W. C. “Buddy” Coleman

W. C. “Buddy” Coleman a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, graduated from Louisiana State University. Mr. Coleman served as an Air Force officer for two years during the Korean War. After completing his military service in 1953, Mr. Coleman joined the family business, Coleman Dairy, and has served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of that company. In times of prosperity and in times of adversity, he has maintained a level of balance in his management style that has enabled Coleman Dairy to maintain a high level of commitment to customers, employees and the community in general. In 1988, Mr. Coleman was honored as the “Top Manager of the Year” by the Sales & Marketing Executives Association of Little Rock. He has been very active in dairy organizations and advisory boards, serving both as vice-president and president of the Quality Chekd Dairy Products Association. He was a member of the Advisory Committee to the Arkansas Grade “A” Milk Program and has served as a board member for the National Dairy Council. Mr. Coleman’s community service has assumed a variety of forms. He has served as president and board member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. He served as chairman of the Pioneer District, Boys Scouts of America, president of the Little Rock Downtown Kiwanis Club and president of the Little Rock Boys Club. Mr. Coleman also conducted a rather unique second career: for 26 years he was a Southwest Conference Football Official, working in over 250 college football games. He officiated in two Cotton Bowl Games, five Sugar Bowl Games, two Gator Bowl games, two Orange Bowl Games, two Fiesta Bowl Games and the Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, Japan.