Ouachita Stories

Members of the Ouachita Baptist University community gathered for a  Dec. 12 luncheon to honor William H. “Buddy” Sutton. Ouachita’s board of trustees voted earlier this year to name the university’s W.H. Sutton School of Social Sciences in his honor. 

“I’m overwhelmed,” said Sutton, surrounded by friends and family. “It’s such a fine recognition. You always have a question about how deserved something like this is.”

Sutton, who served 10 years as chairman of Ouachita’s board of trustees, also is a former president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. He served in private practice for more than 45 years with the Arkansas law firm of Friday, Eldredge & Clark until his retirement in 2005. He also is a longtime member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock where he has served for decades as a deacon and Sunday School teacher.

“Buddy is a rare individual who brings a blessing to whatever he touches and whatever he is a part of,” said Ouachita President Rex M. Horne Jr.

“It is with great appreciation and humility tempered with pardonable pride that we claim the good name of Buddy Sutton for our school of social sciences,” added Dr. Hal Bass, dean of the W.H. Sutton School of Social Sciences, “and we pledge to do all we can to live up to the high expectations that accompany it.”

“One thing I feel really blessed about is having Ouachita in my life,” said Sutton. “Thank you so much for this undeserved honor.”

by Brooke Showalter