Posted by DEAN SKIP RUTHERFORD – Much has been written in the local and national press about Verizon’s purchase of ALLTEL, the nation’s fifth largest wireless phone company. There’s no doubt that Little Rock and Arkansas will suffer job losses as a result of this sale. While I regret that, it’s also appropriate to point out that since 1943 Allied (now ALLTEL) has served Arkansas well. A 1983 merger with Mid-Continent could have resulted in the relocation of the entire company to Ohio but due to the leadership and persistence of CEO Joe Ford the operations were ultimately placed in Little Rock. Since 1998, ALLTEL has acquired over a dozen other companies and over these 65 years (1943-2008) thousands of people have achieved professional success.
Let’s not take 65 years of jobs and corporate commitments for granted. Let’s not take the millions of dollars ALLTEL has given in charitable contributions to our city, our state and our region for granted either. Let’s not minimize the fact that Charles Miller, Hugh Wilbourn, Joe Ford, Scott Ford, Randy Wilbourn and many other ALLTEL staffers have played monumental roles in our city and state’s future over the years. Even though Bill Clinton and Joe Ford had political differences, when support for the Clinton Presidential Center was needed, Joe Ford stood tall. I will never ever forget it either. Neither will the people at UAMS and many other organizations who also saw ALLTEL and the Fords stand tall. Just days ago, Scott Ford made a major gift to Arkansas Baptist College in the heart of our inner-city. President Fitz Hill, I assure you, will never forget it.
I recently attended a performance at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. The night was underwritten by ALLTEL which in turn gave it to the Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) to sell the seats to benefit that worthy organization. VIPS doesn’t have a big budget so every dollar helps. ALLTEL was there to help. There are countless stories just like this one.
Yes, we’re going to miss ALLTEL, but at the same time, we should be saying thank you for 65 great years, including the generous contributions along the way that helped make our people better and the positive example the company set for others.