SPRINGDALE — Mike Luttrell is following in the footsteps of his father.
Adrian Luttrell won the Springdale Chamber of Commerce’s Civic Service Award in 1988. Mike Luttrell was named as the award winner for 2013 at Tuesday’s chamber banquet.
“This is a high honor for me and my family,” Mike Luttrell said. “I love this community.”
Mike Luttrell, like his father, has participated in many organizations that touch the lives of Springdale residents. Those organizations include the Springdale School Board, Arts Center of the Ozarks, the Jones Trust and Rodeo of the Ozarks.
At A Glance
Springdale Chamber of Commerce Banquet
Award winners and officers
-45th Civic Service Award Winner: Mike Luttrell
-Chamber Ambassador of the Year: Glen Plumlee
-Incoming chairman: Todd Wood
-Outgoing chairman: J. Max Van Hoose
Source: Springdale Chamber of Commerce
“He is very deserving of the award,” said Tex Holt, a member of the Rodeo of the Ozarks Board. “He comes from a quality family that has done a lot of good for the city and Northwest Arkansas.”
Adrian Luttrell, who works with his son at Walker Brothers Insurance, also was on several boards. He was a member of the School Board, the hospital board and the Chamber of Commerce, said Walter Turnbow, a retired Springdale businessman.
In 2010, Luttrell was the chairman of the chamber board, a position his father also held.
“They may be the first father and son to win the award where both were also chamber board chairmen,” said Bill Rogers, chamber vice president.
Mike Luttrell is in line to be the president of the School Board next year, said Jim Rollins, Springdale schools superintendent.
“He is the vice president this year,” Rollins said. “If the usual practices are followed, he would become the president.”
Luttrell has been an advocate for improving education in the district, Rollins said.
“He focuses on providing an excellent education for all kids,” he said.
Mayor Doug Sprouse said he served on the School Board with Mike Luttrell. Luttrell is a great advocate for Springdale, he said.
“Mike is a good sounding board,” Sprouse said. “He has a good grasp on the temperature of the community.”
Luttrell helped the Jones Center maintain connections with other organizations, said Ed Clifford, chief executive officer of the Jones Trust.
“He has been a great board member,” Clifford said. “He’s very involved with the center.”
Luttrell has also been a big help to the rodeo over the years, said Tom Reed, rodeo board member.
“If you need help, he is always willing,” Reed said.
His talents, however, didn’t include having a steady seat in the saddle, Holt said. Board members would always ride in the rodeo parade.
“Mike was a little shaky in the saddle,” Holt said
“Mike and I would try to avoid being the first to fall off their horse,” said Rollins, also a board member.
Luttrell is a Springdale native and a 1986 graduate of Springdale High School. He is a vice president of Walker Brothers Insurance.
Luttrell also participated in the United Way as campaign chairman in 1998 and 1999 and board chairman in 2002-03. He was president of the Springdale Rotary Club in 1998-99 and is currently the vice president of the NorthWest Arkansas Community College Foundation.
Other father and son award winners include Phil Phillips Sr. and Phil Phillips Jr. and Gene and Gary George, Rogers said. Husband and wife winners include Harvey and Bernice Jones and Willard and Pat Walker, Rogers said.