Alltel Chairman Honored By UA Beta Gamma Sigma

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Sam M. Walton College of Business’ chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma honored Joe T. Ford, chairman and CEO of ALLTEL Corporation, Little Rock, as its 2002 top alumnus.

Walton College students, Erin Walker and Terri Turner, made the presentation at the chapter’s annual induction ceremony, held at the Clarion Inn on April 2.

Ford graduated from the University of Arkansas’ College of Business Administration in 1959 with a BSBA. He was inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame in 2000 for successfully leading ALLTEL through one of the most intense eras of change in the telecommunications and information technology industries, including deregulation of the telephone industry and the growth of wireless communications. He returned to campus two years ago to participate in the Walton College’s Business Giants Forum where students were able to ask him questions about careers and business issues, in a face-to-face session.

Walton College Dean Doyle Z. Williams introduced Ford to the crowd of over 220 students, parents, faculty and UA administration. He said, "The Walton College and Beta Gamma Sigma are very proud to recognize Joe Ford as one of our exceptional graduates. He is an individual who exemplifies the qualities of leadership and vision that we try to instill in our students."

Beta Gamma Sigma is the national honor society for business students. The Alpha of Arkansas Chapter was founded on the UA campus in 1934. John Norwood, professor of business law, is the chapter’s director. The following students were 2002 initiatives into Beta Gamma Sigma: Juniors: Arnab Banerjee, Kenneth Bates, Chris Bauer, Jenni Dinger, Joseph Fries, Stephanie Gosnell, Brooke Greenway, Brett Hagedorn, Christina Hall, John Harriman, Sommer Huff, A.J. Kratzberg, Sarah Lindsay, Andy Long, Jennifer Madison, Kerri Markham, Chris McDaniel, Ashley Niblett, Ashley Nichols, Barrett Petty, Vanessa Redding, Christina Scherrey, Signa Smith, Patricia Willis Steele, Matt Stengel, Ivats Stoichkov, Jennifer Sullivan, Iana Terziyska, Brent Usery, Surabhi Varshney, Rachel Whaley, and Chris Willis. Seniors: Bryan Argo, Becky Buckreus, Amanda Coleman, Chad Dennis, Amanda Dickson, Michael Dobbs, Catherine Eldridge, Karen Lain, Aaron Parks, Ronald Pense, Travis Price, Tara Reid, Jason Robinson, James Runsick, Michael Smith, Jennifer Stockton, Hailey Taylor, Thuyphuon Trinh, Deborah Upson, Adriana Lopez Villegas, Michael Walker, Deana Watkins, Russ Webb, Stephanie Wilburn, Carmen Zaragoza, and Amira Zheteyeva. Masters: Bo Chen, Chien-Hung Chen, Richard Dillon, Jose Rene Esobar, Heath Johnston, George Kuharick, Justin L. Lallemand, Rod Scott, Huseyin Remzi Ural, Jason White, and Shichun Xu. Doctoral: Michael Chilton. Faculty: John Aloysius and Anne O’Leary-Kelly.

In addition, the chapter recognized 19 alumni who had been initiated into Beta Gamma Sigma in 1952.

ALLTEL is a telecommunications and information services business with 2001 revenues of $7.6 billion. By the end of 2001, it was the nation’s 7th largest wireless company with 6.7 million customers, not including the 700,000 wireless customers that will be acquired through the proposed acquisition of Century Tel, announced in March. ALLTEL is the nation's six largest local telephone company. In addition, ALLTEL Information Services has over 30 years experience in building information technology solutions for financial services companies, mortgage providers and the telecommunications industry and customers in 50 countries.

Ford joined Allied Telephone Company in 1959 as a Yellow Pages salesman and advanced through a number of management positions, including marketing, regulatory issues and acquisitions. On July 1 of this year, he will retire as CEO and retain his position as chairman of the board of directors, and his son Scott, who is also a Walton College graduate, will continue as president and become CEO.