Stanley Paul Schulte

Stanley Paul Schulte passed away peacefully in his sleep at age 75 on April 28, 2023, in Rogers, AR, after living for years with frontotemporal dementia. He is now surely cracking jokes, and perhaps a cold brew, as he hoists the mainsail and sets course for a sunset cruise in an eternal tropical paradise. Born October 20, 1947, in Little Rock, Arkansas, he was a lifelong resident there until recently moving to Rogers to be closer to family. The eldest child of Laurence and Jean Schulte, Stanley was educated in the Little Rock parochial school system, graduating from Little Rock Catholic High School. He was part of a large and rambunctious circle of great friends, all of whom matriculated under the ever-watchful eye of the legendary Father George Tribou.

After attending Christian Brothers College in Memphis, Stanley joined his father in running Schulte Construction Company, a home improvement and building company founded by Laurence soon after returning home from World War II. Many talented and hardworking loyal associates of Schulte Construction became and remain lifelong friends of the Schulte family and are forever appreciated.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, a deep appreciation for Southern food, and a gregarious personality, Stanley was also a natural restaurateur. He purchased the popular downtown sports bar restaurant, The Sports Page, in the 1980s. Later, Stanley opened Shugs Restaurant & Patio Bar. Combining New Orleans patio ambiance and nostalgic river house decor with carefully researched BBQ pit construction, Rendezvous Memphis style “dry ribs,” and a return of “The Shack” BBQ sauce secret recipe, Shugs quickly established itself as a beloved BBQ restaurant and social gathering place in Little Rock during the 1990s. Stanley had many loves in his life but the greatest were his children, Bridget and Seth, whom he cherished and adored, and was wildly proud of. He was so connected to them that he would call them daily with cheerful exhortations to “rise and shiiiiine!” He was early to bed and always the first to rise, typically before dawn. Accordingly, his sailing friends called him “rooster.”

Boating and lake life, tropical vibes, and music were additional passions. Younger days of marina boat slip rentals for his first speedboats at Lake Hamilton, then Hot Springs lake houses that were hospitality Grand Central for everyone — Stanley never met a stranger he didn’t like, and always welcomed one and all. He taught youngsters how to water ski, inner tube, fish, toss horseshoes, or whatever else was on hand. Life was a party that he loved to share with everyone. The kids’ friends all thought he was the coolest dad, and all had a blast sharing the fun. Then the golden sailboat years at Brady Mountain on Lake Ouachita brought another set of new friends and gave him great joy. And, of course, there was Jimmy Buffet. Stanley may have been the original Parrot Head. He knew all the words to all the songs and often belted out choice stanzas with great gusto. He traveled far and wide to Margaritaville concerts, culminating in the last and best time when he ‘headed out to San Francisco’ to join his family for his 70th birthday. Stanley was a boisterous, larger-than-life personality. He lit up every room, and loved doing so. He loved kids and dogs (pugs!). He gave everyone funny nicknames, sometimes causing confusion to people he didn’t know well. He greeted people with quirky salutations. He made people feel special, and he lifted folks’ spirits. Stanley thought BBQ and hot sauces were their own food groups and he collected them all — Tabasco, Crystal, Pickapeppa, McClard’s, Lea & Perrins — you name it, he had it, and he leaves generations of spicy food lovers in his wake.

Stanley was kind. He helped others, sometimes for years. He was a kid at heart, and he had a heart of gold.

“These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes,

Nothing remains quite the same.

Through all of the islands and all of the highlands,

If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane.”

— Jimmy Buffett

Stanley is predeceased by his parents, his sister, Paula Schulte Crawford, and his step-daughter, Stacey Jacuzzi Antes. He is survived by his children, Bridget Schulte Rogers (Marc) of Rogers, AR, and Seth Garrison Schulte (Mia Quagliarello) of San Francisco; grandchildren Strider Schulte and Sage Schulte of San Francisco, and Noah Rogers and Lucas Rogers of Rogers; sisters, Janeanne Schulte of Little Rock, and Ashley Schulte-White (David) of Hot Springs, AR; and stepchildren, Shannon Jacuzzi (Tracy White) of Hot Springs, Victor Steven Jacuzzi, Jr. (Stephanie) of Little Rock, and Betsy McDade Davis (Carl) of Little Rock.

A celebration of life for Stanley will be held Saturday, May 20th, 2023, at U.S. Pizza Company Hillcrest in Little Rock (2710 Kavanaugh Blvd.) from 5 to 8 PM. We look forward to seeing friends and family there. On Sunday, May 21, 2023, an informal gathering at 2 PM will be followed by a short graveside service at 3 PM at 288 St. Scholastica Rd., New Blaine, AR, for those wishing to attend.

Charitable contributions may be made to:The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration https://www.theaftd.org/

Arkansas Hospice https://www.arkansashospice.org/

Saint Scholastica

288 Saint Scholastica Road

New Blaine, AR 72851