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Dr. Neil Compton

A Legacy Rooted in Conservation

“The challenge goes on. There are other lands and rivers, other wilderness areas, to save and to share with all. I challenge you to step forward to protect and care for the wild places you love best.”

— Dr. Neil Compton

Neil Ernest Compton (August 1, 1912 – February 10, 1999) was many things to many people—a beloved local physician, a dedicated family man, a skilled writer and photographer, and one of Arkansas’s most influential conservationists. His life’s work helped preserve one of the state’s greatest natural treasures: the Buffalo River.
Early Life and Medical Career
Born in Benton County to David Compton Jr. and Ida Etta Wilmoth Compton, Neil Compton developed a love for the Ozarks at a young age. He attended Bentonville public schools and graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1935 with degrees in zoology and geology. He married Laurene Putman of Bentonville—his college sweetheart and lifelong canoeing partner—that same year, and together they had three children: Ellen, Edra, and Bill.

Compton earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in Little Rock in 1939. His first job was as a county health officer in Washington and Bradley counties. During World War II, from 1942 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Navy’s medical corps and was stationed in Guadalcanal, as well as other locations in the South Pacific. He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1972 with the rank of captain, joking that he had “delivered enough babies to staff his own Navy.” After the war, he returned to Benton County to open a private practice in gynecology and obstetrics.

The Compton Family Home
In 1951, Laurene and her mother, Eddie Putman, purchased land near downtown Bentonville and built the Compton family home. The six-acre property lies between what is now Compton Gardens & Arboretum and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Architect Cecil Stansfield designed the residence, which would house three generations of the Putman-Compton family. The lower level—now used as administrative offices by the Peel Compton Foundation—was once home to Dr. Compton, Laurene, and their children. The exhibit room was originally a carport, and what are now boardrooms were part of the mother-in-law suite. A historic map on display shows how the property appeared during the Compton family’s time.

Later Contributions and Honors

Throughout his life, Dr. Compton remained dedicated to conservation and education. He wrote several influential books, including:

The High Ozarks: A Vision of Eden (1982)

a photographic exploration of the Ozark region

The Battle for the Buffalo River: A Conservation Crisis in the Ozarks (1992)

nominated for a National Book Award

The Buffalo River in Black and White

a visual chronicle of the river’s landscapes
He received numerous accolades for his contributions:

American Motors Conservation Award (1964)

Distinguished Arkansas Conservationist Award (1966)

Honorary National Park Ranger Designation (1987)

Arkansiana Award from the Arkansas Library Association (1993)

Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award (1990)

Ageless Hero Award for Community Service (1998)

In 1973, the Ozark Society established the Neil Compton Award, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to conservation in the Ozarks.

Dr. Neil Compton passed away on February 10, 1999, at the age of 86. His ashes were divided—part buried next to Laurene at Pea Ridge Cemetery, and part returned to the Buffalo River he worked so passionately to protect.

In May 2005, Compton Gardens & Arboretum was formally dedicated in his honor. This space not only preserves the legacy of native plant conservation but also invites the community to gather, learn, and connect with the land Dr. Compton loved so deeply.

Today, the Ozark Society continues his work by publishing environmental literature, leading outdoor adventures, and advocating for the protection of wild places across Arkansas and Louisiana.

Through his words, actions, and enduring landscapes, Dr. Neil Compton remains a guiding spirit for conservation in Arkansas and beyond.

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