Don Soderquist

In 1980, Don Soderquist joined Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. as Executive Vice President and served in several other executive positions until his appointment in early 1988 to Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer. In January 1999 he was promoted to Senior Vice Chairman of the corporation. Prior to his joining Wal-Mart, Don served sixteen years with Ben Franklin, including six years as President and Chief Executive Officer.

Don was a driving force behind Wal-Mart’s rise to greatness. He was Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer and ultimately became Senior Vice Chairman as Wal-Mart rose to become the largest company in the world. Known as the “Keeper of the Culture” after Sam Walton passed away, Don firmly believes that business ethics are not a luxury, but an essential element in creating a high-performance organization; he also knows that the responsibility for creating an ethical organization belongs to its senior leaders.

Don received his BA degree in Business Administration in 1955 from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He was awarded Honorary Doctors Degrees from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and from Judson College in Elgin, Illinois. In 1990 he received the Outstanding Business Leader Award from the Northwood Institute in Palm Beach, Florida, and in 1996 Don was inducted into the Retailing Hall of Fame.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors & Trustees of ARVEST Bank, Salvation Army, NWA Community Foundation and John Brown University, where he is also a past chairman.

In addition to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., he has also previously served on the board of ServiceMaster, Inc., and served on and was a past chairman of the boards of the International Mass Retail Association, the Children’s Miracle Network and Steward’s Ministries.

In 1998, John Brown University created the The Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics (SCLE) in his honor. As an Executive in Residence, Don provides direction and inspiration to the SCLE team. The Center provides ethical leadership training for corporate, not-for-profit, and student organizations around the world. Don also serves on numerous local charitable boards.