Governor Sanders Appoints Randy Lawson to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees

LITTLE ROCK — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced that she has appointed Randy Lawson to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. He is filling the seat formerly held by Tommy Boyer, who recently passed, and his term will expire on March 1, 2027.
“Randy is a champion for Arkansas education, a great businessman, and a lifelong Razorback,” said Governor Sanders. “I am honored to have him serve on the University of Arkansas’ Board of Trustees and continue his decades of service to our state. He is a close friend and I know he will help my administration spearhead our plans to make Arkansas’ higher education system better and more accessible to all.”
“I am truly honored that Governor Sanders offered me the opportunity to serve my alma mater, the University of Arkansas, on the Board of Trustees. I have been a Razorback my entire life and look forward to continuing to support my university. I am also looking forward to working with the current Board of Trustees and the entire leadership team at the U of A system to further the mission and strive for excellence in everything,” said Randy Lawson.
Randy is an entrepreneurial businessman engaged primarily in energy development, real estate development and other angel or venture capital investment businesses. In 1985 he founded the original entity of the Lawco Energy Group and later organized his multiple real estate companies and other affiliates. The Lawco team is technology-driven, utilizing leading-edge technologies to mitigate risk and increase the probability for success.
He has prior experience in management with Gulf Oil Corporation in Houston, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Randy is a long-time member of the Independent Petroleum Association of America and multiple other energy industry professional organizations.
Randy currently serves on the Arvest Bank Benton County Board of Directors, and previously served as the past Chairman of the Board for Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas, on the Aspen Heights board, as the past Chairman of Economics Arkansas, and currently serves as an advisor on the Geosciences Advisory Board within the College of Arts and Science and as an executive advisor to the Dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas.

Randy served as a former Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Arkansas State Board of Education following his appointment by then-Governor Mike Huckabee for a six-year term. He also was elected and served as a Trustee and Secretary of The Northwest Arkansas Community College Board of Directors.
Randy currently serves as a Commissioner on the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission following an appointment by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of Business Executives for National Security.
Randy previously was elected and served for ten years on the Bentonville Public Schools Board of Education in Bentonville, Arkansas, serving as President for two years and in all other officer positions. He is a former Chairman of the Excellerate Foundation Board of Directors and currently or has previously served numerous other national, regional, and local civic, professional, or non-profit organizations over the last thirty-plus years. Additionally, he has voluntarily coached more than thirty boys’ and girls’ youth sports teams in baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, and football.
In 2024 Randy was honored by his alma mater, the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas (B.S.B.A with emphasis in Economics and Geology 1981) and was a former Razorback football player under Coach Frank Broyles and Coach Lou Holtz. Randy and his wife, Valorie, have been married for over forty-three years and are members of Cross Church. They have two children and four grandchildren. His son, Aaron, and daughter, Rachel, both work within the family office.