", Esper said students with work experience at the company "are much more attuned to the issues out there and are looking at those issues in a much more innovative way.". Johnnie Bryan Hunt Sr., a former truck driver who founded one of the nation's largest trucking companies, died Thursday, the company announced. Johnelle also recounts seeing John F. Kennedy at a luncheon for the dedication of Greers Ferry Dam on Oct. 3, 1963, just weeks before his assassination. I'm developing, I'm building buildings, I'm building apartments, I'm doing all those things, but J.B. Hunt Transport will always be my baby and it will always be the one that touches my heart when I'm included, Mrs. Hunt said as the company turned 60 years old last August. Johnnie Bryan Hunt 1927-2006 - Ancestry This site and all content is copyright 2020 J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. The rest is history. Hunt Transport Services" was shipping goods across the country and would become the largest publicly held trucking company in America. The Hunt family in 1984, from left: Bryan, Johnelle, Johnnie (J.B.), and Jane. Johnnie was born on February 28, 1927 in . He declined and later called that his biggest mistake. J.B. and Johnelle were married for nearly 55 years until his death in 2006. Yet, despite her great fortune, she is still the most down-to-earth, kind-hearted Southern woman you could ever hope to meet, not to mention one of the friendliest. The conversation meant so much to the employee, Hicks says. "I think that's the secret -- don't be afraid. He had worked 45 weeks and earned $500. opportunities in driving, technology, and office jobs, both at our corporate campus and at field locations across Capacity to deliver. B. Johnnie Bryan Hunt was born on February 28 1927, in Heber Springs. We are a family at J.B. Hunt, and we work to honor the small trucking company that started it all. 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. When you know the path you're going down is not working, though, you have to know when to stop.". With an audience of 96,000*, Little Rock Soire is THE most-read monthly magazine in central Arkansas. It gives us financial potential but it more importantly gives our people potential, it helps us hire, it helps us retain because you come to work here like I did and you can have a career. The Arkansas-based logistics giant is the 3rd largest trucking company in the country, behind only FedEx and UPS. 60 Years of J.B. Hunt - J.B. Hunt Driver Blog Johnelle Hunt throwing her wedding bouquet with J. 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. [8], J. Johnnie Bryan Hunt - Celeb Net Worth Info ", "I think it's a representation of the kind of people we produce here in Arkansas.". 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 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 offer career In each issue, Soire features Little Rock residents - through compelling stories and captivating photography - who are leading the pack in the arts, business, fashion and philanthropy. All those years it was just an idea while he was a truck driver. I'm doing other things now. Johnnie Bryan Hunt Sr., a former truck driver who founded one of the nations largest trucking companies, died Thursday, the company announced. Save time on shipping and get reliable service with Shipper 360. B." He carried a wad of $100 bills in a gold money clip and regularly handed them to people he thought needed the money. B. Hunt with their children, Jane and Bryan© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #33: J. 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. B. JB Hunt Net Worth 2023 - Bio, Career, Real Name, Family 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. And thats been true since the very beginning of our company. Johnelle Hunt - Crunchbase Person Profile He would pat people on the shoulder and let them know they were doing a good job and he was glad they were there. One of her friends who also fancied Johnnie didnt talk to her for three days, but the race was indeed over. B. and Johnelle Hunt's son, Bryan Hunt, 1st grade© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #32: Johnelle and J. We have always been this way, and I learned this from my parents because they went through the Depression. And you know what, that was just like pouring fuel on the fire, is when he would come up with these ideas and I would say, Now, Johnnie, why would they do that? Or, Why could you do that? And I think that was the driving force. 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 . career with a company that is always finding new ways to grow, search jobs to find an opening near you, We got up the next day, and we just kept working," Johnelle Hunt said. Today, his company is one of the largest employers in the state, with nearly 15,000 employees and a . As our founder, Johnnie Bryan Hunt, once said, "Today is going to be better than yesterday." . 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. 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. J.B. Hunt Elementary School in Springdale is named in his honor. Johnny A. Isenhour Obituary. After completing seventh grade, Hunt worked at his uncle's sawmill and sold lumber. J.B. Hunt Sr., 79; founded trucking company - Los Angeles Times Save $25 when you book your first LTL shipment. Johnelle Hunt - Wikipedia He wasnt afraid of hard work. But she forced herself to carry on building Johnnies dream, and it is what drives her to keep going every day. Privacy Policy | Terms, Conditions & Notices | Comment Policy. Sign up for free today. If there was something that the company could do better, after all, drivers would be among the first to know. Love struck Johnelle and J.B. Hunt in, of all places, a truck CCJ Staff (CCJ) Dec 7, 2006. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. He will be inducted alongside Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Co., and Malcom McLean, the developer of the modern shipping container and a friend of Johnnie Hunt. People you trust, technology that empowers, and capacity to deliver are the ideals J.B. Hunt uses to help us keep moving freight forward. