One evening as he drove down Main Street, Johnelle and her group of friends flagged him down for a ride. 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. © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #16: Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) and J. B. and Johnelle Hunt's getaway car before their wedding© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #24: Johnelle Hunt's parents, Johnie J. and Ollie Jane DeBusk, 1953© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #25: J. 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.. 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. Johnnie would later buy Johnelle a ring with a significantly larger diamond, something more befitting a multimillionaires wife, but to this day Johnelle treasures the simple ring with the tiny diamond, because she knows how hard Johnnie had to work to pay it off. We're so ready to see what the next 60 years have in store. 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. Learn more about our 60th anniversary celebration. B. Save time on shipping and get reliable service with Shipper 360. 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. 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. B. Today, J.B. Hunt is an industry leader in transportation and logistics, offering Dedicated, Intermodal, Truckload and Final Mile solutions to customers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Learn more about how we create value for our customers using the right mix of shipment solutions and services. 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. Cooking Up Down-Home Dishes for Youth Ho Voices Carry: Sharing Stories of Addicti Accents: Highlights of the March Issue Ballet Arkansas Presents "New Works" at Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Be a Part of the Cure Walk benefiting the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Cirque Over Broadway presented by Arkansas Circus Arts, Equip Small Business Series: Creating a Promotional Video Script for your Business, Little Rock Hope CARE Workshop with Alzheimer's Arkansas, Little Rock Soire Head of the Class 2023, Little Rock Soire Mental Health Resource Guide 2023, Life Cycle: Pedaling Out a Passion for Cancer Care, Mental Health Resource Guide: Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare System. The Arkansas-based logistics giant is the 3rd largest trucking company in the country, behind only FedEx and UPS. They did not sell the rice hull business until 1983, when the company went public. The 10-year-old had to go to work cutting timber at his uncle's sawmill. Bryan serves on the board of J.B. Hunt and also is Chairman of Global Dealer Group, a private company with operations in . "The first 10 years of the trucking company were really a struggle," Johnelle Hunt said. And once youre hungry, youre different, he told Forbes magazine in 1992. B. We got up the next day, and we just kept working," Johnelle Hunt said. Throughout our storied history, J.B. Hunt has always been a company deeply rooted in growth and innovation. the nation. It has gotten so large now, but I love to go and see everyone, I really enjoy it. 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. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. B. 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. His entrepreneurial legacy lives on at our company and continues to motivate us to achieve greatness. His first year of operation, he lost $20,000, but eventually turned things around and made a profit, and began shipping poultry throughout the United States. . J.B. Hunt Has Big Plans for the Future. Hunt began J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. in 1969 with five tractors and seven trailers. The industry is making progress in adding female employees, and J.B. Hunt in particular is committed to diversifying its workforce. Hunt was a frequent visitor to the . B." He shifted his focus to trucking and created J.B. Hunt Transport Services in 1969. Johnny A. Isenhour Obituary. Find loads for owner-operators, fleets, power only carriers and home delivery carriers. Despite the overhead cost of new containers and equipment to enable the transitions from tractor to rail, "After a year of business there was $30 million worth of revenue. Good to meet you. shake-hands-and-move-on kind of thing, Hicks says. Hunt and Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) (right) with their friends on Petit Jean Mountain, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #20: J. 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. So, I guess those little words of mine drove him a long way, she said. 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. The foresight and willingness to take an expensive risk earned Johnnie Hunt a spot in the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals' inaugural Supply Chain Hall of Fame class. Book loads in Carrier 360 to get savings and earn rewards on thethings you need most to keep your fleet moving. Hunt Sr. was born on February 28, 1927, in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. When you know the path you're going down is not working, though, you have to know when to stop.". B. Johnelle Hunt, who co-founded J.B. Hunt with her late husband, Johnnie Bryan Hunt, said that when they moved the company to Northwest Arkansas over 50 years ago, its major industry was poultry . The Hunt family's fortune originates with oil wildcatter H.L. And a life with Johnnie meant a life around trucks, too. He was not yet a teenager when he began gathering up wood shavings from his uncle's sawmill . Read Also: Kurt Rappaport Net Worth 2023. (AP file photo by April L. Brown) . Over the few hours I spent interviewing Mrs. Hunt, 84, I learned a great deal about her husband, the early days of trucking in NW Arkansas and that she has an admitted weakness for shoes (as her husband had one for cowboy hats). Biography. No one had ever managed to find a way to pack them because rice hulls are difficult to compress. are driving the change we see for ourselves down the road. Its a lifestyle our founder, Johnnie Bryan Hunt, knew well. Youve heard it hundreds of times from leaders and co-workers. She had hoped to save us the journey by coming to us, but her grueling schedule wouldnt allow it. Ignoring advice to close up shop, the Hunts kept going. If so, login to add it. All she ever wanted was to take care of her family and home, but Johnnie, her husband of 54 years, and the legendary founder of J. Johnnie passed away on December 7 2006, at age 79. Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 He also sold the mills wood shavings to poultry farmers for ground cover in their chicken coops. 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 . We think of it as a family, an extension ofthe dedicationour founders Johnnie Bryan and Johnelle Hunt put into this company to establish it as one of the largest transportation and logistics operations in the country. Nearly 60 years later, J.B. Hunt has grown from that small fleet of a few trucks into a Fortune 500 company. Save $25 when you book your first LTL shipment. I would type letters to potential customers and financial statements.. Then Michael Haverty from the Santa Fe Railway Co. approached Johnnie Hunt with a new idea. But when the soon-to-be Mrs. Hunt outraced all of her friends to his truck one day, she claimed the seat beside him. We engineer innovative technology that accelerates our growth and is disrupting the transportation industry. Another trend he set was to keep driver pay as low as possible. Hunt joined the Army at 18 and was recruited for officer training school. ), We spoke in the penthouse office he had designed, which remains much as he left it, featuring panoramic views, much memorabilia and "J.B. Hunt" embedded in the marble floors. They found the best talent, shared their vision, got buy in and motivated all of their employees to execute said vision.. "The thing that I know for sure about J.B. Hunt is that they really pride themselves on being innovative," said Esper. Mrs. Hunt, as it turns out, was born for her role. 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. B. B. She is a detail-oriented pragmatist who dealt with whatever followed, who left college to marry the love of her life, the business newspaper said of their Legacy of Leadership honoree. five trucks and seven trailers, starting their venture as a trucking company. B. He and his wife, Johnelle, remained the largest shareholders of J.B. Hunt stock. "Let's just say I have been laughing a lot.". Hunt and still frame from Pryor Center video interview© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #2: Red River Feed Company owned by Johnelle Hunt's father, Johnie DeBusk; Heber Springs, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #3: Childhood photo of J. His education was driving those trucks all those years, because he had so much time alone.". She laughs and says, I was just doing what Johnnie needed me to do; it was my job and my responsibility. Mr. Hunts passion for thinking outside the box can be felt in all we do at J.B. Hunt as we seek to create the most efficient transportation network in America. 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. B. Hunt, who inspired the J.R. Ewing character on the long-running TV series "Dallas." His eldest children, the late Margaret and H.L . Johnnie had big dreams despite his humble background. J.B. and Johnelle were married for nearly 55 years until his death in 2006. [1][2], In 1980, with deregulation of the industry, he became a major player in the trucking business. Trucking magnate J.B. Hunt dies at 79. B. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Johnny A. Isenhour to pay them a last tribute. . Our six-week newsletter will help you make the right decision for you and your property. 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. 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. Johnnie Bryan Hunt was born on February 28, 1927, in Heber Springs, Arkansas. One thing was clear from our conversation: she's a tough businesswoman. 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." 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. 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. Hunt Rice-Hul Company, Stuttgart, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #29: J. 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. Johnnie was born on February 28, 1927 in . Johnelles friend rode up front with Johnnie, but Johnelle was so taken with the dashing young man that when he passed through town the next night she outran all her friends so that she could sit next to him. Johnnie Hunt Sr is Notable. By age 21, Johnnie Hunt was trying to design a way to package and distribute wood shavings for poultry litter. Public asset : 14,729,242 USD. And we feel like we really did.. If there was something that the company could do better, after all, drivers would be among the first to know. Hunt and Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) "This honor is something we should be particularly proud of in Arkansas," he said. 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. It required Mrs. Hunt to set the tone for the organization. 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. More headlines. or connect with us on LinkedIn. We moved there in 1972. 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. Then I came here (Northwest Arkansas), but I have never once felt like I was intimidated by a man, she said in 2017. 08. Find loads for owner-operators, fleets, power only carriers and home delivery carriers. Hunt, Rayeanne Cocker; Hot Springs, March 1970© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #37: J. J. Bryan Hunt Jr. is the son of Johnnie Hunt, the founder of J.B Hunt Transport. Johnnie Bryan Hunt is a famous American businessman. We have made great strides throughout our company history, but this is truly just the beginning. 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. Johnelle Terria DeBusk Hunt was born on January 4, 1932, in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. About Johnelle Hunt. "If you look at companies historically, when they focus on delivering value to customers, they wind up doing these things that seem counterintuitive. 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. And she goes, You go ahead and cry. When Johnnie Hunt died suddenly, she came out of retirement to take the helm of his real estate development company, Hunt Ventures.