Dr. Jackson "Jack" White, professor emeritus of accounting and former chair of the William Dillard Department of Accounting at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, passed away on Nov. 13, 2025, in Fayetteville. He was 92. 

White served as chair of the Department of Accounting from 1985 to 1995, leading the department during a transformational period in its history. He retired from the Walton College in 1998 and upon his retirement, was named by the governor to serve on the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy. 

"Dr. White was one of the many accounting faculty icons who retired in the 90s," said Gary Peters, senior associate dean of the Walton College. "Their contributions set the stage for what would become a nationally recognized and named college and accounting program, namely the Sam M. Walton College of Business and the William Dillard Department of Accounting." 

Distinguished Career 

White earned his Ph.D. in accounting from Louisiana State University in 1964, along with an M.B.A. (1958) and B.S. in accounting from Northwestern Louisiana State College (1954). He became a Certified Public Accountant in Arkansas in 1969 and earned his Certified Internal Auditor designation in 1982. 

His academic career spanned multiple institutions before he joined the U of A at Fayetteville, including the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Southern Illinois University, Northeast Louisiana University and Louisiana State University. He served as professor of accounting at the U of A from 1969 to 1977 before returning in 1985, where he served as department chair until 1995. He was granted tenure at the U of A in 1972 and retired as professor emeritus in 1998. 

Service to the Profession 

Throughout his career, White exemplified service to the accounting profession at both state and national levels. He served as president of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants (1988-89) and received the society's Lifetime Achievement in Accounting Education Award in 1997. He also served as president of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy in 1995 and held leadership positions in the American Accounting Association and the Institute of Internal Auditors. 

"Dr. White's academic career exemplified service to the accounting profession and Arkansas," Peters said. "His example emphasized the responsibilities we have as faculty to serve our professions for the benefit of society and the students who travel through our classrooms." 

White was deeply involved with practitioners, teaching numerous continuing education courses for CPAs and serving as a discussion leader for 35 continuing professional education programs across Arkansas, Iowa and Tennessee. He also served as an expert witness in accounting matters and proctored the CPA exam for 20 years. 

Recognition and Awards 

Throughout his career, White exemplified service to the accounting profession at both state and national levels. He served as president of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants (1988-89) and received the society's Lifetime Achievement in Accounting Education Award in 1997. He also served as president of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy in 1995 and held leadership positions in the American Accounting Association and the Institute of Internal Auditors. 

Legacy at the Walton College 

White's leadership and dedication to the accounting profession left a lasting impact on the Walton College and its students. His decade-long tenure as department chair helped establish the foundation for what has become one of the nation's leading accounting programs. 

According to White's obituary, he was an active member of Christ Church as of 2024 and was a former member of Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, where he served on various committees for many years. 

He is survived by five sons: Alan White of Lafayette, Louisiana; Roger White (Patricia) of Louisville, Colorado; John White (Sonia) of Newton, Massachusetts; Chris Thorn (Kim) of Rogers; and Larry White (Regina) of Denver, Colorado. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Cassie White, Tiffany Thorn Martin, Amanda Briggs, Lilith White, Blake Thorn and London Thorn. He had five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents and his wife, Mary Jane (Young). 

Memorials may be made to Christ Church (P.O. Box 10798, Fayetteville, AR, 72703) or the Arkansas State Society of Certified Public Accountants Student Education Fund (11300 Executive Center Dr., Little Rock, AR, 72211-4352).

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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 10,300 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 ranks 25th for its undergraduate business program among public colleges in the U.S. News & World Report's 2025 national rankings. Its undergraduate supply chain management program is recognized as the top program in North America by Gartner. In 2025, The Princeton Review included Walton's M.B.A. program in its Best Business Schools list for On-Campus M.B.A. Programs.