Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsMonday, March 17, 2008 9:47 AM CDT
Comments Comments (19) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Clinton's library builder vanishes from Arkansas amid audit
By Jon Gambrell
Associated Press Writer
Advertisement

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- John Glasgow had a healthy salary, with an opportunity to pick up stock in the construction company where he worked. He was the kind of guy who paid back a $500 bonus he got for completing an anti-smoking program because he started to light up again.

But now Glasgow has been missing since Jan. 28, with his car was found abandoned the next day, and family and police say it’s impossible to tell whether he killed himself, was abducted or left to start a new life elsewhere.

His family said the easygoing 45-year-old felt overwhelmed and anxious about a company audit, but the company says no money is missing.

Police say there is no evidence of foul play, and no clues to his whereabouts.

“He may be under some kind of compulsion ... some kind of blackmail, that’s a scenario you could dream up,” said his brother, Roger Glasgow. “We’re not suggesting any of these scenarios because we just don’t know. But it does open up a Pandora’s box of possibilities.”

John Glasgow was the chief financial officer of CDI Contractors LLC of Little Rock, owned by department-store chain Dillard’s Inc. and the estate of co-founder Bill Clark. It has built or remodeled many of Dillard’s 300-plus department stores and put up some of Arkansas’ signature projects, including Bill Clinton’s presidential library, and had estimated sales last year of $432.9 million. Dillard’s Inc. had 2007 sales of $7.81 billion.

With Clark’s death last year, Dillard’s has the option to buy his shares, but it has discussed letting CDI employees buy Clark’s shares instead. Glasgow was in charge of the redistribution and himself stood to buy a part of the company.

Glasgow’s family and colleagues say that multimillion-dollar deal weighed heavily on him.

Weeks before his disappearance, his wife Melinda found him pacing in their kitchen as the end-of-the-year audit period approached. Dillard’s had sent “absolutely relentless” auditors to review CDI’s books, she said.

Roger Glasgow said John tapped his own phone after perceiving a threat over CDI’s depreciation of its assets. Depreciation, a standard accounting practice, figures how business assets, such as equipment, lose value over time.

Recordings from the tapped phone line revealed no further threats, he said.

Dillard’s representatives did not return calls from The Associated Press seeking comment. In a joint statement with CDI, Dillard’s told the weekly newspaper Arkansas Business nothing was wrong with CDI’s accounting.

William Clark, president and CEO of CDI and the son of its founder, said Glasgow suffered from “pressure that was self-induced.”

“The people buying in were obviously about ready to take a big financial step and John felt personally responsible to make sure that everything went well with the deal,” Clark said.

Roger Glasgow said his brother appeared happy in his marriage.

Glasgow’s SUV was found at Petit Jean Mountain, a state park an hour northwest of Little Rock, with its doors unlocked and valuables inside.

Conway County sheriff’s investigator Sonny Stover said tracking dogs may have found something — but the dog handlers couldn’t tell if the scent came from Glasgow or just from his car.

“It looks like he’s just walked off,” Stover said.

Take a look
Melinda Glasgow, wife of contracting executive John Glasgow, is interviewed in North Little Rock, Ark., Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. Glasgow has been missing since before sunup Jan. 28; his car was found abandoned the next day at a state park. Family and police say it's impossible to tell whether Glasgow killed himself, was abducted or left to start a new life elsewhere. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 19 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

JimmyChooGirl wrote on Mar 17, 2008 2:35 PM:

" No longer is it Democrats vs. Republicans, it's Dems vs. Dems. Whether or not you vote Obama or you vote Clinton...I hope we can all agree on one thing....

This weather sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) "

calzak wrote on Mar 17, 2008 1:36 PM:

" MAYBE THE GUY JUST DECIDE ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH - TO MUCH MONEY & CAN'T DEAL WITH IT! JUST MAYBE HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE FOUND!!!!!! MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING BUT IT SURE HELPS! "

ktlin wrote on Mar 17, 2008 12:46 PM:

" to pseudo: We are comparing giant pumpkins and peas. I am not quite sure what McCain will be. We didn't select him anyway. So you have to make a choice. For you will you pick a pumpkin with many known indiscretions or a pea with some supposed indiscretions. The answer seems simple to me. "

FYI wrote on Mar 17, 2008 10:26 AM:

" He's still running after waking up sober next to her. "

floyd wrote on Mar 17, 2008 9:29 AM:

" to Meh

The Rangers that got slaughtered in Somalia under Clinton would disagree with you.
"

pseudo-intellectual wrote on Mar 17, 2008 9:25 AM:

" ktlin, what about the illusion of real "change" that Barack Obama has been promising us during this campaign? He sounds more and more like just another lying political hack. Only his most fanatical supporters will believe the line that he never heard any of his pastor's controversial sermons in nearly 20 years of attendance, nor knew of his close affiliation with the Nation of Islam. And what about these continuing stories of financial help from Rezko? One has to wonder what else Obama knows that we don't. If we can't trust Obama any more than Hillary, why should we elect him as our next President? "

ktlin wrote on Mar 17, 2008 8:02 AM:

