Carl Reng, vice president for administration, and dean of the Graduate School before being named president in 1984. After his retirement, he was brought back to act as interim president in 1994, and currently serves as the director of the Kays Foundation which provides grant funding for educational activities on campus. He has represented the university on many academic organizations, in legislative relations and in the U. S.-Saudi Arabian Customs project. Dr. Smith passed away in 2018.

Maj. Gen. Eugene Stillions' last command before retirement in 1988 was as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics of the European Command based in Stuttgart, Germany. He was responsible for logistics for the U. S. Army European Command; security assistance programs in more than 60 countries throughout the European command and Africa; civil engineering and construction programs for the command, and host-nation activities. Other key assignments in his military career include Commanding General, 3rd Support Command Corps, U. S. Army, Europe; Commanding General, U. S. Army Troop Support Agency, Fort Lee, Virginia, and Commander, 1st Supply and Service Battalion, 54th General Support Group, U. S. Army Vietnam. Among his many decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Bronze Star.

Before his untimely death in 2020, Strickland enjoyed a long career in the Memphis banking community, where he was known for his generous mentorship to those who sought his counsel. He was senior vice president when he retired from a 34-year career with First Tennessee Bank (now First Horizon), then he joined Pinnacle Bank and served as senior vice president for five years. He also was an instructor at the Barret School of Banking.

Dr. Debbye Turner-Bell of Fort Lee, New Jersey, is the first ASU graduate to be named Miss America. Since her crowning in 1990, she went on to become a doctor of veterinary medicine, host a television show in St. Louis, and join 'The Early Show' on CBS-TV in New York. She has also hosted a series about animals and veterinary medicine on PBS called 'The Gentle Doctor.' She serves on numerous boards, including the National Council on Youth Leadership, has an extensive international public speaking schedule, and sponsors a scholarship in the name of her late mother at Arkansas State University.

Dr. Mildred Burl Vance, a pioneer of early childhood education in Arkansas, created A-State's famed Demonstration School. She was named Professor of Education in 1959, accounted for more than $7.5 million in grant funding for ASU, and wrote the federal grant that created the ASU Daycare Center. Dr. Vance initiated three early childhood degree programs, including two master’s degrees, at ASU. At her retirement in 2002, her 54-year tenure stood as the longest career of any professor in ASU history. Dr. Vance passed away in 2008.

As president of the public relations/marketing firm of Stone Ward in Little Rock, Ms. Ward has been recognized as 'Arkansas Business Owner of the Year' by the National Association of Women Business Owners, was selected by Adweek magazine as one of the 'Women to Watch' in the Southwest, and was named by Arkansas Business as one of the top 30 emerging leaders in the 1990s, one of only four women recognized. She has served on the board of the Public Relations Society of America and as president of the Arkansas chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. As part of her community involvement she provided pro bono communications services for the Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas Childrens Hospital, and the United Way.

A native of Stuttgart, Ed Way parlayed his A-State education in business administration and his extraordinary talent for building personal relationships into a highly successful banking career. His last leadership position was Jonesboro market president for Centennial Bank. He was executive vice president and one of the pillars of Centennial’s predecessor institution, Liberty Bank of Arkansas, which originated and thrived in Jonesboro largely through his energy, dedication and talent. The College of Business named him 2014’s Business Executive of the Year. Additionally, he served as a president of the Red Wolf Foundation, president of Jonesboro Rotary and campaign chair for the United Way of Northeast Arkansas. Way died in 2015 and this award was presented posthumously.

Kathy White Loyd of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was selected as one of Forbes magazine’s Top 25 American Businesswomen 2001 and one of Information Week magazine’s top CIOs in the United States. Since retiring as executive vice president and chief information officer of Cardinal Health, Inc., Dr. White is founder and president of Rural Sourcing, Inc., which supports economic expansion and workforce diversity by creating high technology employment opportunities and career advancement prospects in rural America. In 2002, her gift to the ASU College of Business established the Horizon Institute of Technology, a catalyst in bringing technological advancement to the Arkansas Delta.

White, a long-time resident of Paragould and a 1962 graduate in education, is co-owner, secretary-treasurer and funeral director for Heath Funeral Home. As a leader in state and national professional groups, she served as the first female president of the Arkansas Funeral Directors Association in 1990-91, and as district governor and executive board member for the National Funeral Directors Association. When the state organization named her "Funeral Director of the Year", she was the first woman and youngest person to ever receive the award. Her devotion to A-State dates to her time as a member of Phi Mu sorority and a majorette in the Marching Band. She has been a board member of what is now the Red Wolves Foundation, and she is still active in numerous A-State support groups. She and members of her family founded the Verlyn L. and Helen G. Heath Athletic Endowment.

