He quit school at 12 to help support his family, earning $1.50 a day at his uncles sawmill. But the one that was most consistent among everyone: family. Johnnie Bryan Hunt, with the support of his wife Johnelle, founded J.B. Hunt in 1961 outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. After the graduation ceremony, Johnnie stayed around to tell her parents what he had done. [1] [2] In 1930, he lived in Peter Creek Township, Cleburne County. I said, 'What's the deal?' When I asked why, she replied, "Well, we have about 16,000 square feet here, and we don't need this much space. Arkansas Business Publishing Group 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. J.B. Hunt provides a variety of freight transportation services to customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Have you taken a DNA test? And because she broke into the industry and forged her path, others could follow in her footsteps. Johnnie Bryan Hunt has been a part of the Business list.. On this site which analyses celebrities, Johnnie is well known as one of the top stars. ", "I think it's a representation of the kind of people we produce here in Arkansas.". "I think that's the secret -- don't be afraid. That's all I had to say. I always collected the money. She laughs and says, I always say that Johnnie was the man in the white hat (he wore a trademark white cowboy hat) and I was the wicked witch. We have always been this way, and I learned this from my parents because they went through the Depression. There is so much more to J.B. Hunt than trucking. It has gotten so large now, but I love to go and see everyone, I really enjoy it. And we feel like we really did.. He set up a company in Stuttgart, Arkansas County in 1961. Hunt with their children, Jane and Bryan© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #33: J. Throughout our storied history, J.B. Hunt has always been a company deeply rooted in growth and innovation. Johnelle Hunt said that while she and her husband thought about quitting, they never thought about moving from Arkansas. With those values as a bedrock, all kinds of growth are possible. [7], In the 1960s, he began producing poultry litter and selling it to poultry companies in Arkansas. In many cases, this helped both drivers and the company. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? 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. Capacity to deliver. Our office and field employees and maintenance team have all played vital roles in helping us build North Americas most efficient transportation network. Lowell, Arkansas, is the company's headquarters. She bore the wrath of her friend, who didnt speak to her for several days afterward, but she got her man. B. and Johnelle Hunt at the Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #46: J. "He was an entrepreneurial individual. J. Mrs. Hunts steady presence in our organization has helped establish us a welcoming company. Save $25 when you book your first LTL shipment. spirit to make the company a leader in the transportation industry. Johnnie was born on February 28, 1927 in . In the beginning, though, he drove trucks out of Texarkana and Little Rock while she stayed with their children. After a bank loan, the Hunts were officially back in the trucking business, and they moved to Northwest Arkansas. B. knowledge, experience as an over the road truck driver and entrepreneurial Johnnie Bryan Hunt, Sr. (February 28, 1927 - December 7, . Mr. Hunt always dreamed big, and Mrs. Hunt provided the Three years later, the company went public and by 1983 it had $63 million in revenue. B. Her vitality and joie de vivre are astonishing. These ideals have fueled our growth for more than 60 years and will continue to propel us into the future. Hunt Rice-Hul Company, Stuttgart, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #29: J. LOWELL, ARK. These drivers, all of whom have driven two or more million miles accident-free, walk through the building as fellow employees cheer and high five them. Hunt Transport Services. Book loads in Carrier 360 to get savings and earn rewards on thethings you need most to keep your fleet moving. CCJ Staff (CCJ) Dec 7, 2006. B. ", "It's interesting," explained Matthew Waller, dean of the Walton College and founding chair of the supply chain management department. People you trust, technology that empowers, and capacity to deliver are the ideals J.B. Hunt uses to help us keep moving freight forward. are driving the change we see for ourselves down the road. The industry is making progress in adding female employees, and J.B. Hunt in particular is committed to diversifying its workforce. Transportation Industry Leader. 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. I'm doing other things now. Hunt's mother, Alma Naomi Everett Hunt© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #4: J. Hunt died on December 7, 2006 in Springdale, Washington County, after injuries he sustained when he slipped on ice and fell, hitting his head. To that end, J.B. Hunt has developed personal enrichment resources and employee resource groups that can help all employees grow their professional networks and give back to the community. B. While driving down the road, he handed her the ring on the way to her high school graduation. B. Johnnie Bryan Hunt was born on Feb. 28, 1927, in rural Heber Springs, in north-central Arkansas. . Then I came here (Northwest Arkansas), but I have never once felt like I was intimidated by a man, she said in 2017. 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 "J. B." Hunt Sr. was born on February 28, 1927, in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. Aside from his business success, Hunt was known for his kindness to others. "The first 10 years of the trucking company were really a struggle," Johnelle Hunt said. ", 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. There were a few other women employed by the company when it was founded, but not many. 