The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame has announced its 2025 class of distinguished inductees. Six new Arkansans will be honored at the 2025 Induction Banquet on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Thomas C. Courtway Student Recreation Center on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.
The six 2025 Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame inductees are:
– Sharon Allen (1944 – 2021) of Little Rock
– Kelley Erstine of Conway
– James D. Lewis of Little Rock
– Robert (Bob) L. Shoptaw of Little Rock
– Tim White of Little Rock
– William (Bill) H. L. Woodyard, III (1945 – 2014) of Little Rock
* Sharon Allen
* Sharon Allen (1944 – 2021)
from Little Rock, AR
former President and Chief Operating Officer, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Kelley Erstine
Kelley Erstine from Conway, AR
CEO, Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas
James D. Lewis, RHU, REBC
James D. Lewis, RHU, REBC from Little Rock, AR
(retired) President, Lewis Marketing Group, Inc.
Independent Consultant for Mountaire Corporation
Robert (Bob) L. Shoptaw, BA, MBA
Robert (Bob) L. Shoptaw, BA, MBA
from Little Rock, AR
(retired) President and CEO, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Tim White, CIC
Tim White, CIC from Little Rock, AR
Executive Vice President, Brown & Brown of Arkansas
* William (Bill) H. L. Woodyard, III
* William (Bill) H. L. Woodyard, III (1945 – 2014)
from Little Rock, AR
former Partner – Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.
*posthumous
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 2025 inductees are available through September 26, 2025, and can be found on the Hall of Fame website at: www.arinsurancehof.org.
The University of Central Arkansas (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 to students 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.
Learn more about the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame on its website www.arinsurancehof.org.
Roeder visited campus for two days. At the luncheon on Monday, April 15, we were joined by many students, faculty, and insurance professionals, including Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Alan McClain, who spoke a few words to highlight the significance of the IRM industry in Arkansas.