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. [1][2], In the 1990s, the company grossed over $1 billion annually, employed thousands of people, and operated in Mexico and the United States. B. "We knew if it all failed we could go back to where we were and be happy," she said. We encourage you to research and examine these records . Johnelle Hunt: One of the Original Women of Trucking, bought five tractors and seven trailers to cement his place in the trucking industry. Sign up for free today. Our office and field employees and maintenance team have all played vital roles in helping us build North Americas most efficient transportation network. Her son Bryan Hunt is on the board of J.B. Hunt Transport Services. 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. The J.B. Hunt Story Emma N. Hurt 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. She laughs and says, I was just doing what Johnnie needed me to do; it was my job and my responsibility. In fact, she did some of the intimidating herself. He was one of northwest Arkansas's most active promotors for business development. Your email address will not be published. He and his wife, Johnelle, remained the largest shareholders of J.B. Hunt stock. J. ", 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.". five trucks and seven trailers, starting their venture as a trucking company. I can rent that out for a lot!". J. Bryan Hunt Jr. is the son of Johnnie Hunt, the founder of J.B Hunt Transport. 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.. Being inclusive is making sure that all 30,000 plus of our employees feel like their voices are heard and respected, says Tami Allensworth, senior vice president and co-founder of GROW. "Sometimes I would say, well he never did go to school and learn that you can't do it," Johnelle Hunt said of her husband's entrepreneurialism. Hunt on their wedding day© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #22: To supplement his income, he sold lawn sod. Johnnie Bryan Hunt - Wikipedia Johnnie Bryan Hunt, Sr. (February 28, 1927 - December 7, . B. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Then Michael Haverty from the Santa Fe Railway Co. approached Johnnie Hunt with a new idea. We moved there in 1972. are driving the change we see for ourselves down the road. B. #1: Composite image of early photo of Johnelle and J. "There was an entire field to choose from, and his contributions were deemed worth recognizing in its inaugural class. They were in school, so Johnnie wanted me full time on the business. And because she broke into the industry and forged her path, others could follow in her footsteps. It's a long story, but trust me, a lot shorter than I could have written, given all that people wanted to say on the subject. today, to focus on the trucking side of the business. We have made great strides throughout our company history, but this is truly just the beginning. knowledge, experience as an over the road truck driver and entrepreneurial The name on the side of hundreds of thousands of trucks, trailers and shipping containers spread out across the country read J.B. What makes J.B. Hunt so unique - in our industry, community, even the country - is our people. "He was an entrepreneurial individual. (At the time he was involved in close to 90 projects. While driving down the road, he handed her the ring on the way to her high school graduation. So much so that they used to host company picnics in their home in Springdale, just down the road from headquarters. 08. 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. Or if a driver had a problem on the road that they couldnt sort out themselves they knew they could call me. B. All rights reserved. I was hungry once. We will continue to invest in people, technology and capacity. On Buzzlearn.com, Johnnie is listed as a successful Businessman who was born in the year of 1927. B. He grew up picking cotton, says Johnelle. Instead, Mr. Hunt spent 30-45 minutes asking questions and trying to understand that drivers life on and off the road. The J.B. Hunt logo, content or images may not be used or reproduced by any means without express, written consent. . Thats the power of the platform. B. Streamline your operations with smart shipping and end-to-end load management. 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. Hunt introduced computers to truck drivers in the 1990s. Hunt Rice-Hul Company; Stuttgart, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #28: J. He was 79. JB Hunt- Early Life, Real Name, and Family. She attended Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway before marrying Johnnie Bryan "J. [1][2], In 1945, he lived in Miller, Arkansas. He was a truck driver who left school after the seventh grade to work, a forward-thinking optimist who didnt like details. Overview. _____________________________________________. contracting opportunities that arise at the email address you provided. Mrs. Hunts steady presence in our organization has helped establish us a welcoming company. J. B. and Johnelle Hunt Interviews - University of Arkansas Hunt has about 10,000 trucks, 70,000 containers/trailers and 11,000 drivers, but Johnelle still goes to meet as many as she can. Hunt family gives $5 million to Fayetteville Library project Drivers use on-board computers to communicate with fleet managers, ending the search for telephones to find out about the next load. After he retired, Hunt pursued interests as a private investor in real estate, construction and development. Learn more about how we create value for our customers using the right mix of shipment solutions and services. 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. Hunt passed away on December 7, 2006. 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. "It was really risky for anyone in a trucking company to go out on that limb and disrupt the trucking business. 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. It was my only real chance to get an education, he said. 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. They had two children and seven grandchildren. 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. Weve learned that three core ideals drive everything we do: People you trust. But when the soon-to-be Mrs. Hunt outraced all of her friends to his truck one day, she claimed the seat beside him. It was one of the best moments in my life, J.B. Hunt driver Terry Weston recalled of the 2019 Million Mile celebration. Probably said it to a family member, a prospective client, or someone that just started on your team. His gut told him when things would work. 