Six Arkansans, scholarship recipients honored at Oct. 16 event
More than 200 industry professionals gathered at the University of Central Arkansas Oct. 16 as six distinguished Arkansans were honored at the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame 2025 Induction Banquet.
The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame 2025 inductees included:
- Kelley Erstine of Conway, CEO, Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas.
- James D. Lewis, RHU, REBC, of Little Rock, president, Lewis Marketing Group Inc., independent consultant for Mountaire Corporation.
- Robert (Bob) L. Shoptaw, BA, MBA, of Little Rock, president and CEO, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
- C. Tim White, CIC, of Little Rock, executive vice president, Brown & Brown of Arkansas.
- Sharon Allen (1944-2021) of Little Rock, president and chief operating officer, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
- William (Bill) H. L. Woodyard III (1945-2014), of Little Rock, partner, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard P.L.L.C.
The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame was created in 2015 to identify and honor distinguished insurance industry professionals with strong ties to Arkansas who epitomize innovation, social responsibility, leadership and professional excellence, and have made broad, encompassing and lasting contributions to advance the role of insurance in society. The six inductees for 2025 exemplify those distinctions and have significantly impacted the lives of many Arkansans.
Additionally, five scholarships were awarded to seniors Addisyn Brown, Kai Davis, Samuel Roper and Mason Smith and junior William Van Ashe. Full-time UCA students qualify for the scholarship if they major in Insurance and Risk Management and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above.
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 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.
More information about the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame and its 2025 inductees’ accomplishments is available at arinsurancehof.org.
