UA announces Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class of 2025

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) 568 views 

2025 Arkansas Business Hall of Fame inductees (from top left), Sam Alley, John Allison, John Roberts III, and Jerry Brewer

The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas has selected four business leaders for the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class of 2025.

Inductees are:
• Sam Alley, chairman of VCC.
• John W. Allison, chairman and CEO of Home BancShares.
• The late Jerry Brewer, chairman and co-founder of Staffmark.
ª John N. Roberts III, executive chairman of J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.

“The 2025 Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class represents a remarkable addition to an institution that honors our state’s legacy of business excellence,” said Brent Williams, dean of Walton College. “These four distinguished individuals have profoundly impacted their respective industries, the economy of Arkansas and beyond. Their exceptional careers and dedication to their communities will inspire our students and future business leaders for years to come.”

Alley, Allison, Brewer and Roberts will be recognized for their contributions to the construction, banking, staffing, and transportation industries in Arkansas and the region in a ceremony at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock on Feb. 14, 2025.

Jason LaFrance, a Walton College alumnus and president of Dale Capital Partners, chaired the 11-member selection committee that reviewed nominations and chose the inductees. The committee evaluated the candidates based on their significant impact as business leaders, commitment to community improvement, and demonstration of ethical business practices. Also, all living inductees must be at least 60 years old to be considered for the honor.

The Arkansas Business Hall of Fame is housed in the atrium of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development at Walton College on the UA campus in Fayetteville.

Information about tables, tickets or event sponsorships for the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony is available by calling 479-575-6146 or emailing [email protected].

The staff can also be reached at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development, Room 217.