Dr. Alonzo Williams Sr. of Little Rock is a gastroenterologist and is a founding member of ASU's Strong-Turner Alumni Chapter. Among many other posts, he has served as an officer on the Arkansas State Medical Board, the Medical Economics Committee of the Pulaski County Medical Society, and the Dean's Advisory Committee for the College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He was chair of the Code Blue Committee of the Arkansas Rehabilitation Institute and served on the board of the Old Statehouse Museum.

Dr. Wilson, of Jonesboro, has spent his life as a noted physician, serving on the surgical staff of St. Bernards Medical Center from 1965 through 1982. Among his many medical affiliations are the American Board of Surgery, American Medical Society, American College of Surgery and the Craighead-Poinsett County Medical Society. Throughout his busy medical career, he also served ASU as athletic team physician from 1965-80 and ASU Student Health physician 1991-96. He was awarded emeritus status from ASU in 1996. Serving both students and the community's healthcare, he established the Wilson-Wisdom Nursing scholarship.

Bobby Wood of Jonesboro represented Craighead County in the Arkansas General Assembly from 1977-96. The funding for many ASU buildings, including the Library and Convocation Center, was approved with his help. In his 33 years of military service, he attained the rank of Brigadier General, serving during the Korean War, and was the Arkansas National Guard Commander of the 875th Engineer Battalion, State Inspector General, and Assistant State Adjutant General. He was a charter member of the Northeast Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, serving as president for two years. He was inducted into the A-State ROTC Hall of Heroes, and was honored as an Outstanding College of Business alumnus. Mr. Wood retired as business manager and owner of Delta Farms, Inc., and Delta Gas & Oil. He passed away in 2008.

Randy is president and co-owner of Cache River Valley Seed. He serves on the Chancellor's Cabinet and is a 1924 Sustaining Life Member of the ASU Alumni Association. He founded the Joe Mac Red Wolves Agri Classic Golf Tournament to help fund scholarships for College of Agriculture students. Randy, his wife Cindy, and Cache River Valley Seed match the profits from the tournament, with over $100,000 being raised so far. Randy was also chairman of the Tommy Bolt Classic, now the Simmons Red Wolf Classic fundraiser for ASU. Randy's family was awarded the Red Wolf Club Spirit Award in 2010 in appreciation for enthusiasm, spirit and passion for ASU Athletics.

Even prior to Mr. Woodside's graduation from A-State in 1936, his ties to the university were established when his mother, Mable Symons Woodside, taught as one of the first faculty members, beginning her tenure in 1910. The scholarship he established in her name has aided dozens of deserving students, and Mr. Woodside travels to ASU from his home in Lufkin, Texas, to meet each one individually. During his career, he managed chemical plants in the U.S., Spain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Upon retirement, he taught math at Angelina Community College in Texas, served as chairman of the Orange Housing Authority and the Orange Economic Development Commission, and chaired the Investment Committee for the Texas Methodist Foundation.

The late William Wyatt of Blytheville, a long-time member of the ASU Board of Trustees, made his living as a farmer and devoted his life to improving the lives of as many people as possible through education. He served the university's Board of Trustees for 20 years, and the Blytheville School Board for 17, with twelve of those years as president. He also served as president of the Arkansas School Board Association. Civic and community involvement included the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation board, the Mississippi County Farm Bureau, Blytheville United Way, Arkansas Tuberculosis Association, and the American Lung Association, being named to the Lung Association's National Hall of Fame. Mr. Wyatt passed away in 1989, and this recognition was awarded posthumously.

Zolper, who excelled as a member of the A-State football team, was captain of one of the championship Pecan Bowl championship teams. He has enjoyed a 46-year career in the private practice of law, and served as attorney for the City of Jonesboro. He is considered a role model, because he has given back so much to the community. His extensive record of public service includes the Board of Governors of the Arkansas Bar Association, the ASU System Board of Trustees, the Craighead County Quorum Court, and the Jonesboro Civil Service Commission. He is a director for the A-State Lettermen’s Club, of which he is founder, and a member of the Land Bank Commission and the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission. His fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, recognized him with its distinguished alumnus award. He received two Paul Harris awards through Rotary International, and is a past president of the Jonesboro–University Club. He has supported A-State in many ways, including as a member of the Legacy Society, Theatre Guild, and 1924 Sustaining Life Member of the Alumni Association.