[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S1038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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      RECOGNIZING THE 2020 ARKANSAS BUSINESS HALL OF FAME HONOREES

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
newest members of the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.
  Arkansas native Olivia Farrell is a shining example of what a 
lifetime of hard work and devotion looks like. After graduating from 
the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1978, she joined the 
Arkansas Writers Project, selling ads for the Arkansas Times. Shortly 
after, the Writers Project also created Arkansas Business, which was 
later purchased by Farrell and became the Arkansas Business Publishing 
Group, where she served as CEO.
  Not only did Farrell find personal success in business, but she also 
sought to help bring more women into the business community. As such, 
Farrell created and promoted an annual magazine highlighting the top 
100 women in Arkansas. This list encouraged companies and their 
stakeholders to bring more women into their ranks. Furthermore, she 
created the Women's Foundation of Arkansas to promote increased 
investment in women's education, business opportunities, and 
philanthropy.
  Some of her most notable awards include being inducted in the 
Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame, as well as being the recipient of the 
Business and Professional Leader of the Year award by the Rotary Club 
of Little Rock. Her leadership and kindness have been the subject of 
much deserved praise.
  Reynie Rutledge was born in Smackover, AR. Growing up in a small 
Arkansas town taught him the value of hard work and doing the right 
thing. He earned an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering from 
the University of Arkansas prior to earning his MBA in 1973. Upon 
leaving school, he was hired as a loan officer at Worthen Bank in 
Little Rock. A few years later, Rutledge took a gamble in purchasing 
First Security Bank, which at the time had only three branches and $46 
million in assets. Under his leadership, the small Searcy, AR, bank 
grew into a $5.9 billion dollar holding company with over 77 locations 
across 17 counties and 34 communities, with more than 1,000 employees 
across the State.
  Rutledge has always given back to the Natural State. He has been an 
active member of Searcy's First United Methodist Church since 1977 and 
also serves on the Searcy Water Board. Rutledge has also served as a 
member of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, chairman of the 
selection committee of the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame, and chairman 
of the Arkansas Bankers Association. Some of the many accolades he has 
received over his career include the University of Arkansas 2000 
Volunteer of the Year, 2012 University of Arkansas Distinguished Alumni 
Award, and 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Walton College of 
Business.
  Gerald B. Alley was born in Pine Bluff, AR. As the son of a 
businessowner, he saw firsthand the hard work and commitment required 
to produce a thriving business that maximizes a person's ability to 
give back to their community. After finishing his education and working 
for his father, Alley enrolled at the University of Arkansas at the age 
of 16, majoring in finance. After graduating from the University of 
Arkansas, he continued his education at Southern Methodist University, 
where he earned his MBA.
  Along with the help of his brother, Troy, Jr., he started Con-Real. 
Under his leadership, Con-Real built the largest parking garage in 
Texas. Additionally, the company helped build schools, stores, and 
other facilities that provided entertainment and essential services to 
the community. As Alley gained more experience as a business leader, he 
expanded Con-Real's services and launched another firm focused on 
medical construction which represented the largest medical system in 
the U.S. Today, Con-Real offers a multitude of services ranging from 
real estate to technology and innovation while consistently promoting 
minority firms.
  Aside from his business ventures, Alley serves on the executive 
advisory board at the Walton College of Business at the University of 
Arkansas. Additionally, he is on the advisory board at the Cox School 
of Business at Southern Methodist University and is also a member of 
the board of trustees at the school. After years of business and 
philanthropic success, he has proven to be a role model for anybody who 
values dedication, hard work and perseverance.
  Charles Nabholz was born near Squirrel Hill, AR. Hailing from a 
farming family, he was instilled with a strong work ethic that served 
him well. Though the family business began in 1949, he began his career 
with Nabholz Construction after graduating from Conway's St. Joseph 
High School in 1954.
  He began his career with the company as a laborer. Eventually, 
Nabholz founded and managed Con-Ark builders, a company that would 
later merge with Nabholz Construction. After a brief stint out of the 
State, he returned to serve as Governor Frank White's director of State 
Building Services. He continued to serve as a valuable asset outside of 
the State government, helping to create Nabholz Properties and serving 
as chairman of the board for the Nabholz Group in 2000. In 2014, he was 
named chairman emeritus of Nabholz Group.
  Charles Nabholz is an extremely involved member of his community. Not 
only is he a member of the several Arkansas trade associations, but he 
actively participates in or has previously contributed his time to 
several groups such as the Conway Regional Medical Center Foundation, 
the Conway Chamber of Commerce, and the Arkansas Research Alliance. 
Among the many honors he has received are an award for Leadership in 
Free Enterprise and the Distinguished Citizen Award.
  I congratulate each of these honorees for their valuable 
contributions to Arkansas and the industries they represent. Our State 
is certainly better off because of the work each has done to advance 
their own careers, as well as the companies they have led. This honor 
is a fitting way to acknowledge them and memorialize their legacies in 
the Natural State's business community.

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