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. His first name is "Johnnie" and his last name is . Arkansas Business Publishing Group He headquartered his company in Lowell, Benton County. It was my only real chance to get an education, he said. We engineer innovative technology that accelerates our growth and is disrupting the transportation industry. B. 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. To supplement his income, he sold lawn sod. While driving down the road, he handed her the ring on the way to her high school graduation. It reflects the name of one of the co-founders of the company - Johnnie Bryan Hunt, equal parts truck driver and dreamer. J.B. Hunt has grown exponentially over the last 60 years, and a driving force behind this growth has always been . [1][2] He lived in Fayetteville, Washington County. 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. 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. He also sold the mill's wood shavings to poultry farmers for ground cover in their chicken coops. J.B. Hunt at 60: Our People. The 10-year-old had to go to work cutting timber at his uncle's sawmill. B. 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." Save time on shipping and get reliable service with Shipper 360. are driving the change we see for ourselves down the road. 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. It's helped him deal with some misinformed reactions to his latest business venture. One of them being, he bought his own trucks instead of leasing them. And then, he would show me how he could get out there and get it done, and he would go after it. . I learned to drive very early and I would take one of Daddy's big trucks on a Sunday afternoon and put my friends all in it and drive around in the neighborhoods right there in town, driving that big truck. People you trust, technology that empowers, and capacity to deliver are the ideals J.B. Hunt uses to help us keep moving freight forward. CB Rank (Person) 528,540. Today, his company is one of the largest employers in the state, with nearly 15,000 employees and a . 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. And when I compliment her on some beautiful Bedouin jewelry hanging on the wall in her stylish living room, she explains that it was a gift from a visiting Saudi prince after Johnelle saved the day by lending his wife a dress for a wedding they were suddenly invited to. We encourage you to research and examine these records . 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. To Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, employees were family. I always collected the money. She laughs and says, I always say that Johnnie was the man in the white hat (he wore a trademark white cowboy hat) and I was the wicked witch. But Johnnie promised me that if we moved I did not have to work.. Transportation Industry Leader. The criteria for admission? Johnnie Bryan Hunt was born on February 28, 1927 in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. So much so that they used to host company picnics in their home in Springdale, just down the road from headquarters. B. B. Hunt© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #18: Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt)© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #19: J. After visiting them in Lowell in 1988, he invited Johnnie Hunt and then-President Kirk Thompson to see how it could work by riding a passenger car on a freight train from Chicago to Kansas City. Her son Bryan Hunt is on the board of J.B. Hunt Transport Services. It didnt work out that way. JB Hunt- Early Life, Real Name, and Family. Johnelle Hunt is a true American icon. We are a family at J.B. Hunt, and we work to honor the small trucking company that started it all. Sign up for free today. J.B. Hunt 360 technology helps you find the right load at the right time. 2023 Five Legged Stool LLC. It was hard work, integrity and honesty that helped carry them through those trying times and eventually turn that venture and the transportation company that was incorporated in 1969 into a success. Bryan serves on the board of J.B. Hunt and also is Chairman of Global Dealer Group, a private company with operations in . or connect with us on LinkedIn. The idea was to share freight between the modes to maximize the long-haul efficiency of rails with the short-haul capabilities of trucks. B. See our, 2021 J.B. Hunt Transport. Johnnie and I have always felt like, Be fair to the people, care about the people, Mrs. Hunt says. He eventually borrowed $80 from his aunt and bought an engagement ring. Johnelle recounts how she really wanted to be a full-time mother and homemaker, but Johnnie must have seen her business potential and her magical way with people. Hunt at her side© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #23: Friends decorating J. B. Johnelle Hunt: One of the Original Women of Trucking, bought five tractors and seven trailers to cement his place in the trucking industry. He grew up on a farm and learned the value of hard work at an early age. