In April 2007 the University of Arkansas recognized former Wal-Mart executive Coleman H. “Cole” Peterson with the Volunteer of the Year Award, which recognizes “extraordinary loyalty, service, and leadership to the University of Arkansas and its programs.” In recognition of this achievement and in preparation for the award ceremony, Pryor Center staff conducted interviews with Peterson as well as many of his family, friends, and colleagues in both Northwest Arkansas and his hometown of Chicago, Illinois.
Coleman Peterson was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 6, 1948. He and his family moved to Chicago, Illinois, when he was three years old. Peterson earned a B.A. and an M.S. from Loyola University in Chicago, where he was in ROTC and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities. Peterson worked for Jewel-Osco stores as a college recruiter until graduating with his master's in 1977. He then began working for Venture Stores, Inc. and was promoted to vice president of organizational development. Peterson came to Walmart Inc. in 1994, where he was Executive Vice President of People for Walmart, Inc. Peterson was the first African American to serve in an executive role at the company. He retired from Wal-Mart in 2004.
These interviews capture a variety of perspectives on Peterson’s life and career and together provide a detailed portrait of a pathbreaking and significant figure in Northwest Arkansas’s business history.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Coleman Peterson and still frame from Pyror Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Composite image of early photo of Coleman Peterson (2nd row from top, 2nd from left) and still frame from Pyror Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Coleman Peterson in high school senior portrait
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Coleman Peterson (right) with his parents, George Sr. and Doris Peterson; July 1973
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Coleman Peterson (left) with his father, George Sr., at graduation
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Coleman Peterson with his wife, Shirley "Peaches" Hardy Peterson, at their wedding; 1975
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: Coleman Peterson (left) with his father-in-law, Lovett Hardy, at Peterson's wedding; 1975
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#8: Coleman Peterson, ca. late 1970s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Coleman and Peaches Peterson, ca late 1970s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Coleman Peterson at work, ca. late 1970s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Coleman and Peaches Peterson, ca. late 1970s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: Coleman and Peaches Peterson, ca. late 1970s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#13: Coleman and Peaches Peterson with their daughter, Rana, 1980
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: Coleman and Peaches Peterson with their daughter, Rana, and son, Collin; ca. early 1990s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Coleman and Peaches Peterson with their daughter, Rana, and son, Collin; ca. early 1990s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Coleman Peterson at work
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#17: Coleman Peterson dancing with Walmart employee
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Coleman Peterson in sombrero speaking at a Walmart event
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#19: Coleman Peterson (right) with his father-in-law, Lovett Hardy
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#20: Coleman Peterson (right) with his brother, George Peterson Jr.
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#21: Coleman Peterson's children, Rana (left) and Collin; ca. 1990s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#22: Coleman Peterson at Make A Wish Foundation event, Northwest Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#23: Coleman Peterson (driving) with his family on a safari tour
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#24: Coleman Peterson with Walmart employee Norma
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#25: Coleman Peterson (right) receiving BRAG Business Achievement Award, 1998
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#26: Coleman Peterson (right) and his wife, Peaches, with Gregory Hines
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#27: Coleman Peterson (left) with Colin Powell
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#28: Coleman Peterson with Myrlie Evers
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#29: Coleman Peterson (left) with his wife, Peaches, and Mike Huckabee
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#30: Coleman Peterson receiving an honorary degree from Philander Smith University
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#31: Coleman Peterson (far right) with his wife, Peaches (2nd from left) and friends
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#32: Coleman Peterson (center) with his father-in-law, Lovett Hardy, and his son, Collin
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#33: Coleman and Peaches Peterson with their daughter, Rana, and son, Collin
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#34: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Johnetta Brazzell; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#35: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with John Daniels; Rogers, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#36: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Mike Duke; Rogers, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#37: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with G. David Gearhart; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#38: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Lovett Hardy; Chicago, Illinois, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#39: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Sarah Hardy; Chicago, Illinois, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#40: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Coleman Peterson; Rogers, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#41: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Collin Peterson; Rogers, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#42: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Doris Peterson; Chicago, Illinois, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#43: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with George Peterson; Chicago, Illinois, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#44: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Shirley "Peaches" Peterson; Rogers, Arkansas 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#45: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Rana Peterson; Chicago, Illinois, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#46: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Don Soderquist; Rogers, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#47: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Anita Stovall; Little Rock, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#48: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Willard Stovall; Little Rock, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#49: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Celia Swanson; Rogers, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#50: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with Dick Trammel; Rogers, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#51: Still frame from Pyror Center video interview with John White; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