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. B. Johnnie Hunt, one of seven children raised during the Great Depression in Cleburne County, started school at age 4 but dropped out in seventh grade. To say that Johnelle was bereft would be quite an understatement. Save $25 when you book your first LTL shipment. Bryan serves on the board of J.B. Hunt and also is Chairman of Global Dealer Group, a private company with operations in . He had worked 45 weeks and earned $500. B. In 2015, that number was down to 8.5 percent, he said. When we arrive at her Rogers home for our interview and photo shoot, she immediately apologizes for making us drive all the way to her from Little Rock. While drivers are perhaps the most visible employees of J.B. Hunt, a large group of people including thousands of office and field employees and our maintenance team works behind them. I was actually driving a truck when I was in high school, she recalled in a July 2017 interview. I was hungry once. [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. August 05, 2021 3:30 PM. In 1969, the Hunts relocated to Northwest Arkansas, where we are headquartered Through this expansive array of company-owned assets and access to additional capacity through a pool of qualified third-party carriers, J.B. Hunt offers mode-agnostic, customizable solutions to meet modern transportation needs. As the company grows larger year by year, keeping that culture intact is important. B. Nearly 60 years later, J.B. Hunt has grown from that small fleet of a few trucks into a Fortune 500 company. J.B. Hunt Transport is the Fortune 500 trucking company based in Lowell, Arkansas that comprises a large part of my beat coverage. B. Johnnie Bryan Hunt Sr., a former truck driver who founded one of the nation's largest trucking companies, died Thursday, the . References This page was last edited on 20 April 2023, at 12:30 . Hunt within a yellow-and-black scroll logo. All rights reserved. Johnnie passed away on December 7 2006, at age 79. Johnnie Bryan Hunt, founder and senior chairman of Lowell, AR-based truckload carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services, is fully retiring from the company that he founded over 35 years ago effective . One way to do that is ensuring people can bring their whole selves to work, where they feel like they are being care for personally and professionally, says Shelley Simpson, chief commercial officer and executive vice president of people and human resources. What makes J.B. Hunt so unique - in our industry, community, even the country - is our people. And a life with Johnnie meant a life around trucks, too. 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. At the time my son was 7 and my daughter was 11. 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 . You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. B. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, along with our first-generation leaders Wayne Garrison and Kirk Thompson, would define the values of our company, values that still ring true today: that we honor our commitments; regularly challenge ourselves and our approach in how we serve our customers; watch costs closely; and strive to treat one another as family. When they used to do investor "road shows" to present the company to potential shareholders, "The first thing he would say, is 'We are from Lowell, Ark. J.B. Hunt at 60: Our People. J.B. and Johnelle were married for nearly 55 years until his death in 2006. He would pat people on the shoulder and let them know they were doing a good job and he was glad they were there. 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. 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. Hunt introduced computers to truck drivers in the 1990s. Technology that empowers. He devoted the remainder of his life to pursue other investments, philanthropic activities, and real estate development. Johnnie would come home from a day in the office and pitch a new endeavor to her. 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. Throughout our storied history, J.B. Hunt has always been a company deeply rooted in growth and innovation. He formed another lucrative partnership with the Santa Fe Railroad. 114 Scott Street To supplement his income, he sold lawn sod. info@littlerocksoiree.com, Toll Free: (888) 322-6397 When Johnnie Hunt died suddenly, she came out of retirement to take the helm of his real estate development company, Hunt Ventures. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. J.B. Hunt provides a variety of freight transportation services to customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. 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.. We got up the next day, and we just kept working," Johnelle Hunt said. Sign up for free today. 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. ), 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. Johnnie Hunt currently lives in Springdale, AR; in the past Johnnie has also lived in Rogers AR. "Even 20 years later, he can't wait to tell people the story about the time he got to meet Mr. Hunt., That one-on-one interaction is part of the culture of people upon which Mr. and Mrs. Hunt built the company, says Paul Bingham, senior vice president of sales. Hunt was a frequent visitor to the . More headlines. Hunt and Johnelle DeBusk (Hunt) on Petit Jean Mountain, Arkansas© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #21: Johnelle and 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. JB Hunt- Early Life, Real Name, and Family. Hunt, one of the countrys largest trucking companies, had other ideas. Mr. Hunt relished hearing directly from his employees so much that he insisted on keeping his home number listed in the phone book. I also did the hiring, but that was when we were smaller. Weve invested. Another trend he set was to keep driver pay as low as possible. Johnnie Bryan Hunt was born on February 28 1927, in Heber Springs. 