Very few people know what a “touch talker” is. Any guesses?
According to Sharon Moone-Jochums, CEO of Easter Seals Arkansas, a “touch talker” is a piece of equipment that serves as the voice for a child whose particular disability limits or inhibits speech. The device has a keyboard with pictures and an alphabet so the child can select or type what he or she wants to say. “Once the child has the device, he or she can participate in conversations at home, at school and with friends,” she said.
A decade ago, Easter Seals Arkansas was in dire need of a “touch talker” to help communicate with some of the children they serve. Sheffield Nelson and his wife of 48 years and high school sweetheart, Mary Lynn, were taking a tour of the facility, became aware of the need and committed to purchase one on the spot. “We agreed that there was no way we could refuse to help these children make a dramatic leap forward in their ability to learn and compete in life,” he said.
According to many, this selfless act of kindness is just par for the course for Nelson, a partner at Jack Nelson Jones Jiles & Gregory, P.A. and father of three daughters, Cindi Zieres of Fort Worth, Laura Hendrian of Hesperia, Mich., and Lynn Nelson (deceased). “Sheffield never does anything with the thought of receiving personal recognition,” said Moone-Jochums. “He has helped so many people—business leaders, non-profit directors and individuals with his time and hard work. He’s behind-the-scenes of more projects benefiting the state than we can imagine.”
His dedication to the organization as well as to the state through business, economic development, conservation and fundraising efforts is why he’s being honored by Easter Seals as Arkansan of the Year on March 2 at the Statehouse Convention Center. “This event is very important to Easter Seals because it is their largest fundraiser each year,” Nelson said, “plus it gets them a tremendous amount of positive exposure throughout the state. My singular goal is to assist them in raising the most money possible to help them expand and improve their programs.”
Over the past 15 years, Nelson has served as the event’s chairman more than once, and according to Moone-Jochums, he’s helped raise more than $1 million for the organization. Needless to say, he’s been instrumental in changing the lives of numerous children and adults who receive services from Easter Seals. As honoree, Nelson’s only charge this year is to relax and enjoy the ceremony, but that might be his most difficult job yet. “I must admit, after serving as chairman three times, I find it difficult to let others do all the work,” he said. “We have a great chairman this year, Gus Vratsinas, so I will try to just sit back and enjoy it.”
As anyone who knows Nelson can attest, he’s quite the outdoorsman. He was appointed as a member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in 2000 and served as chairman from 2006 to 2007. He also previously served as a member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation board of directors, the nonprofit, fundraising auxiliary of the AGFC. It was no surprise when Nelson left immediately after our photo shoot to go on a hunting trip.
It’s because of his enthusiasm for the Arkansas outdoors that Easter Seals has themed this year’s event Sheffield Nelson: He’s a Natural. A VIP cocktail reception will begin at 5 p.m. and feature a meet-and-greet with Nelson’s good friend and honorary event chairman, Jerry Jones, and a few of the Dallas Cowboys and cheerleaders. A cocktail reception will follow at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Lawrence Hamilton will entertain.
Some of the live auction items include a bear cub visiting session from the AGFC; a trip to Colorado and a cocktail party provided by Ed and Angela Moody; jewelry from Roberson’s Jewelers; a box at the Cowboy’s stadium for the Razorback’s vs. Aggie’s game; a trip to Costa Rica; and a duck hunting trip.
Tickets to the event are $200 per person and can be purchased by calling Easter Seals at 227-3700, or by visiting Ar.EasterSeals.com.
The Backstory
Named after his maternal grandfather, Nelson was born in Keevil (Monroe County). “My father was an itinerant worker,” he said, “so I lived in Clarendon, Brinkley, West Helena and Wynne before returning to Brinkley for my final years of school, graduating in 1959.” After high school, Nelson obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Arkansas State Teachers College (now University of Central Arkansas). He then obtained his LLB (Bachelor of Laws) from Arkansas Law School and his juris doctor degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law. He was the first in his immediate family to obtain a college degree.
In 1963, the day after he graduated from college, he began working for Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company (Arkla), and over the years worked his way up from junior engineer trainee to chief executive officer. Nelson says his greatest professional accomplishment was taking Arkla from what Wall Street observers called a “hum-drum utility” to one of the most respected companies in the natural gas industry. During his time with Arkla, the company was selected as the best-managed gas utility and pipeline company in the country by The Survey of Wall Street Research, and Nelson was named Outstanding CEO by The Wall Street Transcript. He was praised by many for keeping gas prices lower through a system he created known as Replacement Cost Pricing, which resulted in significantly smaller gas bills for residential customers.
He retired from Arkla in 1984 and became partner with the law firm, House, Wallace, Nelson & Jewell. “I have been a part of that firm, and successor firms, since that time, currently serving as a partner of Jack Nelson Jones Jiles & Gregory,” he said. Through the years, he’s been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including March of Dimes’ Arkansas Citizen of the Year, National Conference of Christians and Jews’ Brotherhood award and being selected as one of the Jaycees’ 10 Outstanding Young Men in America in 1973, among others. He was also candidate for governor in 1990 and ’94; created Committee for A Better Arkansas; Committee for a Fair Severance Tax; Citizens United Against Gambling; and served on the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
As a child growing up in rural Arkansas, Nelson says he didn’t have a particular career goal in mind, but knew he wanted to be successful. “I was determined to escape the bonds of poverty,” he said. “I truly believe the way out of poverty, and the way to achieve the most you can in life is to get a college education,” he said. With that in mind, Nelson said he’s created a number of scholarships “designed to award outstanding and needy students.” One of these scholarships is the Arkansas Service Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships up to $2,500 per year for any Arkansas student who has lost a parent in service to the city, county, state or federal government. “I want every Arkansan to have the opportunity to pursue higher education, and I have tried to assist as many students as I can in doing so.”