14th Annual Wall of Distinction

Born in the Mississippi Delta and raised in the small town of Osceola, Arkansas, lifelong educator Ann Fry discovered early a passion for learning, leadership, and service — values that have guided her personally and professionally ever since. With an unwavering belief in the power of public education, Ann has dedicated her life to helping students reach their full potential.

A graduate of Hendrix College, Ann majored in education and was deeply involved in campus life, serving in Cardinal Key, the Student National Education Association, and on the cheerleading and tennis teams. Her dedication to both academics and community life earned her recognition in Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.

Ann’s teaching career has taken her across several communities — from classrooms in West Memphis, Osceola, Bardstown, Kentucky, and Greenwood, Mississippi, to Rogers, where she and her family settled in 1989. After many years teaching at Westside Elementary, Ann became a Reading Recovery Specialist, working with young readers who needed extra support.

Her teaching philosophy is simple but profound: “They don’t care how much I know until they know how much I care.” Ann believes every child can learn and has dedicated her career to meeting students where they are and helping them thrive.

Beyond the classroom, Ann’s heart for service shines throughout the Rogers community. She has volunteered for countless organizations, including the Rogers Public Education Foundation, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Girls on the Run, I’m With Miller, Open Avenues, Samaritan House, Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, and several Chamber of Commerce committees. She is an active member of P.E.O. Chapter CN, supporting women in pursuit of higher education, and serves on multiple boards at First United Methodist Church, including Spiritual Growth and Missions, and Discipleship and Education. She also supports Tillery Elementary’s PTO.

Today, Ann continues to inspire young minds as a teacher of four-year-olds at Brick Street Childcare + Learning Center. In her free time, she enjoys ringing handbells at church, cheering on the Razorbacks, playing tennis, hiking in the Ozarks, and spending time with her children — Jay Hunter Fry (Lesley) and McCrea Sikkink (Matt) — and her beloved grandsons, Thorin and Isaak, all of whom live nearby in downtown Rogers.

Whether she’s mentoring a student, volunteering for a cause, or baking her legendary chocolate chip cookies, Ann embodies the spirit of compassion and community. Her lifelong dedication to education and service continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of those around her.

A native of Hope, Arkansas, Ellen Turner earned a B.A. in Biology from Hendrix College and an M.S. in Biology from St. Louis University, focusing on field biology. She later completed additional graduate coursework in higher education and participated in a program at the University of Arkansas designed to enhance student learning in Principles of Biology.

Ellen began her teaching career at Parkview High School in Little Rock, where she taught biology and chemistry, before moving to Rogers High School, where she established the district’s first AP Biology course. She was named Rogers High School Teacher of the Year in 1989 and earned the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 1994. The following year, Ellen received an Access Excellence Fellowship from Genentech, Inc., providing teachers nationwide with online collaboration opportunities and cutting-edge scientific resources—just as the Rogers School District was moving toward digital connectivity.

Her lifelong interest in outdoor science education led her to help design the AEGIS (Arkansas Enrichment for the Gifted in Summer) program, offering field-based science experiences for high school students across the state. Students worked with professional scientists and integrated their fieldwork with art and writing during a two-week residential program. Ellen also served on the founding board of the Ozark Natural Science Center (ONSC) and later as its education director. After relocating to Connecticut, she became Education Program Manager at the Audubon Center at Bent of the River in New Britain.

Returning to Arkansas in 2007, Ellen joined NorthWest Arkansas Community College, teaching Principles of Biology and serving as course coordinator. She developed lab kits for online classes and was named Outstanding Faculty in 2016.

Appointed to the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission in 1987 by Governor Bill Clinton, Ellen has served three nine-year terms, including one as chairman. In 2019, she and her husband, Tom McClure, led efforts to expand the Searles Prairie Natural Area in Rogers. Her long friendship with donor Anna Mae Searles and commitment to environmental education have inspired programs like the Prairie Education Project, which continues her mission of engaging students in conservation.

In recognition of her lifelong dedication to conservation, Ellen received the 2025 Harold Alexander Conservation Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest conservation achievement award presented by the Arkansas Wildlife Federation. This award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the conservation of wildlife and natural resources in Arkansas over their lifetime.

Ellen serves on the Arkansas Department of Heritage’s Foundation for Heritage and History and teaches annually for the Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists. She and Tom have four children who live with their families in Copenhagen, Denmark; Irvington, New York; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Washington, D.C. Ellen and Tom recently celebrated the arrival of their tenth grandchild.

Whitey Smith was a cornerstone of the Rogers community whose unwavering dedication to Rogers Public Schools and decades of service left a lasting legacy.

Born in Spur, Texas, Whitey moved to Rogers with his family at a young age. A 1956 graduate of Rogers High School, he was named Most Valuable Player of the 1955 Mountie football team and became the first RHS athlete selected to play in the Arkansas High School All-Star Game. He was later inducted into the Mountie Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

After graduation, Whitey began volunteering at Mountie athletic events—a commitment that continued faithfully for the next 50 years. His greatest impact came through Whitey’s Chicken Cook fundraisers, which he led for half a century, raising an estimated one million dollars for local sports teams, scout troops, and community organizations. To Whitey, these events were about more than fundraising—they were lessons in teamwork, gratitude, and service, values he believed defined the spirit of Rogers.

When not volunteering, Whitey owned and operated Ozark Fence Company, a business built on the same integrity and hard work he brought to every part of his life.

In 2013, his extraordinary contributions were honored when the Rogers High School football stadium was named in his memory—a lasting tribute to a man whose generosity and community spirit continue to inspire generations.

Whitey is survived by his wife, Janice; daughter, Becky Mencl; son, Tim Smith; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all proud to call Rogers home.