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 once youre hungry, youre different, he told Forbes magazine in 1992. 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. Its a lifestyle our founder, Johnnie Bryan Hunt, knew well. He did a good job with communicating with people. Hunt joined the Army at 18 and was recruited for officer training school. Johnny A. Isenhour Obituary (1958 - 2023) | Newton, North Carolina 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. It begins with a surprise visit. We have our sights set on becoming a 20-billion-dollar company by 2030, and we're continuing to try new things, leverage our cutting-edge technology and think big as we strive to . Johnnie passed away on December 7 2006, at age 79. 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 . Soon, he met Johnelle, a 16-year-old from Heber Springs. In 1980, the trucking industry was deregulated, and J.B. Hunt Transport took off. At the company she was very involved, collecting debt, keeping the books and paying bills. Throughout our storied history, J.B. Hunt has always been a company deeply rooted in growth and innovation. Hunt family - Forbes When the trucking industry deregulated in 1980, Johnnie Hunt and others were able to take advantage of the free market. The Hunt family's fortune originates with oil wildcatter H.L. The Hunt family donated the land for the school, valued in excess of $500,000. With our scale and fleet density, we are equipped to deliver. [9], In 2016, he was inducted into the Supply Chain Hall of Fame.[2]. Ill cry right along with you. Im so glad I got to meet that lady.. Find loads for owner-operators, fleets, power only carriers and home delivery carriers. I was trying to shake everyones hand. I said, 'What's the deal?' A decade later, his company "J. His entrepreneurial legacy lives on at our company and continues to motivate us to achieve greatness. 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 Transport is the Fortune 500 trucking company based in Lowell, Arkansas that comprises a large part of my beat coverage. To supplement his income, he sold lawn sod. A few years after what began as a rice hull operation, J.B. Hunt purchased Johnnie Bryan Hunt is a famous American businessman. Johnnie was the idea man, and she focused on the fine details that kept things moving behind the scenes. But whats not going to change is that culture where we take care of our people.. "The first 10 years of the trucking company were really a struggle," Johnelle Hunt said. It was just what we did, things like that. Main Line: (501) 372-1443, Circulation Johnnie Bryan Hunt rose to prime prominence as a Business. [1][2] He lived in Fayetteville, Washington County. Hunt Rice-Hul Company, Stuttgart, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #29: J. 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. 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. It wasnt just a little quick Hi, how are you? In 1969, the Hunts relocated to Northwest Arkansas, where we are headquartered 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. It didnt work out that way. Johnnie Bryan "J. B." Hunt Sr. was born on February 28, 1927, in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. 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. B. J.B. Hunt provides a variety of freight transportation services to customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Find loads for owner-operators, fleets, power only carriers and home delivery carriers. Hunt's mother, Alma Naomi Everett Hunt© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #4: J. Bryan Hunt on NIL venture: 'Either you think it's genuine, or you don't' [3] He left school after the seventh grade to work at his uncle's sawmill and later found other work picking cotton and selling lumber. It has gotten so large now, but I love to go and see everyone, I really enjoy it. A few years after what began as a rice hull operation, J.B. Hunt purchased five trucks and seven trailers, starting their venture as a trucking company. "I always turn everything into humor," he said. Johnnie Bryan Hunt Sr., a former truck driver who founded one of the nation's largest trucking companies, died Thursday, the . Such remarkable stories are just part and parcel of Johnelles more-incredible-than-fiction life. I was actually driving a truck when I was in high school, she recalled in a July 2017 interview. Leave a message for others who see this profile. Your email address will not be published. Johnelle Hunt said that while she and her husband thought about quitting, they never thought about moving from Arkansas. Hunt Transport Services. I told her: Twenty-six years ago from today, I was shaking your husbands hand and today Im shaking yours. And Im probably going to cry, Weston said. 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. Hunt at her side© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #23: Friends decorating J. Johnnie had big dreams despite his humble background. 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 IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Johnnie B. Hunt, 79, Trucking Company Owner, Is Dead Johnnie Bryan Hunt was born on February 28, 1927 in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. . To get a more detailed understanding of what that means, we met with several company leaders and influencers to discuss our culture, its evolution over the past 60 years, and the spirit of the people who give it life. In the impromptu conversation that followed, Mr. Hunt sought to go deeper than surface level. 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. J.B. Hunt Has Big Plans for the Future. I also did the hiring, but that was when we were smaller. So, I guess those little words of mine drove him a long way, she said. She tells the story with a laugh because years later, in 1969, Johnnie Hunt bought five tractors and seven trailers. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. the nation. They married two years later and became business partners. B. From the Associated Press. J.B. Hunt Transport Services announced Thursday, Dec. 7, the death of its founder, Johnnie Bryan Hunt Sr., who had suffered head . 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 provides a variety of freight transportation services to customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. B." Johnelle Hunt - Forbes 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.