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. Learn more about our 60th anniversary celebration. Learn more about how we create value for our customers using the right mix of shipment solutions and services. Johnnie Bryan "J. Thats the power of the platform. The Hunt family's fortune originates with oil wildcatter H.L. B." "The first 10 years of the trucking company were really a struggle," Johnelle Hunt said. However, on arrival to Rogers Johnelle realized that the truckloads of company paperwork that had been moved from Stuttgart were in disarray and wouldn't make sense to the new team, so she decided to go in for just a few weeks to get everything organized and orient . Throughout our storied history, J.B. Hunt has always been a company deeply rooted in growth and innovation. Hunt has served on the Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute Advisory Board, the Beau Foundation Board of Directors, and the Advisory Council for the Ozark Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Save $25 when you book your first LTL shipment. In 1961 Hunt and his wife, Johnelle, started J.B. Hunt Company in Stuttgart, specializing in the sale and transport of rice hulls to be used as poultry litter, and he invented a machine to compress the hulls. B. "This honor is something we should be particularly proud of in Arkansas," he said. Going Off the Tumbling Shoals Bridge - 1:11, Johnelle's Introduction to Johnnie - 4:11, The Building of the Dam in Heber Springs - 3:54, AUDIO-HUNT-JB-Johnelle-20060516 - 2:13:37, TRANS-HUNT-Johnnie-B-and-Johnelle-Memories-20060519-FINAL, Pryor Center Interview with Johnelle Hunt. Want to receive more stories like this in your inbox? But whatever it took, I stayed on that phone all day long, being not a very nice person to those people that wouldn't pay, but I had to because that's how we paid the bills.. contracting opportunities that arise at the email address you provided. Johnelle Hunt said that while she and her husband thought about quitting, they never thought about moving from Arkansas. He formed another lucrative partnership with the Santa Fe Railroad. The conversation meant so much to the employee, Hicks says. "With any innovative company, there will always be things you try that don't work. B. References This page was last edited on 20 April 2023, at 12:30 . After completing seventh grade, Hunt worked at his uncle's sawmill and sold lumber. Because if you're afraid of losing, you'll never make it.". In fact, she did some of the intimidating herself. The couple met in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Hunt in his red pickup truck, Heber Springs, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #15: J. That consistency helps lay the path for the next generation of J.B. Hunt leaders. He wasnt afraid of hard work. knowledge, experience as an over the road truck driver and entrepreneurial "He always was thinking. B. B. He had worked 45 weeks and earned $500. Such remarkable stories are just part and parcel of Johnelles more-incredible-than-fiction life. Her father was in the poultry business and he owned trucks to deliver feed to poultry growers. The late Johnnie Bryan Hunt Sr., founder of J.B. Hunt Transport, showed off the saddle that once belonged to actor John Wayne in this August 2003 photo. Its late founder is being inducted into the Supply Chain Hall of Fame tomorrow (alongside Henry Ford and Malcolm McLean) for his industry-changing deal with the Santa Fe Railway Company, which made intermodal transportation work for the first time. He and Johnny Cash used to pick cotton together as kids, later on Johnny and June would come up and stay with us from time to time.. ", 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.". B. Johnnie Bryan Hunt is a businessperson who has been at the helm of 6 different companies and currently occupies the position of Chairman of Best Buy Here Pay Here, Chairman of Progressive Auto Finance Corp., Chairman for Global Dealer Group LLC, President at Best Automotive, Inc., President of Best Automotive, Inc. and President of Bryan Hunt . 2021. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? "I think that's the secret -- don't be afraid. I started working at the company in Stuttgart when we just had a few ladies in the office and then workers at the plant and we even had some women out in the plant, too. Stuart Scott, chief information officer and executive vice president, saw that firsthand during a new employee orientation in 2016. He devoted the remainder of his life to pursue other investments, philanthropic activities, and real estate development. Bryan Hunt's house. All rights reserved. He recalls one of the speakers saying, Welcome to the J.B. Hunt family. And I thought, Family, that's a strange word." We celebrate her on International Womens Day, and we value the contributions the women who have followed her have made within our company and the industry at large. How to avoid leaving money on the table, Congressional investigators blame airlines for most flight cancellations, First Republic Bank stock plunges to record low as rescue plan proves elusive, Fed faults Silicon Valley Bank execs and itself in bank failure. So, I guess those little words of mine drove him a long way, she said. Johnelle Hunt agreed, saying resilience and lack of fear of failure were key to her late husband's success. The arrest was the result of an incident involving another motorist in Rogers. Hunt was instrumental in the growth and success of their businesses, functioning in numerous roles, including credit manager, secretary-treasurer, and corporate secretary. Johnnie Hunt Sr is Notable. Weve dedicated ourselves to makingour J.B. Hunt 360 platformthe best, most comprehensive digital platform in the industry. ), 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. When we started our own business he asked me to help out part time. Hunt and other business leaders in Lowell, Arkansas, 1979© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #43: Johnelle Hunt (right) with Harry Ward and Hillary Clinton at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #44: Johnelle Hunt on a motorcycle with her husband, J. Mr. Hunt relished hearing directly from his employees so much that he insisted on keeping his home number listed in the phone book. To supplement his income, he sold lawn sod. Save $25 when you book your first LTL shipment. He and Johnelle DuBusk were married that year and settled in Texarkana. "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. Having events like this will raise money and awareness, and there are children out there who really need that help.. While driving through Stuttgart, he noticed people burning rice hulls and decided to find a way to sell that byproduct instead. 