He declined and later called that his biggest mistake. But as Johnnie developed a new use for rice hulls and later bought five tractors and seven trailers to cement his place in the trucking industry, a steady presence balanced the books and made sure that every last cent of outstanding payment was collected to help the fledgling company stay alive. I went to school with children that didnt even have a lunch to bring, so my parents would help out feeding kids. I said, 'What's the deal?' ", "I think it's a representation of the kind of people we produce here in Arkansas.". Also, the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Center in Springdale, Arkansas, has been established . Johnnie Bryan "J. B." Hunt Sr. was born on February 28, 1927, in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. Privacy Policy | Terms, Conditions & Notices | Comment Policy. Nearly 1,000 of them are members of the female-focused employee resource group named GROW that aims to recruit and develop leaders with diverse backgrounds, experience and unique points of view. Hunt passed away on December 7, 2006. Hunt with his daughter, Jane Hunt, in front of their Pontiac, 1958© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #26: Johnelle Hunt with her daughter, Jane, and her son, Bryan; 1959© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #27: J. One of them being, he bought his own trucks instead of leasing them. He recalls one of the speakers saying, Welcome to the J.B. Hunt family. And I thought, Family, that's a strange word." Hunt had been in critical condition at a hospital in Springdale, Ark., after hitting his head on ice in a fall Saturday. In 1961, Johnelle Hunt and her late husband J.B. (d. 2006) sold their home and took out loans to start a rice hull packaging operation. 08. All those years it was just an idea while he was a truck driver. Johnnie Bryan Hunt rose to prime prominence as a Business. When Johnnie retired, he started drawing out his Social Security pension and people would say, he is so rich, he doesnt need it. But he would carry his Social Security money in an envelope in his pocket and by the end of the month he would have given it all away to people who were in need., On Oct. 13, Johnelle will be honored by the Childrens Advocacy of Central Arkansas as a Woman of Inspiration. In her typical, humble manner she says, I dont know why they chose me, there are so many more people who deserve to be honored, who have done so much more than I have, but I said that if it will help then I would do it. Every morning, Mr. Hunt made a point of walking through the company headquarters, from the ground floor to the top floor, to check in with folks. J.B. Hunt 360 technology helps you find the right load at the right time. Have you taken a DNA test? To this day, the blackandyellow scroll is one of the most recognized symbols in transportation,proudly markingthousands of trucks and trailers moving across North America. One evening as he drove down Main Street, Johnelle and her group of friends flagged him down for a ride. We encourage you to research and examine these records . Ignoring advice to close up shop, the Hunts kept going. J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., the company it has become, last year boasted $6.2 billion in revenue, making it the fourth-largest for-hire trucking company in the country. Hunt; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2006© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #52: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Johnelle and J. © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #16: Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) and J. Tired of being home alone, she made him promise one thing: "that we will never own another truck.". Linked companies : J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. - PowerBand Solutions Inc. Summary. When we arrive at her Rogers home for our interview and photo shoot, she immediately apologizes for making us drive all the way to her from Little Rock. What makes J.B. Hunt so unique - in our industry, community, even the country - is our people. Johnnie Bryan Hunt, with the support of his wife Johnelle, founded J.B. Hunt in 1961 outside of Little Rock, Johnnie was the idea man, and she focused on the fine details that kept things moving behind the scenes. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, What the work-from-home era has done to office politics, Regulators seize First Republic Bank, sell to JPMorgan Chase, First Republic up in air as regulators juggle banks fate. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Hunt with their children, Jane and Bryan© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #33: J. Let me tell you, women can get things done, Mrs. Hunt once said. And I always felt like that was the most important thing that he did for the company. However, on arrival to Rogers Johnelle realized that the truckloads of company paperwork that had been moved from Stuttgart were in disarray and wouldnt make sense to the new team, so she decided to go in for just a few weeks to get everything organized and orient the new employees. Johnelle Hunt said that while she and her husband thought about quitting, they never thought about moving from Arkansas. today, to focus on the trucking side of the business. B. Brad Hicks, president of highway services and executive vice president, recalls one such story particularly well. Our culture is one where we care about people, we care about our employees and we care about our communities. "Everything we touched didn't turn to gold, and everything we did didn't work, but we always tried to make it work. When they used to do investor "road shows" to present the company to potential shareholders, "The first thing he would say, is 'We are from Lowell, Ark. I'm developing, I'm building buildings, I'm building apartments, I'm doing all those things, but J.B. Hunt Transport will always be my baby and it will always be the one that touches my heart when I'm included, Mrs. Hunt said as the company turned 60 years old last August. Youve heard it hundreds of times from leaders and co-workers. 2023 Five Legged Stool LLC. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, along with our first-generation leaders Wayne Garrison and Kirk Thompson, would define the values of our company, values that still ring true today: that we honor our commitments; regularly challenge ourselves and our approach in how we serve our customers; watch costs closely; and strive to treat one another as family. As our founder, Johnnie Bryan Hunt, once said, "Today is going to be better than yesterday." . He started his own hugely successful chicken litter company using rice hulls in 1961 in Stuttgart, but Johnelle says hed had the idea 15 years before it started. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. "Even 20 years later, he can't wait to tell people the story about the time he got to meet Mr. Hunt., That one-on-one interaction is part of the culture of people upon which Mr. and Mrs. Hunt built the company, says Paul Bingham, senior vice president of sales. And you know what, that was just like pouring fuel on the fire, is when he would come up with these ideas and I would say, Now, Johnnie, why would they do that? Or, Why could you do that? And I think that was the driving force. Instead, Mr. Hunt spent 30-45 minutes asking questions and trying to understand that drivers life on and off the road. J.B. Hunt employees are the human capacity working to create . He also sold the mill's wood shavings to poultry farmers for ground cover in their chicken coops. Supply chain professionals who have "changed the world we live in," said Brian Hancock, a member of the council's board and chairman of the hall of fame development committee. B. B. As the company grew, the Hunt family grew along with it. Because of her instrumental role in the development of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, her later business endeavors, and her ongoing philanthropic investments, Mrs. Hunt has been named to the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame, the Arkansas Womens Hall of Fame and was awarded Arkansas Business Legacy of Leadership Award in 2021. "The thing that I know for sure about J.B. Hunt is that they really pride themselves on being innovative," said Esper. Today, his company is one of the largest employers in the state, with nearly 15,000 employees and a . Nearly 60 years later, J.B. Hunt has grown from that small fleet of a few trucks into a Fortune 500 company. The Arkansas-based logistics giant is the 3rd largest trucking company in the country, behind only FedEx and UPS. five trucks and seven trailers, starting their venture as a trucking company. B. Johnnie Bryan "J. B." Hunt (1927-2006) One of the most successful entrepreneurs in Arkansas history, Johnnie Bryan "J. B." Hunt rose from humble beginnings to found one of America's largest trucking firms, J. Its just a thrill to help people, and theres a reason why people are put in front of you. Read Also: Kurt Rappaport Net Worth 2023. I was trying to shake everyones hand. Hunt and Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) on Petit Jean Mountain, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #21: Johnelle and J. These drivers, all of whom have driven two or more million miles accident-free, walk through the building as fellow employees cheer and high five them. He quit school at 12 to help support his family, earning $1.50 a day at his uncles sawmill. "J.B. Hunt said, 'I'm willing to forgo my driver, truck and trailer and share that with the railroad, because I think it's more valuable for the U.S. economy and my customers,'" said John Kent, director of the supply chain management research center at the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Johnelle Terria Hunt is an American billionaire, the widow of Johnnie Bryan Hunt, and co-founder of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, the company they started in 1961. Springdale, Arkansas (AR), US. Trucking magnate J.B. Hunt dies at 79. At the time he registered for the draft, he was described as 5 feet and 11 inches tall, 146 pounds, Blonde hair and gray colored eyes. B. And once youre hungry, youre different, he told Forbes magazine in 1992. He was born on February 28, 1927 and his birthplace is United States. Thats the power of the platform. The rest is history. 