Former Fayetteville Mayor Fred Vorsanger dies at 88

Fred Vorsanger
Fred Vorsanger

FAYETTEVILLE -- Fred Vorsanger was a man deeply entrenched in the city at all levels, from charitable work to politics to higher education, according to those who knew him.

Vorsanger, 88, served as mayor, City Council member and university administrator.

He died Thursday.

Vorsanger was the last mayor under Fayetteville's city manager-city board form of government. He sat on the City Board from 1989 to 1992, serving as mayor from 1991 to 1992. He served two more years on the council for Ward 3.

Former University of Arkansas Chancellor Dan Ferritor said Vorsanger championed the city and became a sort of "one-man chamber of commerce."

Until 1992, the city's board members selected a mayor while the city manager served as the chief administrator. The title of mayor was largely ceremonial. Vorsanger changed that, Ferritor said.

"You would never have known it was ceremonial with the way Fred Vorsanger went after it and the effort he put into it," he said.

Woody Bassett served on the City Council with Vorsanger in the early 1990s. Vorsanger's knowledge and experience brought a unique dynamic to city government, he said.

"Fred was a fine man. He deeply cared about Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas," he said. "He was a person who had a wonderful sense of humor and was just a delight to be around."

The university hired Vorsanger in 1968, and he went on to become vice president of financial affairs, a title he held until 1984. Then he was executive director of the University of Arkansas Foundation.

Vorsanger played an instrumental role in the construction of Bud Walton Arena. He managed the "Basketball Palace of Mid-America" from the time it was built in 1993 until he retired in 2009 at the age of 81.

Former Chancellor David Gearheart said during Vorsanger's retirement party "there was no decision made that Fred didn't put his stamp on it."

Retirement didn't stop Vorsanger from continuing to work in the city. He was senior policy adviser for the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce until 2015.

Steve Clark, chamber president, said he and Vorsanger became good friends during their days at the university. Clark was assistant dean at the School of Law while Vorsanger was chief financial officer.

"He was invaluable to not just me and our chamber team, but to the city and the people he knew," Clark said. "Fred was a perfect gentleman. He touched so many hearts and so many lives."

One day, Vorsanger called Clark into his office. Clark thought maybe he was going to get a tour of Bud Walton Arena, but that wasn't the case.

"He said, 'Now don't tell anybody, but I'm thinking about retiring, and if I do, will you have a job for me at the chamber?' I said, 'I will,'" Clark recalled. "He said, 'What does it pay?' I said, '$1 a year, cash in advance.'"

Vorsanger came to work every day for the chamber. He showed the same commitment to Rotary International.

Mike Gibbs, director of Webster University in Fayetteville, said Vorsanger probably had 50 years of perfect attendance and served as governor for District 6110, one of the largest in the nation.

"He never missed a meeting. He was always there, rain or shine," Gibbs said. "He just never would have even thought about not making a Rotary meeting."

Vorsanger also served on boards for Tyson Foods, Arvest, Ozark Guidance, Area Agency on Aging and many others. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including Fayetteville Citizen of the Year, Kiwanis Citizen of the Year and the chamber's Golden Deeds award.

"He's just going to be so sorely missed on so many levels by so many generations," Clark said.

He is survived by his wife, Doreen, two sons, a daughter and five grandchildren.

Nelson-Berna Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements.

NW News on 01/14/2017

Upcoming Events