BENTONVILLE -- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Chancellor Charles Robinson was elected the new presiding co-chairman of the Northwest Arkansas Council without dissent in a voice vote of the 290 members present Wednesday night at the group's annual meeting and reception.

Mark Simmons of Siloam Springs, chairman of Simmons Foods, was honored at the same meeting as the seventh honorary lifetime council member in the group's 35-year history.

Simmons, a founding member of the group, still attends council business meetings. His efforts on behalf of the council are invaluable, departing presiding co-chairman Nick Hobbs said in presenting the award.

"I didn't know about this until I read the back of the program" after arriving at Wednesday's meeting, Simmons said after the ceremony.

The m

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