Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Announced

Curt Bradbury, E. Fletcher Lord Jr., Judy R. McReynolds and Ross M. Whipple were announced as the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class of 2023.
October 26 , 2022  |  By Lori McLemore

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The Sam M. Walton College of Business and the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Board have named four outstanding business leaders as the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class of 2023: 

  • Curt Bradbury, Chief Operating Officer, Stephens Inc. 
  • E. Fletcher Lord Jr., Chairman of the Board, Bumper to Bumper/Crow-Burlingame Co. 
  • Judy R. McReynolds, Chairman, President and CEO, ArcBest 
  • Ross M. Whipple, President and CEO of Horizon Capital Partners LLLP, President of Horizon Timber Services Inc., and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Ross Foundation 

“The newest Hall of Fame inductees elevate Arkansas as a pacesetter in the finance, auto parts, transportation, timber and investment worlds,” said Matt Waller, dean of the Walton College. “These four leaders help distinguish Arkansas as the right place for business, community and innovation.” 

The honorees will be recognized for their contributions to their respective industries and to the state of Arkansas in an induction ceremony at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock on Feb. 17, 2023. 

Jason LaFrance, Walton College alumnus and president of Dale Capital Partners, chaired the selection committee of 11 business leaders who reviewed nominations and selected the inductees. Criteria for selection includes the significance of the impact made as a business leader, the concern demonstrated for improving the community and the display of ethics in all business dealings. Living inductees must be over the age of 60.  

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

For information about tables, tickets and event sponsorships for the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a black-tie optional event, contact the Walton College Office of External Relations, Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development #217, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701-1201, call 479-575-6146, or email abhf@walton.uark.edu.    

Blythe EgglestonBlythe Eggleston serves as the director of Walton College Executive Education. She holds bachelor’s degrees in public relations and journalism from Texas Tech University and a master’s of education from the University of Arkansas. She worked for Murphy Oil in human resources and supply and transportation roles. Eggleston also worked in change management and training development at Accenture serving clients such as Texas Instruments, Enron, Clariant, ExxonMobil Downstream and ExxonMobil Chemical.