Posted by DEAN SKIP RUTHERFORD – One of Arkansas’s most generous and dedicated citizens, Charles B. “Charlie” Whiteside III, is thankfully on the mend after heart bypass yesterday. Charlie and I serve together on both the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Board and the Lyon College Board. Charlie’s philanthropic endeavors are legendary, and he’s a past and deserving recipient of the state’s “philanthropist of the year” award. He’s also very committed to his alma mater, the University of Arkansas and to his fraternity, Kappa Sigma giving both extraordinary amounts of time and resources. There’s even a street named for him in Fayetteville. In addition, he’s a fan of the Clinton School as well as being a trusted advisor and personal friend.
A longtime Merrill Lynch executive, Charlie knows “numbers” better than anyone I’ve ever been around. His charts and graphs with noted points of inflection are legendary. His presentation to college students about “real life” financial management and planning should be a graduation requirement. For fun, in addition to spending time with his family, he is an avid sportsman, enjoys tinkering with his 1961 car, spends time at his getaway retreat in Dewitt, Arkansas, and grows tomatoes in competition with his next door neighbor, Dorsey Jackson.
A mutual friend, Jim Johnson, has been drawing “Charlie” cartoons for years and these are distributed among his family members and friends. The cartoon series is so popular because Charlie is so popular. I’m told a new one will soon be in circulation.
Get Well Soon CB3. There are too many of us who need you.