4. We know that Johnnie's political affiliation . While drivers are perhaps the most visible employees of J.B. Hunt, a large group of people including thousands of office and field employees and our maintenance team works behind them. He was able to carry more freight and provide more work for the drivers. When Johnelle Hunt (nee DeBusk) started as the default business manager of J.B. Hunt Co. when the company was founded in 1961, she entered an industry where she had very few female peers. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Johnny A. Isenhour (Newton, North Carolina), born in Catawba, North Carolina, who passed away on April 21, 2023 at the age of 64. He wasnt afraid of hard work. So much so that they used to host company picnics in their home in Springdale, just down the road from headquarters. I was actually driving a truck when I was in high school, she recalled in a July 2017 interview. J.B. Hunt Transport is the Fortune 500 trucking company based in Lowell, Arkansas that comprises a large part of my beat coverage. We have always been this way, and I learned this from my parents because they went through the Depression. Learn more about how we create value for our customers using the right mix of shipment solutions and services. Hunt said his most desperate time came in 1949, when the sawmill went broke, leaving him $3,600 in debt. Hunt; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2006© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #51: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Johnelle and J. And a life with Johnnie meant a life around trucks, too. Johnnie Bryan Hunt was born on February 28, 1927 in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. The industry is making progress in adding female employees, and J.B. Hunt in particular is committed to diversifying its workforce. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a78bdd01176ef76187c4fac8f0afef5b" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); By clicking subscribe, you are giving J.B. Hunt your express consent to receive blog updates and information about any employment or CB Rank (Person) 528,540. His entrepreneurial legacy lives on at our company and continues to motivate us to achieve greatness. Learn more about our 60th anniversary celebration. ", President and Chief Executive Officer John Roberts said the company is "extremely fortunate to have had Mr. Hunt as our founder. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, 8 best interview questions to land a top job, Bank rates are up. Johnnie Bryan Hunt, Sr. (February 28, 1927 - December 7, . Three years later, the company went public and by 1983 it had $63 million in revenue. Another trend he set was to keep driver pay as low as possible. Hunt, standing beside her on the driveway© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #45: J. He and Johnelle DuBusk were married that year and settled in Texarkana. In the following decades, as the two built the company into one of the largest and most influential transportation providers in the nation, Mr. Hunt never took his finger off the pulse of the road. Johnelle Terria DeBusk Hunt was born on January 4, 1932, in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. Hunt (right) with Pauline Harlan, 1940© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #5: Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) and her brother, David Louis DeBusk, as children© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #6: Young Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) with two friends© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #7: Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt), 8th grade, 1946© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #8: Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) at home in Heber Springs, Arkansas, 1949© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #9: Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) as a teen© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #10: Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) and friends: (left to right) Patsy Joy Robbins, Wanda "Winelo" Henderson, Minnie Belle Johnson, Johnelle DeBusk, Loretta Davis, Joann Ax; Heber Springs, 1949© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #11: Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) with her brother, Dennis DeBusk© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #12: Program from Heber Springs senior class play, Susie the Siren, 1950© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #13: Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) (back row seated, on left) with her sorority sisters of Alpha Sigma Tau at Arkansas State Teachers College, Conway, 1950© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #14: J. In 1995, Hunt retired as chairman of J.B. Hunt and became senior chairman, a position he held until his retirement. I really care about the people. Were a 10 billion company today and were going to look completely different in the next 10, 20, 25 years, Bingham says. ", According to Bryan Hunt, chief operating officer at the time, when he questioned why the company should turn over freight to their railroad competitor, his father responded, "The customer wants the best for the least, and that's what the railroad and us can do.". After completing seventh grade, Hunt worked at his uncle's sawmill and sold lumber. He also