" to vote: He didn't say GDA. He said other said to say God Bless America after they had done the aforementioned things but to that he was saying GDA. You have to listen to the whole context. If I remember correctly he was talking about the 3 strikes you are out law, prisons, and drugs. And keep in mind that the Clintons have attended a few black churches (his famous sleeping moment included). What will you do if someone finds a tape with similar comments with the Clintons in the audience. You know Clinton says he is the first black president. Michelle Obama was talking about how mean America is. Someone says oh no we're not. So then we have to show her just how mean we can be. "

ktlin wrote on Mar 17, 2008 7:45 AM:

" And I was watching to see what effect the minister situation had on the Obama camp. Saturday he picked up about 10 more delegates (not votes delegates) so his supporters didn't seem to mind. He is getting closer and closer to the goal. The closer he gets the harder it will be to take away mischievously. "

ktlin wrote on Mar 17, 2008 7:38 AM:

" To all the good the Clintons have done. Let's name it. Peace to N Ireland? No. Getting the Schip for children? No No No! Helping with women's rights in China. Again no. The problem is there is no experience except sitting in the White House
and the governors mansion. And she will not let us see the White House schedule so what is she hiding; her income tax records after they left the White House so what is she hiding; and they won't reveal records regarding contributors to where - his library. We have a man running around the country who was impeached as president saying inflammatory things. We have Hillary running around being Ms. Several faces who won't show us info. Now someone else comes ups missing. Did they say how Clark died? That is 2 dead or missing. Shouldn't we do an investigation? And we are concerned about someone's preacher? "

Sam Wainwright wrote on Mar 17, 2008 6:55 AM:

" I'm a little let down with our posters this morning. Seven comments and no one chose the obvious "Let's ask Vince Foster where this guy is". I don't mind doing it, but I can't do all the sarcastic heavy lifting on these posts. Geez, not even a "He left to work on Hillary's tax returns..." Am I the only wise-guy left in B-N? Hee Haw! "

mot wrote on Mar 17, 2008 6:51 AM:

" If the clilnton's had the reputation of telling the truth there would not be this doubt with every incident would there! Tell me again why is it I should trust Hillary? "

Annienap wrote on Mar 17, 2008 6:02 AM:

" VoteRespnsbly08 - AMEN! You said it 100% right! I'm with you all the way. "

Annienap wrote on Mar 17, 2008 12:54 AM:

" I doubt this has anything to do with the Clintons. It seems that anytime anything happens in Little Rock, people want to tie it to them. My daughter inlaw's grandparents live just outside of Little Rock and one of them has a serious heart condition-should this be blamed on the Clintons, too? I would and WILL help to put a Clinton back into the White House if I can. If it's not a Clinton, then I will have to cross party lines and vote for McCain. Even though I can't stand the man, he's better than Obama any day. I do hope Mr. Glasgow is found and is healthy and safe. My prayers go out to his family. "

VoteRespnsbly08 wrote on Mar 17, 2008 12:01 AM:

" All I can say that there are always people that think bad of the Clintons certainly to bad for They have done so much good and we are so in tune in looking a the negatives.
Those of you that said vote for Obama, that 's a surprise unless you are not an American. His association with his so call friend, Mentor of 20 yearS who hates White Americans, who accuses America of taking the HIV virus to infect the Africans, After we have givn Africa Millions of our hard earn Money that says we deserve the tragedy of 9/11 and who screems out to his congreation ( Mind you Obama has been in that congregation and has made this maniac his friend, religious influence of his life, and his more important his mentor, who babtized his children and has had him as an advisor to his campaigne, and I again say MENTOR) that his people should not say God Bless America but to say God Damn America. Is this waht we need in the white house? No I say God Bless America! "

BN REPUBLICAN wrote on Mar 16, 2008 9:15 PM:

" I have nothing to say. The story speaks for itself. "

Jarhead71 wrote on Mar 16, 2008 9:14 PM:

" Perhaps you/we should vote Obama then, Meh. "

Meh wrote on Mar 16, 2008 9:01 PM:

" Dealing with the Clintons tends to be a dangerous business. Still I'd rather deal with the Clintons than be in the U.S. military when a Bush or a McBush is in office. "

The Messenger wrote on Mar 16, 2008 8:25 PM:

" The Clintons seem to have a sort of "Midas touch". People close to them tend to suddenly die or dissappear. "

pseudo-intellectual wrote on Mar 16, 2008 8:20 PM:

" Oh, boy- another mystery involving a Clinton crony (many of them in/from Little Rock). Unsolved murders, suicides, unexplained disappearances (of documents as well as people), suspicious accidents... enough to fill a book. In fact, several books have been written. Sounds like they're going to need to publish an addendum. "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy