Arkansas Blog

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A son of the late architect Paul Young Jr., Paul Young III, honored a northwest Arkansas leader and close family friend, Don Tyson, with the gift of a hog statue located in front of the John W. Tyson Poultry Science Building.

“Today’s dedication ceremony brought together two families who have played a significant role in the development of northwest Arkansas,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “Having grown up in Fayetteville, I can say both of these families have had a substantial impact on our community. I am pleased to have a new statue on our campus that represents their generous, philanthropic hearts.”

Paul Young Jr. assisted in the design of five Arkansas state parks. In 1933, he was assigned to Devil’s Den, fell in love with the area, and decided to open an architectural firm, Paul Young & Associates. Over the next 48 years, he designed many of the churches, schools, commercial, industrial and residential structures in the area. He also designed the University of Arkansas Law School and the Delta Gamma House, now University House. In 2006, the Young family decided to memorialize their father by naming the large gallery of Vol Walker Hall in his honor.

Tyson Foods Inc. was founded in Springdale shortly after Paul Young Jr. came to Devil’s Den, and today it is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef and pork. The company has approximately 107,000 team members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Over the years, the Tyson family has made their mark around the world, and their local impact is evident on the University of Arkansas campus. Some of the areas they support include the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House, the University of Arkansas Press, the Sigma Nu House, the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Oral and Visual History, the Randal Tyson Track Center, and priceless support of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.