Charles Leflar, clinical professor emeritus of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the U of A, was recently honored with the prestigious Faculty Gold Medal at the annual State and National Awards Reception. The ceremony took place on Monday, April 21, at the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center. Presented by U of A's provost, Terry Martin, the award recognizes Leflar's outstanding dedication to mentoring students in competitive scholarship and grant application processes.

"Dr. Leflar has been a foundational part of the accounting student experience for decades," said Gary Peters, senior associate dean of the Walton College. "His support and guidance of accounting students competing on national stages was instrumental and unwavering. These same students have gone on to hold prominent accounting leadership positions."

The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards selects just five to six faculty members annually for recognition, with the Gold Medal representing their highest distinction. This esteemed honor, awarded only once in a faculty member's career, celebrates Leflar's consistent success in supporting student achievement in national and international competitions.

Homegrown Academic Excellence

A Fayetteville native, Charles Leflar comes from a family with deep ties to the U of A. He is the son of Robert A. Leflar, after whom the U of A School of Law building (Leflar Law Center) is named, and Helen Finger, an artist and illustrator. His maternal grandfather was Charles J. Finger, winner of the prestigious Newbery Prize for Literature. Both his father and grandfather have received honorary doctorates from the U of A.

After graduating from the U of A with an accounting degree in 1984, Leflar began his professional career as an auditor for PriceWaterhouse (now known as Price Waterhouse Coopers), specializing in the oil and gas industry. He later attended the University of Missouri for his master's and Ph.D. degrees before joining the Walton College as a faculty member in 1993.

A Legacy of Student Mentorship

During his time at the Walton College, Leflar built an impressive 33-year career dedicated to student success. He has taught a wide breadth of accounting, finance and business strategy courses across undergraduate, Master of Accounting and M.B.A. programs. Leflar's impact extends beyond the classroom through active involvement in small business consulting and litigation support, bringing valuable real-world perspectives to his teaching.

During his time as director of the Walton College Master of Accountancy program and co-founder of the Summer Business Seminar in Ireland, he expanded educational opportunities for countless students. Leflar is also a member of the U of Arkansas Teaching Academy and held the BKD Lectureship in Accounting.

For many years, he served as faculty adviser for Beta Alpha Psi Honor Society, during which the Arkansas chapter repeatedly earned Superior and Gold chapter recognition. Leflar credits his academic career for many wonderful life experiences, including developing deep friendships in Ireland, operating the Miraflores locks on the Panama Canal and providing consulting services for the Royal Family of Thailand.

From Panama to the Ballroom

Currently, Leflar serves the Fayetteville Public Library Foundation as treasurer and chairs the city of Fayetteville Audit Committee. When not engaged in professional activities, he enjoys ballroom dancing, among other hobbies.

His family includes two daughters, Ruthi and Christy, who live in Fayetteville, and a son, Philip, who resides in Columbia, Missouri. He is also the proud grandfather of several grandchildren, including grandson Payton, who plays professional basketball in Milan, and has a great-granddaughter Charlie, his namesake.

The Walton College community proudly celebrates Leflar's dedication to educational excellence and his lasting influence on developing the next generation of business leaders.