William E. “Bill” Clark: Arkansas Business Hall of Fame

In 1987, William E. "Bill" Clark founded CDI Contractors in a 50-50 partnership with Dillard's Inc. CDI could have been occupied with building only Dillard's stores, but Clark took the company much further, expanding nationwide to include hospitals, hotels and shopping malls. CDI consistently ranked in Engineering New-Record's top 400 contractors. The company built many of the state's best-known buildings: William J. Clinton Presidential Library, Jackson T. Stephens Spine and Neuroscience Center at UAMS, Dillard's headquarters, Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Immanuel Baptist Church, and at the University of Arkansas, Willard J. Walker Hall and J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Center for Academic Excellence.

Clark was past chairman of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees and served on the steering committee for the Campaign for the 21st Century. He held in leadership roles in numerous civic and charitable organizations. Clark loved the outdoors and was an avid duck hunter and golfer. When he died in May 2007, his friends established the William E. Clark Presidential Park Wetlands — 13 acres on the banks of the Arkansas River near the Clinton Library.

 

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