Williams is one of six honorees who was inducted into the Oct. 19 at the University of Central Arkansas. Created in 2015, the Hall of Fame identifies and honors distinguished insurance industry professionals who exemplify innovation, social responsibility, leadership, and professional excellence, who have made broadly encompassing and lasting contributions to advance the role of insurance in society, and who have significantly impacted the lives of Arkansans.

Williams said that he is thrilled to be following in the footsteps of his father, Grainger Williams, who was inducted into the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame posthumously in 2017.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more surprised or honored to receive this recognition,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淢y parents gave me four principles to live by 鈥� honor your family, your faith, your country, and your community. I try to live by these principles today.鈥�

The Hall of Fame reminds Arkansans of the vital role the insurance industry plays in securing the well-being of individuals and businesses, to inspire the next generation of leadership to reach the high levels of achievement of inductees, and to encourage young people to consider careers in the insurance business.

Williams and his wife, Elaine Eubank, the 2016 winner of the university鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni Award, have made an incredible impact on the university through their generosity of their time, support, and financial gifts. The couple was recognized as the 2017 Taste of Little Rock honorees. Williams is a former chair of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board as well as the university鈥檚 2013 recipient of the President鈥檚 Award. Williams and Eubank have been married for nearly 40 years and have two children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

As co-chair of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Centennial Campaign, Williams works with fellow co-chair Jerry Damerow to help raise the university鈥檚 profile in the greater Little Rock community. The campaign has a goal of raising $250 million by 2027, the university鈥檚 100-year anniversary.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 tell you how excited I get when I come out to the university and watch all the young folks who are doing their best,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 fascinated by the energy of the students. I want to improve the lives of students, so they don鈥檛 have to worry about how they are going to pay for school.鈥�

After graduating from Little Rock University, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 predecessor, with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history and political science in 1966, Williams served four years with the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1970.

After leaving the military, Williams considered going to law school, but ultimately decided to follow the family business into insurance. Williams鈥� father insisted that he make his own way, so Williams received underwriter training in Dallas and advanced training in New York, both with the Continental Insurance Company.

鈥淚t was character building,鈥� Williams recalled. 鈥淚 learned that I liked to be with people, and our insurance agency was going to give me an opportunity to learn more than most people know about a lot of industries. The insurance business was so unique because you could be with an owner of a garage in the morning and a banker later in the day. It gave me a chance to really learn and understand what drove businesses and how they  help build the economy of our state and country. It鈥檚 not all about insurance. It鈥檚 about relationships.鈥�

Williams would continue to grow relationships while building his career as a partner with Ramsey, Krug, Farrell & Lensing, now Cadence Insurance. He was honored with the IIAA Cecil Cleavenger Memorial Young Agency of the Year Award in 1979 as well as the IIAA Allan Kennedy Memorial Agency of the Year Award in 1983.

Williams later retired as senior vice president and risk consultant at BXS Insurance (now Cadence Insurance). Through his career, he鈥檚 been heavily involved in the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas, serving on the executive, legislative, and governmental affairs committees as well as chairman of the IIAA Young Agents Committee. Additionally, Williams loved developing insurance programs for nonprofits that were making a difference in the community, such as Meals on Wheels of America and the American Taekwondo Association. The latter included a memorable 1990s trip to Korea with Eternal Grandmaster Sang Chul Lee, founder and chairman of the U.S. Taekwondo Center, to meet the president of Korea.

Throughout his career, Williams felt a need to give back to the community that has given him so much. He volunteered and served on the boards of a variety of community organizations, including Rotary Club 99 of Little Rock, Arkansas Opera Company, Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission, Little Rock Sisters Cities Commission, Meals on Wheels of America, and Presbyterian Village of Little Rock.

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Williams continues to follow in the footsteps of his father, Grainger Williams, who was devoted to supporting Little Rock Junior College, Little Rock University, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Williams has served on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Insurance/Risk Management Member Advisory Committee and the School of Business Advisory Committee, but said his eyes were really opened while awarding scholarships as part of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association.

鈥淚 listened to the struggles of students wondering how to pay for school and how to get things like food, computers, and medicine,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have to struggle because my parents paid my way through four years of college. I appreciate what my parents did for me, and it鈥檚 natural that I want to reach out and help students like my parents helped me.鈥�

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In spite of a three-week delay, the April 25 event sold out for the first time in history, selling more than 1,060 tickets and drawing a record crowd. Additionally, the event raised more than $145,000 for student scholarships, the most in Taste of Little Rock history.

The event is also a celebration of the university鈥檚 annual Giving Day. The university broke its goal of raising half a million dollars during this year鈥檚 Giving Day, including securing a gift from every county in Arkansas and every state in the nation.

