Business Leaders Make Gift To Honor Colleagues, Friends

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — University of Arkansas alumni Louis L. and Joy Ramsay have made significant contributions to Pine Bluff, the State of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas through business leadership, volunteer service and civic activities.

Two companies where Louis Ramsay has held leadership posts, Simmons First National Corporation and Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, will combine resources to create a $250,000 faculty fund at the U of A. The fund, named for the Ramsays in honor of their many contributions to Arkansas, will be used to retain and recruit faculty to the Sam M. Walton College of Business. Also, a classroom in the Business Building, the home of the Walton College, will be named in honor of the Ramsays.

UA Chancellor John A. White said, "Louis and Joy have been influential leaders who have undoubtedly improved the quality in their community and the state through action, leadership and service. Improving the quality of our faculty is an ongoing goal at the University of Arkansas. Having funds dedicated for retaining and recruiting faculty to the Walton College will greatly enhance our ability to attract — and keep — top-notch folks to our campus. We’re grateful to Tommy May and Bob Shoptaw for their leadership in making this gift honoring the Ramsays. Through this fund, the Ramsays’ name will forever be associated with improving the quality of Walton College’s faculty."

As a student at the University of Arkansas, Ramsay played quarterback on the Razorback football team, lettering in 1940-1941. He further developed his leadership skills on campus as president of Blue Key, president of the Interfraternity Council, president of the "A" Club, Razorback Annual 1942 "Who’s Who," Kappa Sigma, and Delta Theta Phi law fraternity. Ramsay left the U of A to serve as an Army Air Corps captain during World War II, earning medals for air combat service. He returned to the University of Arkansas and completed his juris doctorate degree in 1947.

Upon graduation from law school, he joined the law firm of Coleman & Gantt in Pine Bluff where, in only one year, he became a partner. He continues today to serve as "Of Counsel" for the firm, which is now Ramsay, Bridgforth, Harrelson & Starling.

Louis Ramsay’s leadership in Arkansas has been extensive. He is the only person in the state’s history to serve as president of the Arkansas State Bankers Association and of the Arkansas Bar Association. Ramsay was elected president of Simmons First National Bank in 1970 and was chairman and CEO from 1973 to 1983. His leadership has made a significant economic impact on the Pine Bluff community and Southeast Arkansas, and in 1989, Pine Bluff residents elected Ramsay as the "City’s Most Influential Citizen." He served on the University of Arkansas board of trustees from 1971 to 1981 and as chairman from 1978 to 1981, and was chairman of the University of Arkansas Foundation. He served as chairman of the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority. He led the Arkansas Sesquicentennial Celebration Commission in 1986. He served as commissioner to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws from 1961-1969.

Ramsay was elected president of Simmons First National Bank in 1970 and was chairman and CEO from 1973 to 1983. His leadership has made a significant economic impact on the Pine Bluff community and Southeast Arkansas, and in 1989, Pine Bluff residents elected Ramsay as the "City’s Most Influential Citizen." He served on the University of Arkansas board of trustees from 1971 to 1981 and as chairman from 1978 to 1981, and was chairman of the University of Arkansas Foundation. He served as chairman of the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority. He led the Arkansas Sesquicentennial Celebration Commission in 1986. He served as commissioner to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws from 1961-1969.

Ramsay is a fellow in the American Bar Foundation, Arkansas Bar Foundation, American College of Trial Lawyers and American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He was listed in Best Lawyers in America for 1989-1990, 1991-1992, and 1993-1994.

He is chairman of the Executive Committee for the boards of directors for both Simmons First National Corporation and Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Among his many honors and awards, Ramsay received honorary degrees from the University of Arkansas in 1988 and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 1992. In addition, he was president of the Arkansas Alumni Association and cited as a distinguished alumnus. He has been recognized nationally with the "Distinguished American Award" from Arkansas Chapter of National Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and listings in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World and Oxford’s Who’s Who. He received the National Conference of Christians and Jews Humanitarian Award in 1990. In 2003, he was selected for inclusion into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.

The former Joy Bond attended Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. and the University of Arkansas. She majored in economics and marketing and graduated from the University of Arkansas College of Business Administration with a BSBA in 1943. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and Guidon.

Louis and Joy met at the University and were married in 1945.

Joy has been very active in the Pine Bluff community, with her church and in raising her family. She has supported Louis’ career and professional activities.

Joy Ramsay has been an active leader and member of her church. She is on the administrative board of the First United Methodist Church and chair of the United Methodist Women. Joy has been a study leader for the Women’s Society of Christian Service (now called the United Methodist Women) for more than 50 years, and a Sunday school teacher. She served as the Altar Guild chairman for more than five years. Joy was also on the board that established the Contact ministry, a telephone ministry to help people in times of trouble. In recent years, Louis and Joy have become interested and involved in prison ministry at the Department of Community Punishment in the Southeast Arkansas District.

Supporting health care has been an important area in Joy’s life as well. She volunteered as a "Grey Lady" for Pine Bluff’s Jefferson Regional Medical Center for many years, taking mail to patients in the hospital. She is a breast cancer survivor and has contributed financially to the fight against breast cancer. At Jefferson Regional Medical Center, a cancer wing is named for her.

Joy was an active member of the Junior Auxiliary of Pine Bluff (now the Junior League.) She was president of the Fine Arts Council at the Arts and Science Center, a founding member of Youth Home for troubled teen girls and a board member of the Florence Crittenton Home in Little Rock.

The Ramsays’ children, Joy R. Blankenship, BA 1970, and Richard L. Ramsay, BA 1974, JD 1977, are University of Arkansas alumni. The Ramsays’ grandchildren include Drew Blankenship, BA 1999; Ben Blankenship; Kate Blankenship; Jimbo Ramsay, BSBA 2003; Liz Ramsay; Alex Graham, and Clancy Graham.

The Ramsays are Charter Members of the Chancellor’s Society.

Walton College Dean Doyle Z. Williams said, "Walton College is blessed with outstanding leaders, volunteers and friends. Louis and Joy Ramsay have been great supporters and outstanding alumni. Tommy May, Chairman and CEO of Simmons First National Corporation, and Bob Shoptaw, CEO of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, have also provided valuable guidance and support for the College over the years in various capacities. We’re honored to name a classroom for the Ramsays as it will serve as a reminder to future generations of students that Walton College alumni are successful, appreciated and continue to give back to their communities, their states and to their alma mater."

This gift counts toward the $300 Million Challenge, the campaign-within-a-campaign to raise $300 million for academic purposes to match the Walton Family’s $300 million gift. Challenge funds must be raised between Jan. 1, 2002, and June 30, 2005, the end of the Campaign. The Challenge total stands at $124.3 million, and the overall Campaign total stands at $753 million as of Sept. 30, 2003.