Jump to content

Johnnie Bryan Hunt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ala Bahma (talk | contribs) at 05:45, 14 March 2020 (Updated wedding year.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article refers to the founder of an American trucking and transportation company, J. B. Hunt Transport Services.
Johnnie Bryan Hunt
Hunt in 2004
Born
Johnnie Bryan Hunt, Sr

February 28, 1927[1]
Heber Springs, Arkansas U.S.
DiedDecember 7, 2006 (aged 79)
Springdale, Arkansas U.S
Occupation(s)Founder and C.E.O. of J. B. Hunt Transport Services. (1961–2004)
SpouseJohnelle Hunt (m. 1952; his death 2006)[2]

Johnnie Bryan Hunt, Sr. (February 28, 1927 – December 7, 2006), better known as J. B. Hunt, was an American entrepreneur who founded J.B. Hunt Transport Services, the largest publicly owned trucking company in the US. The company is based in Lowell, Arkansas.

Personal background

Hunt was born in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Growing up during the Great Depression put a large strain on him.[3]

His first job was working for his uncle at a sawmill. After a stint in the US Army, Hunt spent the 1950s as a lumber salesman, auctioneer, and truck driver before starting a rice hulls business with his wife Johnelle in 1961. His first attempt at the trucking business was not successful. He lost roughly $19,000.[4][5] He returned to the trucking industry in 1969, with five tractors and seven trailers.[4]

Hunt was known for his generosity, and carried a money clip containing $100 bills, which he would hand out to people he felt could use the money.[3]

Retirement

Hunt began to remove himself from the company when he stepped down as president in 1982 but was still a fixture in the company and remained chairman of the board until 1995. On December 31, 2004, Hunt retired from the company but remained its largest shareholder.[4]

Although retired, Hunt visited the headquarters located in Lowell, Arkansas, frequently to shake hands and converse with employees. Every day he would telephone the higher executive assistants and ask "What's the stock doing, Darling?"[citation needed]

Hunt died on December 7, 2006, after sustaining a head injury during a fall on ice five days earlier.[3] He had been in critical condition for several days at a hospital in Springdale, Arkansas.[6][7]

Legacy

In 2005, Springdale Public Schools opened a new elementary school named after Hunt. The Hunt family donated the land for the school, valued in excess of $500,000. This K-5 elementary school is located on Silent Grove Road in Springdale, Arkansas. Hunt was a frequent visitor to the school after it opened.


References

  1. ^ https://pryorcenter.uark.edu/interview.php?thisProject=Arkansas%20Memories&thisProfileURL=HUNT-JB-and-Johnelle&displayName=J.%20B.%20and%20Johnelle%20Hunt&thisInterviewee=507
  2. ^ https://www.littlerocksoiree.com/post/113242/johnelle-hunt-notes-on-leading-a-billion-dollar-company-raising-a-family
  3. ^ a b c Barnes, Steve (8 December 2006). "Johnnie B. Hunt, 79, Trucking Company Owner, Is Dead". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "A legend leaves the trucking stage". Fleetowner.com. 30 December 2004. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  5. ^ Smith, J., "In Memoriam, J.B. Hunt", World Trade Magazine, February 2007, p. 62
  6. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Yahoo Finance - Business Finance, Stock Market, Quotes, News". Biz.yahoo.com. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Johnnie_Bryan_Hunt&oldid=945474479"