鈥淭his year鈥檚 event was a huge success, thanks to our dedicated board members and co-chairs, Loris Fullerton and Stephanie Caruthers, as well as the entire 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alumni and development staff,鈥� said Heide Harrell, president of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors. 鈥淚t was wonderful to have so many community leaders and university supporters come together to raise money for the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund and honor the infamous James Bobo.鈥�

The event honored James Bobo as the night鈥檚 honoree. Bobo, who retired from Entergy in 2017, has a passion for his alma mater and has given back to support higher education in Arkansas. He served two terms on the Alumni Board of Directors and as a past president. He now serves on the Centennial Campaign Cabinet, helping to lead the university鈥檚 largest fundraising effort to raise $250 million by 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 centennial anniversary in 2027.

鈥淚t is awesome, wonderful, and breathtaking to see so many people come out for food, fun, fellowship, and a great time,鈥� Bobo said. 鈥淚 truly appreciate everyone who has come out to support the university and our students. What excites me the most is the money we are raising for scholarships for our students. That is what is near and dear to my heart, helping others, and especially our wonderful students who are working so hard to earn their college degrees.鈥�

Taste of Little Rock, originally scheduled for April 4, was delayed three weeks due to the destructive EF3 tornado that hit Central Arkansas on March 31 and impacted so many people in the community. In light of this, the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community was more determined to support students in need than ever before.

“After we had to postpone because of the devastating tornado, it is a true blessing to be able to raise money for our student scholarships,鈥� said Loris Fullerton, co-chair of the Taste of Little Rock Committee. 鈥淥ur sponsors have been wonderful. We have a great crowd, and we are thrilled with tonight鈥檚 event. We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and generosity from our community.”

Taste of Little Rock, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 highly anticipated culinary and social event, raises funds for the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Scholarship Fund, which provides thousands of scholarship dollars every year to deserving 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students. And Giving Day raises funds to support the Centennial Campaign pillars, which include scholarships, program excellence, student support, and the living and learning environments.

鈥淩aising money for student scholarships is what this event is all about,鈥� said Alfred Williams, co-chair of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Centennial Campaign Committee. 鈥淭he whole Centennial Campaign is all about providing the best education and future possible for our students.鈥�

Taste of Little Rock is an incredible gathering that showcases the diverse and delectable cuisine of the city’s most talented and innovative restaurant owners. This event provides an opportunity for the community to come together and savor the best flavors Little Rock has to offer while supporting an important cause.

The culinary extravaganza featured a wide variety of restaurants and caterers with selections to fill every palate. They included Afrobites, Andy鈥檚, Blue Cloud, Blue Coast Burrito, Burge鈥檚, Cantina Laredo, Chuy鈥檚, Chicken Salad Chick, Community Bakery, Delicious Temptations, Fazoli鈥檚, Kemuri, Happy鈥檚 Energy and Nutrition, Kreative Expressionz Catering, Kris and Sam鈥檚, Le Pops, Loblolly Ice Cream, Lost Forty Brewing, Mockingbird Bar and Tacos, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Rivera Italian Restaurant, Sauced Bar and Oven, SAP鈥檚 Creole Cuisine, Southern Glazer鈥檚, Red Moon Tavern, Smackey鈥檚, Taj Mahal, Whole Hog, Wright鈥檚 BBQ, and Zin Wine Bar.

鈥淚 think this event and the food variety is amazing,鈥� said Taste of Little Rock attendee Carson Vogelpohl. 鈥淚 am excited to try all the different kinds of delicious food. It鈥檚 really fabulous how many choices are available. You can see Little Rock with a fork.鈥�

Taste of Little Rock would not have been a success without the event鈥檚 dedicated sponsors. Gold Sponsors include Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Entergy, and Natural State Private Wealth Group. The night鈥檚 silver sponsors include Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, Garver, HoganTaylor, Loris and Jay Fullerton, Simmons Bank, Glazer鈥檚 Beer and Beverage, Stephanie and Brooks Caruthers, and USAble Life.

Rebecca Weaver, a senior human resources business partner with Southern Glazer鈥檚, said her company has been an avid supporter of Taste of Little Rock for more years than she could remember.

鈥淲e鈥檝e supported 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for a long time,鈥� Weaver said. 鈥淲e love to see how our donations go to support student scholarships and help grow a great workforce for Arkansas. We hope 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 students will gain a great education and come work for us in the future.鈥�

Every gift made to the university through December 2026 will be a part of the Centennial Campaign, the university鈥檚 largest fundraising campaign in history.

To learn more or give, visit /giving/product/centennial-campaign/.

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