Photo: The management team for Duffield Gravel Company includes (from left) David Duffield, Luke Duffield, Matt Duffield and Peyton Duffield.

Duffield Gravel Company of Russellville, which has partnered with University of the Ozarks on the new Wilson Athletic Complex as well as other recent facility projects, will receive the University's 2024 Community Champion Award.

The award will be presented during the Ozarks Awards Ceremony, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 18, as part of the University's Homecoming 2024 ceremonies.

The Community Champion Award was created in 2019 and is given to an individual or company that has worked "cohesively with University of the Ozarks to move the University and community forward together." The recipient is selected by the University administration.

Duffield Gravel Company was founded by Ronnie Duffield in 1971 with one location and four employees. Fifty-four years later it has grown into the third generation of Duffields with six quarries and 65 employees in five counties. In addition to the quarry operations, Luke and David Duffield own and operate Blackstone Construction, a heavy highway asphalt paving company with plants in Russellville, Plumerville and Mena, as well as utilities division and Mobley Concrete Company with ready mix plants in Russellville, Dardanelle, Morrilton, Searcy, Newport and Harrisburg.

Matt Duffield owns and operates Big River Materials, a sand and topsoil operation in Russellville. Peyton Duffield has recently rejoined the company after obtaining a civil engineering degree from University of Alabama and Eleanor Duffield could join the team after graduation from the University of Arkansas school of Law.

The company has partnered with the University on numerous University facility projects, including the Wilson Athletic Complex, the strength and conditioning center, and parking and roadways near the athletic facilities. In addition, the company has donated numerous hours and equipment to the University on these and other projects.

The connection between the Duffield family and University of the Ozarks goes back to 1958 when Ronnie Duffield came to the college on a basketball scholarship. Although he didn't stay, the college made an impact on him. In the late 1980s, his nephew, Roger Kendrick, led U of O to the NAIA national men's basketball tournament and became the first family member to graduate from the University.

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