Arkansas Business

William Nolan Jr., Casey Laman and Robert Wilson Sr. and Jr. were among 34 Arkansas business leaders and notable professionals who died during the last year.

December 2011

Theodore Evert “Ted” Larimer, 91, the former publisher of the Green Forest Tribune and past president of the Arkansas Press Association, died Dec. 31, 2011. Larimer was also mayor of Green Forest for 20 years.

January

Lauraetta McBride Edgar, 81, founder of North Little Rock’s Star Bolt & Screw Co., died Jan. 24. Edgar co-founded Star Bolt & Screw in 1973 with her husband of 41 years, Rayburn J. Edgar, who preceded her in death in 1988.

February

Johnny Goode, 52, a longtime advertising executive for Arkansas Business, died Feb. 2 after a five-year battle with cancer. Goode joined the company in 1991 and retired in May 2011 due to the illness.

George Eugene Wimberly, 92, a former Little Rock mayor, city director, state representative and pharmacist, died Feb. 5. Wimberly was known for his friendship with former Little Rock Police Chief Jess F. “Doc” Hale, who fatally shot himself in 1988 after being accused of stealing less than $200 from Wimberly’s store.

March

William Nolan Jr., 72, chairman of Murphy Oil Corp.’s board of directors, died March 13. Nolan had been chairman since 2002 of the company founded by his uncle, Charles Murphy Jr.

Carl Wendell Flemister Jr., 50, owner and CEO of Vacation Tour & Travel Inc. of Conway, died March 19. Flemister was at a Mexican beach when he suffered a heart attack after nearly drowning in the ocean.

Jane Krutz, 86, supporter of the Arkansas Educational Television Network, died March 25. Krutz recruited and advocated for AETN for nearly 50 years.