Ball caps, vests and other history remembered by Wal-Mart, Smithsonian

The iconic baseball cap synonymous with Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton is headed to the Smithsonian Museum In Washington, D.C., according to chairman Rob Walton who took the stage wearing the hat at the company’s 45th annual shareholders meeting in Fayetteville on Friday (June 5). 

He said the cap was a favorite of his father throughout his lifetime. Even when he became a billionaire, Sam Walton wore the cap until his death in 1992.

The Smithsonian's collections represent the nation's heritage, art from across the globe, and the diversity of the natural and cultural world. The wide ranging scope in Smithsonian collections includes ancient Chinese bronzes, the “Star Spangled Banner” that flew over Fort McHenry, a 3.5 billion-year-old fossil, equipment used in the Apollo program, the ruby slippers featured in The Wizard of Oz, and presidential memorabilia. 

The National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution will open the "American Enterprise" exhibition the end of this month. In the exhibition, Sam Walton and Wal-Mart are featured and Sam is highlighted, according to Wal-Mart corporate spokeswoman Molly Blakeman. She said the display featuring Sam will feature his cap, one of two he wore during his final days before passing away. 

The exhibition chronicles the history of American enterprise from a number of different vantage points. The Walmart Museum has been working with the Smithsonian to ensure accuracy of Walmart's story points as well as authenticity of artifacts. Sam's cap is one of those artifacts.

SERVICE REWARDED
Rob Walton has served as link from the past in his role as board chairman for 23 years. As Walton steps back from the chairman’s role with the Wal-Mart board of director’s, CEO Doug McMillon commended him for his sustainability focus over the years. 

McMillon said as part of the company’s protect Acres for America program, they are protecting nearly 2,400 acres near Beaver Lake. He said the rolling hills and dense will become a protected corridor here in Northwest Arkansas. The property is to be named the Rob Walton Nature Preserve and stretches from Beaver Lake to within one mile of the Missouri border. It will help create a protected forested corridor between Hobbs State Park in Arkansas and the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri, according to Walmart corporate spokesman Randy Hargrove.

He said the new preserve expands the existing Devil’s Eyebrow unit within the Beaver Lake Wildlife Management Area to more than 2,400 acres. The preserved land protects several natural springs, underground caves and aquifers found in this unique watershed. This nature preserve also supports one of the highest concentrations of rare plant species in Arkansas — including several that are considered globally rare — and harbors numerous species of fish and wildlife native to the Ozark region.

McMillon said it’s a small token of appreciation to Walton and his service and direction in sustainability leadership for more than two decades.

VEST AFFINITY
Sam Walton’s ball cap was not the only iconic image honored this week by Wal-Mart execs. Thirty years ago Walton added the phrase “Our people make the difference” to the company’s name tags. That action was resurrected this week by Judith McKenna, chief operations officer for Walmart U.S., who unveiled the name tags on Wednesday at the Walmart U.S. associates meeting. 

McKenna was asked Thursday what her favorite part of the week had been and she said revealing the new “Our people make the difference” name tags during shareholder week. McKenna said that’s fitting and brings the concept full circle. That simple message has been the major focus of this week’s meeting and it dons every navy blue vest and the new world flag vests worn by workers and top executives this week.

Walmart U.S. CEO Greg Foran said he’s inspired every time he wears the vest which he wore while on stage during his presentation at Friday’s annual meeting. He also wore the vest Wednesday during the U.S. associates meeting and on Thursday during the media question and answer session. 

“I wear it often because I am inspired by you, your determination, hard work and your creativity. But most of all I am inspired by your service to our customers,” Foran said at the Friday’s meeting.

UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS
The meeting was not all warm and fuzzy. Several shareholder proposals were presented at the business portion of meeting during which Wal-Mart employees and union representatives complained about the company’s pay, lack of independent voices on the Wal-Mart Board of Directors, and executive compensation.

One speaker noted that Wal-Mart executive were receiving hefty bonuses even with the company spending millions of dollars on a criminal investigation. Alleged violations of the Foreign Corruption Practices Act by Wal-Mart has cost the retailer more than $612 million in legal fees and compliance restructuring costs over the past three years. When the case is finally resolved, analysts expect the fines and total costs could reach up to 9% of the company’s total gross earnings or approximately $7 billion.

Union officials have praised the retailer’s move to raise wages, but have said the changes are not near the $15 per hour starting pay they say the company can afford.

The five shareholder proposals that were not supported by the Wal-Mart Board were not approved in shareholder voting.