Barr to receive 2026 Jack White Community Leadership Award - Talk Business & Politics
Michael “Mike” Barr, a third-generation leader of a family-owned manufacturing business in Fort Smith who is active in local, state and national organizations, will receive the 2026 Jack White Community. . .
Michael “Mike” Barr, a third-generation leader of a family-owned manufacturing business in Fort Smith who is active in local, state and national organizations, will receive the 2026 Jack White Community Leadership Award, according to the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. Since 1990, the award has recognized community and business leaders who have had a significant impact on the area. The award is part of the Leadership Fort Smith program, with both managed by the Fort Smith chamber. Barr will be presented with the award at the Leadership Fort Smith Commencement event on July 16, at the United States Marshals Museum. White was an employee of OG&E for 35 years, a U. S. Navy veteran, family man, and lifelong learner. He was highly regarded for his service, leadership, reputation and collaboration to make the Fort Smith a better place, according to the chamber. He died in 1997 at the age of 57. The void he left has since been “filled by the work of other leaders who carry his spirit of servant leadership, hard work, and determination in pushing for progress to get things done to make our region a better place to live,” the chamber has said. Barr has been president of Fort Smith-based WeatherBarr Windows & Doors since 2011 and has more than 26 years of experience in the window and door industry. He also serves as chair of the board of trustees for the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, is a director for the Arkansas Military Affairs Council, and is a director for the Federal Reserve Bank in Little Rock. His other contributions have included leadership roles with the Fort Smith chamber, Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, the United Way of Fort Smith Area, and the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He and his wife Greta have two daughters, Emily and Ellie. “I am truly honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award,” Barr told Talk Business & Politics. “My dad, Tom Barr, had the pleasure of working closely with Jack on chamber matters and spoke of Jack White’s legacy and how important it is for our communities. Jack White’s legacy is one of servant leadership and civic engagement. I am very proud to work hard to fulfill that legacy. ”LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTSFollowing are previous Jack White award recipients. 1990: Hazel Evans1991: Nancy Orr1992: Ross Pendergraft1993: David Olive1994: Sandi Sanders1995: no award given1996: Robert E. Miller1997: Ray Baker1998: Jim Spears1999: Josie Decker2000: Joel Stubblefield2001: Benny Gooden2002: Robert A. Young III2003: Carter Hunt2004: Charles Shuffield2005: Roland S. Boreham Jr. 2006: Dorothy Rappeport2007: Don Flanders2008: Edward “Sandy” Sanders2009: Mark Rumsey2010: Sister Judith Marie Keith2011: Philip H. Merry Jr. 2012: Sam M. Sicard (posthumously)2013: Melody Trimble2014: Ivy Owen2015: Col. Mark Anderson2016: Steve Clark2017: Sam T. Sicard2018: Dr. Jerry Stewart (posthumously)2019: Jason Green2020: Trent Goins and George McGill2021: Charolotte Tidwell2022: Bill Hanna2023: Tim Allen2024: Col. Andrew “Gus” Nash2025: Eddie Lee HerndonLEADERSHIP FORT SMITH CLASSFollowing are members of the Leadership Fort Smith class:Laura Asbill: Hampton InnKaren Barrera-Leon: ArcBestAshley Beasley: The Heritage GroupJerad Branham: Fort Smith Boys and Girls ClubNatalie Cadena: Waldron School DistrictRachel Dahl: Arkansas Colleges of Health EducationAlexis Durham-Brown: Harry RobinsonJennifer Faldon: ArcBestAshley Farrar: Landmark CPAsJim Garvey: Arkansas Air National Guard, 85th Fighter GroupStacy Gregory: Simmons BankTony Jones: Fort Smith Public SchoolsJacqui Lyle: Snelling StaffingRobert McClure: Sebastian County Prosecutors OfficeMolly Radhakrishnan: Real BrokerageIsaac Salazar: Antioch for Youth and FamilyDanielle Scheurer: ArcBestDr. Heather Scheurer: University of Arkansas at Fort SmithKimberly Starr: Fort Smith Public SchoolsMaddie Stojanovic: United Way of Fort Smith AreaBecky Stout: Edward JonesNicole Swanson: ERC PropertiesStephanie Whitaker: Mercy Hospital Fort SmithLori Winesburg: Arvest BankRelated