Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame announces 2026 Class of Inductees

CONWAY, Ark. (UCA) — The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 class of distinguished inductees. Seven new Arkansans will be honored at the 2026 Induction Banquet Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Thomas C. Courtway Student Recreation Center on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas (UCA).

The 2026 Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame inductees are:

Regina "Reggie" Favors Retired President and Chief Executive Officer Pinnacle Business Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield from Cedar Hill, TX

Regina “Reggie” Favors
Retired President and Chief Executive Officer
Pinnacle Business Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of
Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield
from Cedar Hill, TX

Lynn Harbert, CIOP Retired Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Delta Dental of Arkansas from Cabot, AR

Lynn Harbert, CIOP
Retired Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Delta Dental of Arkansas
from Cabot, AR

T. Ark Monroe, III, J.D. Retired Partner, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, PLLC Former Arkansas Insurance Commissioner, 1972- 1976 from Little Rock, AR

T. Ark Monroe, III, J.D.
Retired Partner, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates &
Woodyard, PLLC
Former Arkansas Insurance Commissioner, 1972-1976
from Little Rock, AR

Richard L. Patterson,  CLU ® , ChFC ® , ARPC, AEP® Financial Advisor Patterson Financial Group from Little Rock, AR

Richard L. Patterson,  CLU ® , ChFC ® , ARPC, AEP®
Financial Advisor
Patterson Financial Group
from Little Rock, AR

* Victor A. Puleo, Jr., Ph.D., CIC, CCI (1964 – 2025) Educator UCA College of Business, 2003-2017 formerly of Nicholasville, KY *posthumous

* Victor A. Puleo, Jr., Ph.D., CIC, CCI (1964 – 2025)
Educator for UCA College of Business, 2003-2017
formerly of Nicholasville, KY
*posthumous

J.B. Smith Agency Owner – Retired Smith and Company Insurance, Inc. from Marianna, AR

J.B. Smith
Agency Owner – Retired
Smith and Company Insurance, Inc.
from Marianna, AR

Dennis Young Agency Owner – Retired Young and Youngblood Insurance from Texarkana, AR

Dennis Young
Agency Owner – Retired
Young and Youngblood Insurance
from Texarkana, AR

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame was created in 2015 to identify and honor distinguished insurance industry professionals with strong ties to Arkansas who exemplify innovation, social responsibility, leadership and professional excellence; have made broad, encompassing and lasting contributions to advance the role of insurance in society; and have significantly impacted the lives of many Arkansans.

Table sponsorships and various levels of recognition in support of the 2026 inductees are available through Sept. 25 and can be found on the Hall of Fame website at arinsurancehof.org.

The UCA College of Business partners with the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame to create and nurture a nationally recognized undergraduate degree program in insurance and risk management. Scholarships are awarded annually through the  Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame Scholarship.

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame seeks to remind the public of the important role the insurance industry plays in securing the well-being of both individuals and businesses, to inspire the next generation of leadership to reach these high levels of accomplishment, and to encourage young Arkansans to consider careers in the insurance industry.

More information about the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame is available at arinsurancehof.org.