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Don Soderquist, Former Wal-Mart COO, Dies at 82

2 min read

Former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executive Don Soderquist died Thursday from complications following heart surgery. He was 82.

Soderquist joined Wal-Mart in 1980 after being recruited by Sam Walton to leave the Ben Franklin Stores chain in Chicago. He served in several executive vice president positions before being named chief operating officer and vice chairman in 1988.

A memorial service for Soderquist is set for 10 a.m. Friday, July 29, at Fellowship Bible Church of Northwest Arkansas in Rogers.

Soderquist retired from Wal-Mart in 2000. He was inducted to the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame in 2011 and founded the Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics at John Brown University, where he served on the board of trustees from 1982 to 2009. In 2014, JBU named its business college after Soderquist.

Soderquist’s Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Induction Video

“He had a unique ability to make others feel valued through his genuine interest in them as people,” said Soderquist Leadership CEO Chuck Hyde in a statement. “His driving motivation ‘to impact people in a positive way,’ I believe, is the mark he left on Walmart and why Soderquist Leadership exists today.  

“We will miss him terribly but we know his expectations for us. We are blessed to do good work and will carry that forward to impact people and honor his legacy.”

In a statement, JBU President Chip Pollard, Soderquist’s nephew, and Pollard’s wife Carey said Soderquist gave generously of his time, wisdom and resources.

“Don had a knack for making people feel valued, loved and appreciated,” they said.

Donald G. Soderquist was born Jan. 29, 1934, in Chicago. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wheaton College in Illinois in 1955. He has received three honorary degrees —from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., and Judson College in Chicago.

From 1964 to 1980, Soderquist was with Ben Franklin Stores, rising through the ranks to serve as president and CEO for the last six years of his tenure.

At Wal-Mart, he was executive vice president of administration and logistics from 1980 to 1985, executive vice president of operations and administration from 1985 to 1988, vice chairman and chief operating officer from 1988 to 1999, and senior vice chairman from 1999 to 2000.

“I was foolish enough to tell them when I joined the company … that the great growth years were over but we could still grow the company,” Soderquist told Arkansas Business in 2000. “That shows you how much I know.”

Soderquist was often credited for his strong influence on the company’s culture, which includes cheerleading chants before meetings.

“I wasn’t trying to be Mr. Culture,” Soderquist said in the 2000 article. “No one could replace Sam Walton.”

Soderquist Leadership honored Soderquist on its website early Friday.

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