secured a lucrative contract to haul merchandise for Walmart Inc., which became Hunt's largest customer. . The late Johnnie Bryan "J.B." and philanthropist Johnelle Hunt, the chairman of Hunt Ventures in Rogers, co-founded Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. Jane Hunt Meade and . Johnnie Hunt eventually did, and the family moved to Stuttgart where, in 1961, they founded J.B. Hunt Co. Their first year in business they lost $19,000. B. and Johnelle Hunt's son, Bryan Hunt, 1st grade© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #32: Johnelle and J. He did a good job with communicating with people. It has gotten so large now, but I love to go and see everyone, I really enjoy it. He formed another lucrative partnership with the Santa Fe Railroad. He and his wife, Johnelle, remained the largest shareholders of J.B. Hunt stock. Such remarkable stories are just part and parcel of Johnelles more-incredible-than-fiction life. J.B. Hunt Elementary School in Springdale is named in his honor. Save $25 when you book your first LTL shipment. contracting opportunities that arise at the email address you provided. B. J.B. Hunt provides a variety of freight transportation services to customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. B. Johnny A. Isenhour Obituary. J.B. Hunt provides a variety of freight transportation services to customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. B. and Johnelle Hunt (center) with (on left) her mother and sister, Ollie DeBusk and Gloria Duckworth; and (on right) brother-in-law, Jack Duckworth, on their way to Spain, 1971 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #38: Hunt family, 1975© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #39: Johnelle Hunt (left) and her sister, Gloria Duckworth© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #40: Johnelle and J. Streamline your operations with smart shipping and end-to-end load management. Skip Ancestry main menu . When I asked why, she replied, "Well, we have about 16,000 square feet here, and we don't need this much space. That's just par for the course with being innovative. Esper is an officer at the council and has been involved with the group for 20 years. Hunt with Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, 1980s© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #41: Jane and Johnelle Hunt© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #42: Bill Clinton with J. The deal would have macroeconomic effects, too. After he retired, Hunt pursued interests as a private investor in real estate, construction and development. Hunt Rice-Hul Company; Stuttgart, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #28: J. As the company grew, the Hunt family grew along with it. Her father was in the poultry business and he owned trucks to deliver feed to poultry growers. Or if a driver had a problem on the road that they couldnt sort out themselves they knew they could call me. But being a business tycoon was never part of her plan. After a bank loan, the Hunts were officially back in the trucking business, and they moved to Northwest Arkansas. When he came home, he would "sit at the table and draw and draw and draw," trying to design the machine to package the wood shavings, she said. Stuart Scott, chief information officer and executive vice president, saw that firsthand during a new employee orientation in 2016. [email protected]. Though Johnnie Hunt died in 2006, Johnelle Hunt and their two children will attend the the council's annual conference in Florida to accept the award on his behalf Tuesday. A few years after what began as a rice hull operation, J.B. Hunt purchased The idea was to share freight between the modes to maximize the long-haul efficiency of rails with the short-haul capabilities of trucks. She attended Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway before marrying Johnnie Bryan "J. Johnnie Hunt is 64 years old today because Johnnie's birthday is on 06/21/1958. J.B. Hunt used his industry Born the daughter of a poultry farmer in Heber Springs in 1932 in the Great Depression, today she is worth $2.3 billion and has become one of the most successful businesswomen in American history. More than 30,000 employees is a long way from the early days when Mr. and Mrs. Hunt worked days and nights at their rice hull processing plant in Stuttgart, Ark. B. Johnnie and I have always felt like, Be fair to the people, care about the people, Mrs. Hunt says. [1] [2] In 1930, he lived in Peter Creek Township, Cleburne County. B. B. B. Being with the drivers is one of my favorite things. We got up the next day, and we just kept working," Johnelle Hunt said. One way to do that is ensuring people can bring their whole selves to work, where they feel like they are being care for personally and professionally, says Shelley Simpson, chief commercial officer and executive vice president of people and human resources. Without Mrs. Hunt, there isnt a J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. And without J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., there would be far fewer opportunities for women in the trucking and logistics industries. Known as JB Hunt, Johnny Bryan Hunt, Sr. was an entrepreneur from the United States and the founder of JB Hunt Transport