Forrest City native Rowton named to ASU Board of Trustees
Forrest City native Paul Rowton has been appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson as one of three new members of the Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees.
Rowton, of Harrisburg, will join Bishop Robert G. Rudolph Jr., of Bryant, and Steve Eddington, of Benton, as the newest board members.
Act 18 of 2021 increased the number of board positions from five to seven and extended board appointments to seven- year terms. This expansion was necessary after the addition of Henderson State University, ASU Three Rivers and ASU Mid-South as system members since 2015, according to a press release from Hutchinson’s office.
Rowton succeeds Stacy Crawford, of Jonesboro, and was appointed to a seven-year term expiring in 2028. The two new positions have shorter terms only for initial appointments – Rudolph’s term is six years, expiring in 2027, and Eddington’s term is five years, expiring in 2026.
ASU System President Chuck Welch said the three appointees bring a diverse mix of expertise to the board.
“I am so appreciative of Governor Hutchinson for these very strong appointments to our Board of Trustees,” Welch said. “Each of these individuals has been very involved in their communities and with our member institutions. Robert is a former Henderson student body president, Paul is a former A- State Alumni Association president, and Steve is the current president of the Henderson State Alumni Association. Their diversified backgrounds in ministry, agriculture and retail business operations in our state will lend solid insight and leadership to our board. I definitely look forward to working with all three of our new trustees as we continue to grow our system.”
Rowton graduated in 1998 from Arkansas State with a Bachelor of Science in marketing. He is executive vice president of GES Inc. GES operates seven Edwards Food Giant stores and five Edwards Cash Saver stores. He is also a
partner in Fast Lane Markets LLC, which operates convenience stores.
Rowton is past president of the A-State Alumni Association and helped oversee construction of the Cooper Alumni Center. The 2009 Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree is also a past chairman, treasurer, vice chair and board member of the Arkansas Grocers & Retail Merchants Association and past president of the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce.
Rowton is a member of Kappa Alpha Order. He and his wife, Ashley Edwards Rowton, a 1999 graduate of A- State, are 1924 Sustaining Life Members of the AState Alumni Association and are members of the Red Wolves Foundation. They have two sons, JP and William.
"I am extremely honored to have been selected by Gov. Hutchinson to serve on the ASU System Board of Trustees,” Rowton said. “There are so many wonderful things happening across the ASU System, and I look forward to working with my fellow trustees, Dr. Welch and the leadership teams at all of the ASU System campuses. AState has been such an important part of my life for the past 26 years, and I am very thankful for this opportunity to serve."