Lewis E. Epley Jr. Professorship Announced In UA Walton College

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees has honored Lewis E. Epley Jr. by establishing a professorship in his name in the Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration. Lewis E. Epley Jr., is a UA alumnus, former Board of Trustees member, attorney and businessman from Eureka Springs, Ark.

The board has also approved the appointment of Gary Ferrier as the first Lewis E. Epley Jr. Professor. Ferrier, an associate professor, has been published widely in the field of economics with articles on efficiency and productivity.

The October 1998 record-breaking gift of $50 million from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation provided the endowment to fund this professorship in the amount of $ 1 million.

Chancellor John A. White said, "I cannot think of a more deserving person for whom an endowed chair should be named. Lewis Epley has done so much for the University of Arkansas. We are fortunate to count him as an alumnus with multiple UA degrees, as well as a former member and chair of the Board of Trustees. Having the band building named for him is evidence of his love for the UA band; having an endowed chair named for him reminds us of the impact of his education on his professional life."

"We are grateful for the long-time support that Lewis has given to the University not only with his gifts but also with his time and talent. Because of his leadership and business skills, it is very fitting that a professorship be named in his honor. The Walton gift is continuing to enable us to develop excellence in our academic programs with such superb professors as Dr. Ferrier," White added.

A native of Springdale, Ark., Epley graduated from the University in 1961 with a B.S. in public administration from the Walton College and a J.D. from the School of Law. He moved to Eureka Springs in 1961. He is the vice-chairman of the Bank of Eureka Springs and a member of the board of directors of the Southwestern Energy Company, headquartered in Fayetteville. He is a fellow of the Arkansas Bar Association, and in 1984 was a special associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court. He also served as a delegate to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention in 1969-1970. He served as a member and later as chairman of the Arkansas State Building Service Council in 1975-1980. He is a member of the Eureka Springs Rotary Club and is very active in various civic and medical organizations in Carroll and Washington Counties.

Epley served on the UA Board of Trustees from 1989 to 1999 and was chairman for the 1997-1999 fiscal years. He is a board member of the University of Arkansas Foundation and a member of the National Development Council. Epley is a major supporter of the Razorback band, and the UA band facility was named the Lewis E. Epley Jr. Hall in 1997. He was a charter member of the Chancellor’s Society and a donor to the Old Main restoration campaign.

Professor Ferrier has been on the UA faculty in the Walton College since 1993. He received a B.A. in 1980 from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. in economics in 1988 from the University of North Carolina. Prior to joining the UA faculty, he taught at Southern Methodist University.

Doyle Z. Williams, dean of the Walton College said, "We are pleased with this appointment of Dr. Ferrier as the Lewis E. Epley Jr. Professor. He has not only developed a distinguished research record but also has been an innovative and dedicated teacher as well as an active and respected contributor to the University and the College. In short, Dr. Ferrier has been a model faculty member for a land-grant university that expects excellence in research, teaching and service."

Ferrier specializes in the study of efficiency and productivity. He has been a Fulbright Scholar at the Universita di Padova, Italy. Since earning his Ph.D. degree, he has published over 25 refereed articles in numerous journals, such as, Journal of Econometrics, Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Monetary Economics, Energy Journal, Journal of Agricultural Economics and European Journal of Operational Research.

Widely cited in the literature, his articles have led to recognition from scholars and practitioners throughout the world. One of his articles on frontier efficiency measurement was recently recognized as among the 10 most influential articles in the field. The fact that it has been cited in publications that cover a wide variety of disciplines — such as accounting, operations research, regional science, management science, finance, and economics — is a testament to its importance.

Ferrier is currently on an off campus duty assignment with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C.

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