COMMENTARY: Sensible man still guides family

— Early in his life, Paul Carter had two choices, each about the same distance from the house where he was born 69 years ago.

The dirt road out front of his house cut north to Star City or south to Monticello.

Mr. Carter chose Monticello, a road that eventually led him to a career with an Arkansas company that has developed something of a reputation.

When he retired in 2003, Mr. Carter was the chief financial officer for Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Mr. Carter's life is the story of Arkansas, of America, says Jasper Howard, a longtime friend.

"Paul reaches throughmany layers of people," says Mr. Howard, who lives in Texarkana, Texas. "His bond is his handshake."

One of Paul Carter's first decisions was his best. He and his wife, June, elementaryschool sweethearts, have been married more than 50 years.

His original career path was to major in math at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and coach for a living. The summer before college, however, he umpired Little League baseball. One season of Little League parents led him to study accounting.

He started his career with Mr. Howard at Gibson's, the discount store chain. After Mr. Howard's family sold that business, Mr. Carter took a job with Sam Walton.

Mr. Howard quotes high praise from Mr. Walton, who once told Mr. Carter: "One of the better things that happened to me was when you came over the Boston Mountains to work with us."

About 10 years ago, Mr. Carter survived kidney cancer. Doctors discovered in May that it had returned. After a stay at M.D. Anderson in Houston, Mr. Carter is back in Bentonville, with his family standing vigil.

Saturday afternoon, Mr. Carter dispensed fatherly advice. To a granddaughter: Work hard. Study hard. Make a difference in the world.

To a grandson, who is studying the law: Take a 40-hour job next summer so you will know what it's like to work like the rest of theworld.

"He told my mother to be sure we get the bills paid on time," says his son Steve, a lawyer. "He told me don't argue so much."

On Friday, Steve helped his father compose a letter: His parents taught him about God, who is so powerful that He "spoke the world into existence. ... He loves me enough to save me through his Son," he wrote. "My parents taught me integrity is not just a fancy word. It is the moral obligation to do what you say you will do. ..."

Saturday afternoon, Mr. Carter was "extraordinarily peaceful," Steve reported.

"He's confident of the things he expressed in the letter. This is a transition, not an end."

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 13 on 09/24/2009

Upcoming Events