Winthrop P. Rockefeller served as Arkansas’ lieutenant governor from 1996 until his death in 2006. The sons of former Arkansas Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller and the great-grandson of John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, Rockefeller and his father were committed to helping Arkansas develop and expand its capacity to serve its citizens

Rockefeller was running for governor of Arkansas but withdrew when doctors discovered he had an unclassifiable myeloproliferative disorder, a rare bone marrow disease in which excessive blood cells are manufactured. In some patients, the disease can transform into acute leukemia.

He traveled out of state for treatment because a comprehensive program for his condition was not available in Arkansas. Despite his illness, Rockefeller devoted time after his diagnosis to help raise awareness about the importance of bone marrow donation.

The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation has made a more than $12 million gift to the Cancer Institute that will in part fund creation of a new leukemia/lymphoma program. The newly established program includes two endowed chairs, one named for Lt. Gov. Rockefeller and one for his father, Gov. Rockefeller. It is enabled in part by UAMS’ telemedicine capabilities that connect cancer professionals at the Cancer Institute with communities throughout Arkansas.

Rockefeller was a past member of the Cancer Institute’s Foundation Board, along with his wife, Lisenne.