Burlsworth Foundation will present Legends Award to Little Rock business leader

The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation will present this year’s Legends Award to Little Rock business leader Kevin Scanlon. It recognizes leaders who’ve made significant contributions to Arkansas. Past honorees include John Paul Hammerschmidt, Frank Broyles, John Boozman, Pat Walker, Randy Veach, Asa Hutchinson, Judy McReynolds, Curt Bradberry, Mike Anderson, John Brown III, Sam Alley, Gary George and Freddie Black.

Scanlon joined Stephens Inc. in 1987 and is an executive vice president and director of the private wealth management division that includes overseeing 18 offices in nine states.

Scanlon has been inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. He led the Razorbacks to a Southwest Conference Championship and the 1980 Sugar Bowl. Other honors include Conference Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, All-Southwest Conference Quarterback, and honorable mention All-American. His single-season pass completion percentage record at the University of Arkansas stood for 41 years.

The foundation will honor Scanlon at the 14th annual Legends Dinner on Sept. 28 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. Ticket information is available at BrandonBurlsworth.org.

The proceeds benefit the foundation, which helps underprivileged children through various programs such as Eyes of a Champion. It provides free eye exams and eyeglasses to students in pre-K through 12th grade throughout the state. The foundation says 96% of the families the foundation served last year were below the moderate-income level.

Marty Burlsworth is the founder, chairman and CEO of the foundation. He created the nonprofit to honor his younger brother. A walk-on turned All-American offensive lineman at the UA, Brandon Burlsworth, who wore black-rimmed glasses during games, died in a car accident in 1999, 10 days after the Indianapolis Colts drafted him in the third round of the NFL draft. He was traveling to Harrison from Fayetteville to go to church with his mother.