Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Announced

Photos Submitted

From left: Sam Alley, John W. Allison, Jerry Brewer and John N. Roberts III.

The Sam M. Walton College of Business and a selection board have selected four visionary business leaders for the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class of 2025:

• Sam Alley, chairman, VCC
• John W. Allison, chairman and chief executive officer, Home BancShares
• The late Jerry Brewer, chairman and co-founder, Staffmark
• John N. Roberts III, executive chairman, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.

"The 2025 Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class represents a remarkable addition to an institution that honors our state's legacy of business excellence. These four distinguished individuals have profoundly impacted their respective industries, the economy of Arkansas and beyond,” says Brent Williams, dean of Walton College. “Their exceptional careers and dedication to their communities will inspire our students and future business leaders for years to come."

Sam Alley, John W. Allison, the late Jerry Brewer and John N. Roberts III will be recognized for their contributions to the construction, banking, staffing and transportation industries in Arkansas and the region in a black-tie optional ceremony at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

Jason LaFrance, a Walton College alumnus and president of Dale Capital Partners, chaired the 11-member selection committee tasked with reviewing nominations and choosing the inductees. The committee evaluated candidates based on three key criteria: their significant impact as business leaders, their commitment to community improvement and their demonstration of ethical business practices. Additionally, all living inductees must be at least 60 years old to be considered for this prestigious honor.

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

Have questions about tables, tickets or event sponsorships for the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony? Please call 479-575-6146 or email abhf@walton.uark.edu. You can reach the team at their physical office in RCED 217, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701-1201. 

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: Founded in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business stands as one of the largest colleges at the University of Arkansas, serving over 9,800 students across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs. The college holds AACSB accreditation and consistently ranks among the top business schools in the United States. 

Walton College is ranked 25th for its undergraduate business program among public colleges, while its management information systems program holds the 14th position among public schools in the U.S. News & World Report's 2025 national rankings. Additionally, the undergraduate supply chain management program is recognized as the top program in North America by Gartner. In 2023, The Princeton Review included Walton’s M.B.A. program in its list of Best Business Schools for On-Campus M.B.A. Programs.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.