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. B. The couple met in Heber Springs, Arkansas. B. 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. Our founder, Johnnie Bryan Hunt, was a dreamer, and his spirit of innovation is still very much felt at J.B. Hunt today. Today, BNSF [Railway] makes $1 billion annually from that handshake," Haverty said. Every year, this culture is celebrated when many of the companys best drivers gather at the corporate headquarters in Lowell, Ark. His education was driving those trucks all those years, because he had so much time alone.". Then I came here (Northwest Arkansas), but I have never once felt like I was intimidated by a man, she said in 2017. 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. Hunt with his grandchildren: Martin Tinnin; twins, Tessa and Phoebe Hunt; Bailey Hunt; Tarra Tennin; and her cousin, Ellen Tennin; 1991© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #47: Hunt family at the beach, 1995© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #48: J. B. There were a few other women employed by the company when it was founded, but not many. Its just a thrill to help people, and theres a reason why people are put in front of you. J.B. Hunt Has Big Plans for the Future. In the impromptu conversation that followed, Mr. Hunt sought to go deeper than surface level. J.B. and Johnelle were married for nearly 55 years until his death in 2006. The Hunt family in 1984, from left: Bryan, Johnelle, Johnnie (J.B.), and Jane. LOWELL, ARK. B. He quit school at 12 to help support his family, earning $1.50 a day at his uncle's sawmill. Kent explained that in 1980 about 18 percent of the U.S. economy was attributed to inventory and transportation costs. 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. She attended Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway before marrying Johnnie Bryan "J. Sign up for free today. Required fields are marked *. The J.B. Hunt logo, content or images may not be used or reproduced by any means without express, written consent. Number of Founded Organizations 1. He also secured a lucrative contract to haul merchandise for Walmart Inc., which became Hunt's largest customer. The idea was to share freight between the modes to maximize the long-haul efficiency of rails with the short-haul capabilities of trucks. This site and all content is copyright 2020 J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. 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. After the graduation ceremony, Johnnie stayed around to tell her parents what he had done. Save time on shipping and get reliable service with Shipper 360. Hunt in his red pickup truck, Heber Springs, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #15: J. J.B. Hunt used his industry We hold a big celebration for each driver when they pass a landmark distance like 100,000 miles., When asked what she is proudest of, she says: Im proud of everything about my family and all the people we work with. Johnelle Terria DeBusk Hunt was born on January 4, 1932, in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. That's all I had to say. [1][2], In 1945, he lived in Miller, Arkansas. Find loads for owner-operators, fleets, power only carriers and home delivery carriers. Sorry about that, she says. In the beginning, though, he drove trucks out of Texarkana and Little Rock while she stayed with their children. B. Learn more about our 60th anniversary celebration. To say that Johnelle was bereft would be quite an understatement. 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. Another trend he set was to keep driver pay as low as possible. The Arkansas-based logistics giant is the 3rd largest trucking company in the country, behind only FedEx and UPS. B. Johnelle Hunt throwing her wedding bouquet with J. 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. One of them being, he bought his own trucks instead of leasing them. "It's not just because they think of these ideas; it's because they have a culture that encourages them. In this multi-part series, we dive into the key components driving our mission to create the most efficient transportation network in North America - thinking big and taking risks, building a talented workforce unlike any other, and offering stellar customer service. . "Let's just say I have been laughing a lot.". At the company she was very involved, collecting debt, keeping the books and paying bills. The Arkansas-based logistics giant is the 3rd largest trucking company in the country, behind only FedEx and UPS. I was hungry once. His first name is "Johnnie" and his last name is . "I'm in high school, and he has me typing letters to manufacturers," Johnelle Hunt recalled. At this point, nearly 15 years after his death, the stories of his personal touch are endless. Before he and his wife Johnelle Hunt started this company in 1961, Mr. Hunt was a driver with a regular route between Little Rock, Ark. Book loads in Carrier 360 to get savings and earn rewards on thethings you need most to keep your fleet moving. 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. Haverty was confident in the logic of the idea that capitalized on the two industries' strengths. I wish I could have hugged everyone.. "He was an entrepreneurial individual. 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. Johnnie Bryan Hunt is a famous American businessman. As the company grew, the Hunt family grew along with it. We will continue to invest in people, technology and capacity. Hunt said his most desperate time came in 1949, when the sawmill went broke, leaving him $3,600 in debt. They were a perfect pair. He implemented many cost cutting efforts that allowed him to increase profits dramatically. 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 . 