Henderson State University’s athletic center will soon carry the name of an alumnus and former athlete who remains a generous supporter of the university. The C.E. “Buddy” Formby Athletic Center will be officially dedicated during a ceremony on Feb. 25 from 4-5 p.m.
The athletic center, which opened in 2003, is home to Henderson’s Reddies football team. It houses locker rooms, classrooms, administrative offices and Henderson's state of the art weight training and conditioning facility used by all the school's sports teams. It also contains a separate hydrotherapy room, office space, and a physician’s exam room. Following the ceremony, a sign on the building will read “Formby Athletic Center.”
A native of Prescott, Formby graduated from Henderson in 1961, earning a bachelor of science in education degree. He was a four-year letterman in football for the Reddies. After teaching and coaching for more than a year at Helena, he began his business career with Helena Chemical Co. in 1963 as a salesman, becoming president of the company in 1973. He served in that capacity until 1977 when it was sold to Bayer Chemical.
In 1985, Formby and a group of investors acquired MicroFlo Co. in Lakeland, Fla. While he served as president, CEO, and chairman of the board, it became the second-largest generic agricultural chemical manufacturer in the U.S. Formby retired in 2000 and is now managing his investments and consulting in various capacities. He also serves as a board member and officer of a medical supply company and a medical staffing company.
Throughout his career, Formby has been involved in numerous national agricultural organizations, which have been responsible for stewarding worker safety and environmental preservations within the crop-protection industry. Formby serves on Henderson’s Foundation Board. He is a distinguished alumnus of Henderson, an entrepreneur of the year, a member of the Henderson Sports Hall of Honor, and he was inducted into Henderson’s School of Business Hall of Fame. He is married to Betty McKenzie Formby and they live in Hot Springs.
A special presentation will be made later in the evening on Feb. 25 during halftime of the basketball version of the “Battle of the Ravine” when the Reddies host the OBU Tigers at Wells Gym.
Submitted by HSU
Prescott, Ark. —
