"The Quality of it's Leadership Will Determine the Future of the Greater Fort Smith Area"

Awards

Jack White Leadership Fort Smith Award

: Sam M. Sicard, 2012 Recipient

Past Award Recipients

1990 Hazel Evans
1991 Nancy Orr
1992 Ross Pendergraft
1993 David Olive
1994 Sandi Sanders
1996 Robert E. Miller
1997 Ray Baker
1998 Jim Spears
1999 Josie Decker
2000 Joel Stubblefield

2001 Benny Gooden
2002 Robert A. Young III
2003 Carter Hunt
2004 Charles Shuffield
2005 Roland S. Boreham, Jr.
2006 Dorothy Rappeport
2007 Don Flanders
2008 Edward “Sandy” Sanders
2009 Mark Rumsey
2010 Sister Judith Marie Keith
2011 Philip Merry

The Leadership Fort Smith Alumni Association presented the first “Alumni Association Outstanding Leadership Award” in 1990 to recognize an outstanding individual from the region whose leadership had made a significant difference in the community.

The award was renamed “The Jack White Leadership Fort Smith Award” in 1997, after the untimely death of community leader, Jack White. Jack White came to Fort Smith in 1987 as the Arkansas Manager for OG&E, and quickly became involved in the region, serving on a number of boards and volunteering with several organizations. A graduate of the Leadership Fort Smith Class of 1990, Jack White was an exceptional leader and is sorely missed by our community.

The Jack White award is given to an individual whose leadership has positively changed a community, neighborhood, institution, organization, business or government entity. They should demonstrate characteristics such as honesty, commitment, compassion and competence as well as having a progressive vision for moving the community forward. This year, we couldn’t have chosen a more deserving individual in Sam M. Sicard. Sam T. Sicard will be accepting the award on his Father’s behalf. There are not enough good things you could say about Sam M., in fact this comment may say it best, “trying to define all of his wonderful attributes is like trying to pour the contents of Lake Ouachita into a Coca-cola bottle.” Mr. Sicard was the Chairman of the Board & President CEO for First National Bank. He was a graduate of the University of Arkansas where he received his BSBA in finance. Mr. Sicard also served on the Boys & Girls Club board for over 37 years as well as serving on various other local boards, including: United Way Endowment, University of Arkansas Fort Smith Foundation, US Marshal’s Museum and past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. There are countless other organizations he touched and supported.

To download the Jack White nomination form [Click Here - pdf].

Community Leadership Awards

Leadership Fort Smith also recognizes community leaders who are making a difference in their profession or area of involvement with the Community Leadership Awards.

2012 Recipients

Bennie Westphal, Business and Industry

Stacey Jones, Education

Dr. Larry Pearce, Healthcare

Rick Foti, Non-profit

Ed Saucier, Religion

To download the Community award nomination for [Click Here - pdf].