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. Little Rock Soire is central Arkansas' most-read monthly magazine that celebrates all that's good in Little Rock-good people, good parties, good food and good culture. And once youre hungry, youre different, he told Forbes magazine in 1992. We celebrate Mrs. Hunt and all the women who are part of the J.B. Hunt family, today and every day. He was one of northwest Arkansas's most active promotors for business development. 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. As we choose which clothes to photograph her in, her cellphone dings constantly with text messages. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Johnnie passed away on December 7 2006, at age 79. B. By completing this web form, you are agreeing that your information will be used in accordance with J.B. Hunt Transport's. Thats regardless if they are man or woman, in Lowell or located in a field location, whether they drive for us or they're in an office setting, in one of our maintenance shops, introverted, extroverted, person of color or not.. Hunt with his son, Bryan, (left) and a friend© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #36: Stuttgart Bridge Club: Dr. Jack and Bonnie Pritchard, unidentified couple, Don Underwood, Dr. Dean Laird, Johnelle Hunt, Anne Laird, Betty Underwood, J. Public asset : 14,729,242 USD. The deal would have macroeconomic effects, too. The son of a sharecropper, Hunt was born in Heber Springs on Feb. 28, 1927. today, to focus on the trucking side of the business. [8], J. 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 Esper is an officer at the council and has been involved with the group for 20 years. He was inducted to the National Railroad Hall of Fame, which is housed in Galesburg, due to its history as the site of that handshake in 1989. 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. 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. Eight years later, at the advice of Hudson Foods founder Red Hudson, Johnnie Hunt made that first purchase of tractors and trailers to haul poultry to the West Coast. With solutions and amenities such as Perks for carriers, automation, machine learning and APIintegrations with popular enterprise resources, we are focusing on providing access, transparency and visibility into the industry. Forbes currently ranks Johnelle Hunt as the fifth-wealthiest self-made woman in the U.S. One of the reasons for the growth was J.B. Hunt's partnership with the Santa Fe Railway Company in 1989, the first successful venture in intermodal transportation between the rival industries. encouragement to turn those dreams into reality. After a bank loan, the Hunts were officially back in the trucking business, and they moved to Northwest Arkansas. 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. All of Hunts workers were nonunion and still are. 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. What makes J.B. Hunt so unique - in our industry, community, even the country - is our people. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. 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. Find loads for owner-operators, fleets, power only carriers and home delivery carriers. Were building a technology platform for everyone and creating a digital space where previously unconnected networks can come together to drive out the inefficiencies and waste within the industry. B. "Many truckers and truck lines scoffed at this new operation and said we would fail. To supplement his income, he sold lawn sod. Johnnie Bryan Hunt, with the support of his wife Johnelle, founded J.B. Hunt in 1961 outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. J.B. Hunt employees are the human capacity working to createa culture that values safetyand delivers on our promises to everyone we interact with when we say we will do something, we do it. During the event, Mrs. Hunt made a point to tell Weston how much he meant to the company. He came into work in the morning and would go round speaking to everyone in the company. B. I did all the collecting for many years because I knew we couldn't make payroll if I didn't call a person at 10:00 at home at night or I'd call a person at 5:00 in the morning, Mrs. Hunt said in an interview discussing J.B. Hunts 60th anniversary. Today, his company is one of the largest employers in the state, with nearly 15,000 employees and a . Hunt, standing beside her on the driveway© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #45: J. [9], In 2016, he was inducted into the Supply Chain Hall of Fame.[2]. That's just par for the course with being innovative. Trucking magnate J.B. Hunt dies at 79. Aside from his business success, Hunt was known for his kindness to others. 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. And because she broke into the industry and forged her path, others could follow in her footsteps. Johnelle Hunt agreed, saying resilience and lack of fear of failure were key to her late husband's success. Hunt at her side© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #23: Friends decorating J. Johnnie would come home from a day in the office and pitch a new endeavor to her. 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.. He was a truck driver who left school after the seventh grade to work, a forward-thinking optimist who didnt like details. 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. But whats not going to change is that culture where we take care of our people.. He was 79. So, I guess those little words of mine drove him a long way, she said. 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. We know that Johnnie's political affiliation . When the trucking industry deregulated in 1980, Johnnie Hunt and others were able to take advantage of the free market. 