Johnnie Bryan Hunt

This article refers to the founder of an American trucking and transportation company, J. B. Hunt Transport Services

Johnnie Bryan Hunt, Sr. (b. February 28, 1927 - d. 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 USA. His company is based in Lowell, AR.

Biography

Hunt was born in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Growing up during the great depression put a large strain on him, and after the 7th grade at the age of 12, he left school to find work. His first job was working for his uncle in his sawmill so that the family could survive. After a brief time 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. Unfortunately his first attempt at the trucking business was not a success. He lost roughly $19,000. He returned to the trucking industry in 1969 with five tractors and seven trailers. Hunt was known throughout his life for his generosity, and was famous for carrying around a money clip containing $100 bills, which he would hand out to people he felt could use the money.

Retirement

He began to remove himself from the company when he stepped down as president in 1982, but was still a main fixture within the company and remained chairman of the board until 1995. On December 31, 2004, Hunt retired from the company that he founded over 37 years earlier, but remained its largest shareholder. Hunt passed away on December 7, 2006 after sustaining a head injury during a fall in ice on December 2, 2006. [1] He had been in critical condition for several days at a hospital in Springdale, Arkansas.[2][3]

Benefactor

In 2005, Springdale Public Schools opened a new elementary school named after J.B. Hunt. The Hunt family donated the land valued at over $500,000 for the school. This K-5 elementary school is located on Silent Grove Road in Springdale, Arkansas. Mr. Hunt was a frequent visitor to the school after it opened. The kids loved when J.B. came to school wearing his big cowboy hat and took time to read them a story or two.