Harding University presents honorary doctorate to longtime board member

SEARCY, Ark. — Bentonville resident Paul Carter received an honorary
Doctorate of Laws degree from Harding University Sept. 28 during the
University’s annual Lectureship.

Carter has served for 25 years on the Board of Trustees at Harding and
served as chairman for four years. He currently serves as treasurer
and is on the Executive Committee. He also serves on a board of the
Community Care Corp. and the Cintas Corp.

Harding President David B. Burks presented the degree plaque to
Carter’s granddaughters, Rachel Carter and Robyn Carter, both students
at the University. They accepted the award on behalf of their
grandfather who was unable to attend due to illness.

Carter began his career with Wal-Mart in 1977 as controller and was
later named chief financial officer. He was elected to the Wal-Mart
Board of Directors in 1988. As CFO, he was responsible for the
operation of Wal-Mart, which, at that time, included 1,735 Wal-Mart
stores, 212 Sam’s Wholesale Clubs, 18 supercenters, and 4 hyper marts.
In 1995 he was named president of Wal-Mart Realty, and in that
position he oversaw the real estate construction of Wal-Mart stores
valued at approximately $20 billion. Prior to joining Wal-Mart, Carter
was the CFO of Howard Gipco Corp.

Carter serves as an elder in the Bentonville Church of Christ and has
been very active in serving the church through his lifetime. He and
his wife, June, have three children, Stephen, Stephanie Howell, and
Samuel, along with seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.