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. We're so ready to see what the next 60 years have in store. We also bring our readers the best of Little Rock's cultural offerings, cuisine, events, party photos, and attractions, and the most comprehensive event calendar in the city. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Main Line: (501) 372-1443, Circulation Innovative, driven, disruptive, integrity all terms we heard often with great passion. ), 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. 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 . With those values as a bedrock, all kinds of growth are possible. Mrs. Hunt would be beside him for the rest of his life. Eight years later, the couple bought . [1][2] He lived in Fayetteville, Washington County. [1][2], In 1980, with deregulation of the industry, he became a major player in the trucking business. We are a family at J.B. Hunt, and we work to honor the small trucking company that started it all. 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. ", 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.". It reflects the name of one of the co-founders of the company - Johnnie Bryan Hunt, equal parts truck driver and dreamer. All those years it was just an idea while he was a truck driver. 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. 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. "The first 10 years of the trucking company were really a struggle," Johnelle Hunt said. Mrs. Hunt, who just turned 90 years young, was recently honored at halftime of an Arkansas Razorback basketball game to celebrate the occasion. In many cases, this helped both drivers and the company. We offer career At 84, Johnelle is still the beating heart of the Hunt empire. 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 . 4. With our scale and fleet density, we are equipped to deliver. When asked if she gets tired of it all she says, well, yes, but I promised Johnnie Id look after things.. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. I can rent that out for a lot!". Having events like this will raise money and awareness, and there are children out there who really need that help.. Tired of being home alone, she made him promise one thing: "that we will never own another truck.". Spoiler alert - it's been 60 years in the making. We moved there in 1972. Hunt died on December 7, 2006 in Springdale, Washington County, after injuries he sustained when he slipped on ice and fell, hitting his head. Johnnie was the idea man, and she focused on the fine details that kept things moving behind the scenes. Hunt, one of the countrys largest trucking companies, had other ideas. Johnnie Bryan Hunt was born on February 28 1927, in Heber Springs. 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. From the Associated Press. Johnnie was born on February 28, 1927 in . 2023 Five Legged Stool LLC. They did not sell the rice hull business until 1983, when the company went public. Hunt, who inspired the J.R. Ewing character on the long-running TV series "Dallas." His eldest children, the late Margaret and H.L . Throughout our storied history, J.B. Hunt has always been a company deeply rooted in growth and innovation. Johnelle Hunt is a true American icon. All rights reserved. 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. 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 . I'm doing other things now. Youve heard it hundreds of times from leaders and co-workers. Hunt Rice-Hul Company; Stuttgart, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #28: J. Johnnie Bryan Hunt was born on February 28, 1927, in Heber Springs, Arkansas. We also realized that in fact, one could argue she helped create my job, since the paper has a reporter covering each of the three Fortune 500 companies and their industries here: Walmart, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt. Our six-week newsletter will help you make the right decision for you and your property. The deal began with a handshake in October 1989, and they signed the official contract in June 1991. All rights reserved. Mrs. Hunts steady presence in our organization has helped establish us a welcoming company. He was able to carry more freight and provide more work for the drivers. Its a lifestyle our founder, Johnnie Bryan Hunt, knew well. spirit to make the company a leader in the transportation industry. B. B. and Johnelle Hunt, March 9, 2006© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #49: Hunt family © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #50: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Johnelle and J. Good to meet you. shake-hands-and-move-on kind of thing, Hicks says. Weve dedicated ourselves to makingour J.B. Hunt 360 platformthe best, most comprehensive digital platform in the industry. He grew up picking cotton, says Johnelle. After completing seventh grade, Hunt worked at his uncle's sawmill and sold lumber. Transportation Industry Leader. I went to school with children that didnt even have a lunch to bring, so my parents would help out feeding kids. Because if you're afraid of losing, you'll never make it.". And she goes, You go ahead and cry. Johnelle Hunt: One of the Original Women of Trucking, bought five tractors and seven trailers to cement his place in the trucking industry. 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. Johnelle Hunt dubbed it "our golden goose.". Our growth into a Fortune 500 company is a direct result of the hard work of the 33,000+ employees who consider J.B. Hunt more than just a place to work. Most of us humans won't do it, but for entrepreneurs, it's part of being an entrepreneur.". When Johnnie Hunt died suddenly, she came out of retirement to take the helm of his real estate development company, Hunt Ventures. Today, JB Hunt is a Fortune 500 company with over 29,000 employees and a fleet of more than 12,000 trucks.

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