Services, the nation's largest public trucking company. "We got down to Galesburg, Ill., and J.B. walked over to me and said, 'Haverty, we've got a deal.' This site and all content is copyright 2020 J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. Heber Springs, Cleburne, Arkansas, United States, Springdale, Washington, Arkansas, United States, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16959483/j-b-hunt, 1930 US Census, Cleburne County, Arkansas, West Peter Creek Township, Cleburne County, Arkansas, 1950 US Census, Cleburne County, Arkansas, Giles Township, Cleburne County, Arkansas, Pinnacle Memorial Gardens, Rogers, Arkansas. B. "We knew if it all failed we could go back to where we were and be happy," she said. Hunt, 1969© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #34: Johnelle Hunt's mother, Ollie DeBusk, on the front porch holding a stringer of fish, Heber Springs, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #35: J. Johnnie Hunt Sr is Notable. Then we started buying trucks in Rogers in 1969, before taking over a trucking company there. But whats not going to change is that culture where we take care of our people.. And thats been true since the very beginning of our company. Although shes no longer involved in day-to-day operations at the company, Mrs. Hunt continues to be an inspiration at J.B. Hunt and a major part of the companys legacy. [6] He married Johnelle Terria Debusk on January 19, 1952 in Heber Springs, Cleburne County. Want to receive more stories like this in your inbox? By 2004, when Hunt stepped down as the companys senior chairman, the company was a billion-dollar business with more than 16,000 employees and about 11,000 trucks. Transportation Industry Leader. Gender Female. She had hoped to save us the journey by coming to us, but her grueling schedule wouldnt allow it. Technology that empowers. and St. Louis. Johnnie Bryan Hunt was born on February 28 1927, in Heber Springs. "It was really risky for anyone in a trucking company to go out on that limb and disrupt the trucking business. At that time, as today, the two industries competed intensely for freight. Categories: United States, Philanthropists | Arkansas, Notables | Business Owners | Salesmen | Arkansas County, Arkansas | Stuttgart, Arkansas | 1930 US Census, Cleburne County, Arkansas | West Peter Creek Township, Cleburne County, Arkansas | 1950 US Census, Cleburne County, Arkansas | Truck Drivers | Giles Township, Cleburne County, Arkansas | Miller, Arkansas | Cleburne County, Arkansas | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Washington County, Arkansas | Pinnacle Memorial Gardens, Rogers, Arkansas | Business Leaders | Notables, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. His first name is "Johnnie" and his last name is . [3] He left school after the seventh grade to work at his uncle's sawmill and later found other work picking cotton and selling lumber. Because if you're afraid of losing, you'll never make it.". He grew up picking cotton, says Johnelle. Hunt has about 10,000 trucks, 70,000 containers/trailers and 11,000 drivers, but Johnelle still goes to meet as many as she can. With our scale and fleet density, we are equipped to deliver. That's all I had to say. We celebrate Mrs. Hunt and all the women who are part of the J.B. Hunt family, today and every day. It remains in operation today, still using the same machines Johnnie Hunt designed and patented. "If you look at companies historically, when they focus on delivering value to customers, they wind up doing these things that seem counterintuitive. Being inclusive is making sure that all 30,000 plus of our employees feel like their voices are heard and respected, says Tami Allensworth, senior vice president and co-founder of GROW. "It's not just because they think of these ideas; it's because they have a culture that encourages them. -- the center of the universe,'" Johnelle Hunt recalled. J.B. Hunt provides a variety of freight transportation services to customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. May 4 Ballet Arkansas Presents "New Works" at Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, May 6 Be a Part of the Cure Walk benefiting the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, May 7 Cirque Over Broadway presented by Arkansas Circus Arts, May 10 Equip Small Business Series: Creating a Promotional Video Script for your Business, May 12 Little Rock Hope CARE Workshop with Alzheimer's Arkansas, Enews Unsubscribe | About Us And because she broke into the industry and forged her path, others could follow in her footsteps. To that end, J.B. Hunt has developed personal enrichment resources and employee resource groups that can help all employees grow their professional networks and give back to the community. Hunt, Rayeanne Cocker; Hot Springs, March 1970© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #37: J. Most of us humans won't do it, but for entrepreneurs, it's part of being an entrepreneur.". "I'm in high school, and he has me typing letters to manufacturers," Johnelle Hunt recalled. Kirk Thompson, then president and current chairman of the J.B. Hunt board, called it "one of the best decisions in the history of J.B. Hunt Transport."
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