Winthrop Aldrich Rockefeller, born in New York City, lived in Arkansas from 1953 to 1972. He attended Yale University and enlisted in the army at the onset of World War II. He graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA, and earned his commission in late 1941. Assigned to the 77th Infantry Division, he commanded Hotel Company, 305th Infantry Regiment, fighting in Guam, Leyte in the Philippines, and Okinawa. Wounded by a Japanese kamikaze attack on the transport ship Henrico, he survived as the senior army officer and was awarded two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three battle stars, and a Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one campaign star. By 1946, he had attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Rockefeller's friendship with Frank Newell, an Arkansan, inspired his move to Arkansas in 1953. He chaired the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission from 1955 to 1963, bringing over 600 industries to the state. Elected Governor of Arkansas in 1966 and re-elected in 1968, he was noted for prison reforms, stricter insurance regulations, the Freedom of Information Act, shutting down illegal gambling, and reorganizing state government. He continued service in both active and inactive Army Reserve roles, attaining the final rank of Colonel. Tonight, his grandson Winthrop Rockefeller Jr. accepts the medallion for Colonel Rockefeller.