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. The Arkansas-based logistics giant is the 3rd largest trucking company in the country, behind only FedEx and UPS. Johnnie Bryan Hunt Sr., a former truck driver who founded one of the nations largest trucking companies, died Thursday, the company announced. Sign up for free today. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Our company came from a family and that family had beliefs and a system of values that it brought to our foundation, says John Roberts, president and CEO. It reflects the name of one of the co-founders of the company Johnnie Bryan Hunt, equal parts truck driver and dreamer. He was born on February 28, 1927 and his birthplace is United States. Johnnie proposed to Johnelle on their way to her high school graduation with a small diamond ring he had bought with $80 borrowed from his aunt. Hunt, one of the countrys largest trucking companies, had other ideas. With an audience of 96,000*, Little Rock Soire is THE most-read monthly magazine in central Arkansas. Haverty had written a thesis in business school about how a railroad and a trucking company should team up to provide door-to-door deliveries, but when he first promoted the idea, people said, "this guy doesn't understand that railroad companies and trucking companies hate each other," Haverty recalled. "There's not anybody in the trucking or rail industries, as far as intermodalism is concerned, more deserving of a hall of fame [than J.B. Hunt]," said Haverty. He briefly served in the army before working as a truck driver for Superior Forwarding Company. Another trend he set was to keep driver pay as low as possible. Hunt Rice-Hul truck© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #30: DeBusk family reunion, 1964© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #31: J. J.B. Hunt Has Big Plans for the Future. Technology that empowers. "It's not just because they think of these ideas; it's because they have a culture that encourages them. Johnnie Hunt, one of seven children raised during the Great Depression in Cleburne County, started school at age 4 but dropped out in seventh grade. Your email address will not be published. Privacy Policy | Terms, Conditions & Notices | Comment Policy. Spoiler alert - it's been 60 years in the making. Hunt, who inspired the J.R. Ewing character on the long-running TV series "Dallas." His eldest children, the late Margaret and H.L . 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. By cherishingthe logo, weensurethat as wedream ofnew ways to innovate and grow, westay grounded inthetrust, integrity and purpose onwhich we were founded. Mrs. Hunts steady presence in our organization has helped establish us a welcoming company. Learn more about how we create value for our customers using the right mix of shipment solutions and services. But she forced herself to carry on building Johnnies dream, and it is what drives her to keep going every day. Gender Female. When Johnnie Hunt died suddenly, she came out of retirement to take the helm of his real estate development company, Hunt Ventures. Johnnie Bryan Hunt Sr., a former truck driver who founded one of the nation's largest trucking companies, died Thursday, the company announced. [7], In the 1960s, he began producing poultry litter and selling it to poultry companies in Arkansas. Johnelle Terria Hunt (ne DeBusk, born January 4, 1932) 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 . 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 When I asked why, she replied, "Well, we have about 16,000 square feet here, and we don't need this much space. Or if a driver had a problem on the road that they couldnt sort out themselves they knew they could call me. Find loads for owner-operators, fleets, power only carriers and home delivery carriers. 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. We started selling stock so we could raise enough money to start the business. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Whileour company has significantly evolved since 1961,one thinghas remained the sameour scrolllogo. 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. Being with the drivers is one of my favorite things. He carried a wad of $100 bills in a gold money clip and regularly handed them to people he thought needed the money. Or, as Mrs. Hunt put it, Johnnie was looking through the windshield and I was always looking through the rearview.. If so, login to add it. The fruit of the family's sacrifices and labor came soon enough, and J.B. Hunt Transportation Services Inc. now stands as one of North America's . "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. Johnnie drove a red Ford truck with his name on the side of it and hauled livestock to his sale barn. Johnnie had big dreams despite his humble background. I wish I could have hugged everyone.. At the company she was very involved, collecting debt, keeping the books and paying bills. Hunt is . We know that Johnnie's political affiliation . In 1969, the Hunts relocated to Northwest Arkansas, where we are headquartered 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. Youve heard it hundreds of times from leaders and co-workers. Book loads in Carrier 360 to get savings and earn rewards on thethings you need most to keep your fleet moving. Bryan Hunt is heir to one of the largest transportation companies in North America. Our office and field employees and maintenance team have all played vital roles in helping us build North Americas most efficient transportation network. "There was an entire field to choose from, and his contributions were deemed worth recognizing in its inaugural class. With the company's growing success, he moved the base of operations to Lowell. info@littlerocksoiree.com, Toll Free: (888) 322-6397 By completing this web form, you are agreeing that your information will be used in accordance with J.B. Hunt Transport's. Hunt was a frequent visitor to the . Weve learned that three core ideals drive everything we do: People you trust. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. Also, the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Center in Springdale, Arkansas, has been established . And she goes, You go ahead and cry. J. Bryan Hunt Jr. is the son of Johnnie Hunt, the founder of J.B Hunt Transport. At that time, as today, the two industries competed intensely for freight. About Johnelle Hunt. 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. Whether the best solution is intermodal, truckload, dedicated fleet management, less than truckload (LTL) or another freight mode, J.B. Hunt can help provide the capacity that our customers need when they need it. Research genealogy for Johnnie Bryan Hunt of Cleburne, Arkansas, USA, as well as other members of the Hunt family, on Ancestry. Some have been with us since the beginning. Skip Ancestry main menu . five trucks and seven trailers, starting their venture as a trucking company. Hunt Sr. She cofounded J.B. Hunt Company with her husband in 1961, and in 1969 they created J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Johnnie would come home from a day in the office and pitch a new endeavor to her. The key is to find out how to maintain a degree of resilience that allows you to keep on moving," said Terry Esper, associate professor in the department of supply chain management at the Walton College. All of Hunts workers were nonunion and still are. Though she is reportedly worth over $2 billion, when J.B. suddenly died she came out of retirement in her mid 70s to take over his real estate development company, Hunt Ventures. Then I came here (Northwest Arkansas), but I have never once felt like I was intimidated by a man, she said in 2017. "A significant portion of that is because we've put trailers on the railroad.". "We never lost any money in the rice hull business after that. He grew up picking cotton, says Johnelle. J. Bryan Hunt Jr. is the son of Johnnie Hunt, the founder of J.B Hunt Transport. We brought together shippers and carriers into adigital marketplacemore than five years ago. 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. We offer career He was one of northwest Arkansas's most active promotors for business development. Last year, J.B. Hunt Transport made about $3.7 billion in revenue from its intermodal segment, comprising about 1.8 million loads and about 60 percent of its total business. Over the past few years, we have developed new capabilities that improve the experience of our drivers and automate efficient carrier solutions for our customers. J.B. Hunt 360 technology helps you find the right load at the right time. Its a lifestyle our founder, Johnnie Bryan Hunt, knew well. . J.B. and Johnelle Hunt on their wedding day, January 19, 1952. Johnnie Bryan Hunt Sr., a former truck driver who founded one of the nation's largest trucking companies, died Thursday, the . Linked companies : J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. - PowerBand Solutions Inc. Summary. J.B. Hunt provides a variety of freight transportation services to customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. B. Hunt had been in critical condition at a hospital in Springdale, Ark., after hitting his head on ice in a fall Saturday. J.B. Hunt used his industry I went to school with children that didnt even have a lunch to bring, so my parents would help out feeding kids. Johnnie Bryan Hunt was a truck driver in Little Rock when he suggested to his wife, Johnelle, that he quit to start a new business in Stuttgart. Aside from his business success, Hunt was known for his kindness to others. Book loads in Carrier 360 to get savings and earn rewards on thethings you need most to keep your fleet moving. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Nearly 60 years later, J.B. Hunt has grown from that small fleet of a few trucks into a Fortune 500 company. Johnelle Hunts late husband, J.B. Hunt, will be honored Tuesday by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals inaugural Supply Chain Hall of Fame class. Some people came there right out of high school and college and now are retired., Inevitably for such a big-hearted woman, philanthropy is a huge part of Johnelles life, as it was for Johnnie. I also did the hiring, but that was when we were smaller. To capture the style and culture of Little Rock and its people and to be the ultimate guide to the best the city has to offer. B. I really care about the people. She laughs and says, I was just doing what Johnnie needed me to do; it was my job and my responsibility. © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #16: Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) and J. [1][2] In 1930, he lived in Peter Creek Township, Cleburne County. It says, If you have a crazy idea come here, theres a man thatll listen to you.. Ignoring advice to close up shop, the Hunts . 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. Charged with assault in accident case by Tracy Neal | October 6, 2015 at 5:45 a.m. BENTONVILLE -- Johnnie Bryan Hunt Jr. pleaded innocent Monday to assaulting a motorist. I would type letters to potential customers and financial statements.. Sorry about that, she says. Hunt with their children, Jane and Bryan© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #33: J. I was hungry once. "This deal changed the entire landscape of long-haul freight transportation in America," Thompson said. J.B. and Johnelle were married for nearly 55 years until his death in 2006. It begins with a surprise visit. 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. 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