Springdale Business Leader Stan Bedford Dies in Hospice
by January 20, 2014 12:00 am 187 views
Stan Bedford of Lowell, well-known founder and CEO of Bedford Camera & Video of Springdale, died early morning Jan. 8 at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale.
Bedford, 60, had been battling Parkinson’s disease for several years, according to his obituary.
“Stan [Bedford] was a tremendous Godly example of what a businessman should be,” said Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse, a longtime friend. Sprouse bought his first camera from Bedford, and their families both attend Cross Church in Springdale. “He loved this community. It is a loss for Springdale and for Northwest Arkansas.”
Bedford, a native of Seymour, Texas, moved to Northwest Arkansas in 1973 and opened his first camera shop a year later in Springdale. There are now Bedford Camera & Video locations also in Rogers, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Little Rock, North Little Rock and Oklahoma City.
Bedford had given control of day-to-day operations of the business to his executive team a few years ago. Jeff Beauchamp, president; Steve Elkins, vice president; Tommy Neil, vice president/accountant; Austin Pittman, central district manager; and Jason Bedford, senior manager, will continue to run the company.
A memorial service was held for Bedford on Jan. 11 at Cross Church.