Herndon to receive 2025 Jack White award

OG&E Community Affairs Manager Eddie Lee Herndon will receive the 2025 Jack White Community Leadership Award. Herndon is the first OG&E employee to receive the award since it was renamed following the 1997 death of Jack White, an OG&E employee for 35 years.

Since 1990, the award has recognized community and business leaders who have had a significant impact on the area. The award is part of the Leadership Fort Smith program, with both managed by the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce.

White was an employee of OG&E for 35 years, a U.S. Navy veteran, family man, and lifelong learner. He was highly regarded for his service, leadership, reputation and collaboration to make the Fort Smith a better place, according to the chamber. He died in 1997 at the age of 57. The void he left has since been “filled by the work of other leaders who carry his spirit of servant leadership, hard work, and determination in pushing for progress to get things done to make our region a better place to live,” the chamber has said.

Herndon will receive the award July 17 at the Leadership Fort Smith Commencement event at the U.S. Marshals Museum. (Class graduates are listed below.)

According to the chamber, Herndon “is a dynamic force in the realms of community affairs and corporate representation.” Prior to his community role with OG&E, he was president and CEO of the United Way of the Fort Smith area from February 2015 to August 2021. Prior to that, he was with the United Way of West Tennessee for almost four years.

“Eddie Lee’s influence extends beyond the corporate sphere, as evidence by his participation on numerous boards that shape the social and economic landscape,” the chamber noted in the announcement. “From the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, and Arvest Bank Board, to the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs and the University of Arkansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes, his commitment to community engagement is both diverse and impactful.”

Herndon is one of three founding members of the Arkansas Imagination Library and was honored as Founding Emeritus Board Member. He also received the prestigious recognition of “Honorary Commander” of the 57th Fighter Squadron by Lt. Col. Jonathan Hassell, Commander of the 57th Fighter Squadron.

Most recently, the United Way of the Fort Smith Area presented Herndon with the first Jim Walcott, Humble Hero Award.

LEADERSHIP AWARD
Following are previous Jack White award recipients.
1990: Hazel Evans
1991: Nancy Orr
1992: Ross Pendergraft
1993: David Olive
1994: Sandi Sanders
1995: no award given
1996: Robert E. Miller
1997: Ray Baker
1998: Jim Spears
1999: Josie Decker
2000: Joel Stubblefield
2001: Benny Gooden
2002: Robert A. Young III
2003: Carter Hunt
2004: Charles Shuffield
2005: Roland S. Boreham Jr.
2006: Dorothy Rappeport
2007: Don Flanders
2008: Edward “Sandy” Sanders
2009: Mark Rumsey
2010: Sister Judith Marie Keith
2011: Philip H. Merry Jr.
2012: Sam M. Sicard (posthumously)
2013: Melody Trimble
2014: Ivy Owen
2015: Col. Mark Anderson
2016: Steve Clark
2017: Sam T. Sicard
2018: Dr. Jerry Stewart (posthumously)
2019: Jason Green
2020: Trent Goins and George McGill
2021: Charolotte Tidwell
2022: Bill Hanna
2023: Tim Allen
2024: Col. Andrew “Gus” Nash

LEADERSHIP CLASS
Following are members of the Leadership Fort Smith Class of 2025.

Allen Deaver, Halff Associates
Allie Young, Arkansas Colleges of Health Education
Amanda Patterson, Glatfelter
Amy Fore, Mercy Fort Smith
Bonnie Byers, Fort Smith Police Department
Breezy Green, JTS Financial Services
Brianca Hollins, HSA Engineering
Brooke Moore, Arvest Bank
Chloe McConnell, Community Services Clearinghouse
Chris Reeder, Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club
Christian Gross, Baptist Health Fort Smith
Daniel Weidman, Haas Hall Academy
Dawn Childress, Fort Smith Public Schools
Deano Traywick, City of Fort Smith
Houston Garver, Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Ian Silvester, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
Jarrod Echols, Armstrong Bank
Jon Miskov, SERVPRO of Fort Smith
Josh Bell, stay-at-home parent
Josh Buchfink, City of Fort Smith
Kaitlyn Turner, ArcBest
Kristan Mosley, Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club
Reagan Newell, Grace Community Church
Seth Whitaker, Fort Smith EMS
Tiffany DeVries, Fort Smith Public Library