When most of us hear the name Bill Fleeman, we think of an entrepreneur who had great success as a grocer, developer, builder and businessman. But those who know Bill can say with certainty that he was a gentleman of distinction in all facets of life. His friends and family call him a teacher, a mentor and a believer that our talents and gifts will provide us with a strong sense of purpose. Bill has a sense of purpose in business, founding Car-Mart in 1981, a business that would become the largest independantly owned used car company in the United States. But Bill also had strong and definitive commitment to his family and friends. Bill and his wife Jeannie had four children and he held grweat love and admiration for them all. He also adored his five granddaughters. Through life’s adversities, including a hard fight against cancer, Bill’s spirit inspired him to achieve purpose by accepting his choices and learning from his many life lessons. In 1999, Bill lost his fight against cancer, but his memory lives on through his family’s commitment to helping agencies like HOPE assist cancer patients and further cancer research. It is because of his family’s commitment that HOPE is able to honor a gentlemen tonight with this award named for a true gentlemen of distinction: Bill Fleeman