We're honored to welcome Don Walker to the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust Board of Directors!
Recently retired as EVP, Regional Executive for Arvest Bank, Don was responsible for oversight of all Arkansas markets as well as Government Relations for Arvest Bank. Don is a 1974 graduate of the University of Arkansas, and began his career with Arvest as a Loan Officer in February of 1978. In 1984 he was appointed President and CEO of First National Bank, Siloam Springs, Arkansas until 1991 when he was appointed President and CEO of the Bank of Bentonville. He remained President in Bentonville until his move to Tulsa in 1998, where he served as President, CEO and Chairman of Arvest, Tulsa, Oklahoma for 17 years.
While living in Tulsa, Don served seven years as Chairman of the Board of Land Legacy, a nonprofit land trust based in Tulsa. He was a member of the Tulsa Open Space Alliance, and held prominent volunteer positions with other organizations.
He returned to Northwest Arkansas in January of 2015 as Regional Executive of Arvest, overseeing the company's banks in Arkansas, until his retirement in early 2020. He remains active in economic and civic development in the region, and currently serves on the boards of the University of Arkansas Alumni Association, Boy Scouts of America - Westark Council, John Brown University, and Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.
Don is married to Sheroll Smith Walker. His pride and joy is his daughter, Jessica Walker Nohl and his grandson Walker Nohl (9). Jessica and Brent Nohl live in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The Northwest Arkansas Land Trust is thankful to Don for volunteering his time and expertise to advance our mission to preserve quality of life in our region through the permanent protection of land!