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. Hunt said his most desperate time came in 1949, when the sawmill went broke, leaving him $3,600 in debt. "The thing that I know for sure about J.B. Hunt is that they really pride themselves on being innovative," said Esper. 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. 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. We always liked getting everyones opinion and we wanted everyone to feel like they had an input, anyone could come and talk to us., Johnelle speaks at length about her truckers and her staff. Our six-week newsletter will help you make the right decision for you and your property. "We got down to Galesburg, Ill., and J.B. walked over to me and said, 'Haverty, we've got a deal.' I was fortunate enough to take care of my kids and my house. He wasnt afraid of hard work. It really does feel like a family.. Hunt is . The Early Years. "He always was thinking. B. Known as JB Hunt, Johnny Bryan Hunt, Sr. was an entrepreneur from the United States and the founder of JB Hunt Transport Services, the nation's largest public trucking company. If we don't grow, if we don't get bigger, then we may put that at risk., Simpson agrees: Many people in our organization have had the opportunity to leave, but they stay because they believe that there is even more opportunity inside J.B. Hunt more opportunity to be successful, to love their career, to really build something that's different and unique.. J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., the company it has become, last year boasted $6.2 billion in revenue, making it the fourth-largest for-hire trucking company in the country. "We never lost any money in the rice hull business after that. I learned to drive very early and I would take one of Daddy's big trucks on a Sunday afternoon and put my friends all in it and drive around in the neighborhoods right there in town, driving that big truck. The Arkansas-based logistics giant is the 3rd largest trucking company in the country, behind only FedEx and UPS. People you trust, technology that empowers, and capacity to deliver are the ideals J.B. Hunt uses to help us keep moving freight forward. But whats not going to change is that culture where we take care of our people.. He quit school at 12 to help support his family, earning $1.50 a day at his uncle's sawmill. Also, the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Center in Springdale, Arkansas, has been established . All of Hunts workers were nonunion and still are. I wish I could have hugged everyone.. 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 Sr. was born on February 28, 1927, in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. Hunt began J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. in 1969 with five tractors and seven trailers. The one thing I did not want was to move. The Hunt family donated the land for the school, valued in excess of $500,000. If so, login to add it. contracting opportunities that arise at the email address you provided. I really care about the people. Historical records and family trees related to Johnnie Hunt. 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. "With any innovative company, there will always be things you try that don't work. He declined and later called that his biggest mistake. While crisscrossing the U.S. to meet with customers and drivers alike, he loved dropping into terminals and hearing directly from drivers. Johnelle and J.B. Hunt stand in front of one of their trucks in 1988. She had lost her lifelong partner and best friend. Johnelle Hunt dubbed it "our golden goose.". Hunt had been in critical condition at a hospital in Springdale, Ark., after hitting his head on ice in a fall Saturday. B. Its just a thrill to help people, and theres a reason why people are put in front of you. The 10-year-old had to go to work cutting timber at his uncle's sawmill. B. 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. She continued as his partner in business and life until his death and afterward. No one had ever managed to find a way to pack them because rice hulls are difficult to compress. Ignoring advice to close up shop, the Hunts kept going. Ill cry right along with you. Im so glad I got to meet that lady.. Weve investedmore than a billion dollarsin capacity solutions and continue toinvest in containersand trailers to better serve the needs of customers while also using some of the newest, most modern tractors available. And I always felt like that was the most important thing that he did for the company. 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. We are working on a mining operation in Honduras, so people need me to make decisions. When I speak with Johnelle just a few weeks later, she has already sold that company. Hunt; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2006© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, Links to important University of Arkansas pages, © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, Coastlines & People (CoPe) Virtual Symposium Project, Sharon Killian and Jami J. Lockhart - Revealing Fayetteville's Hidden Cultural Landscape, Dr. Ariel Ortiz-Bobea - How Climate Change Is Affecting US Agricultural Productivity, J. At this point, nearly 15 years after his death, the stories of his personal touch are endless. 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. circulation@abpg.com. . Save $25 when you book your first LTL shipment. 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. B. "It was really risky for anyone in a trucking company to go out on that limb and disrupt the trucking business. From the Associated Press. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. When asked if she gets tired of it all she says, well, yes, but I promised Johnnie Id look after things.. [1][2], In the 1990s, the company grossed over $1 billion annually, employed thousands of people, and operated in Mexico and the United States. I mean, I've worked in a lot of companies and you hear Welcome to the company, Welcome to the team, Welcome to the organization., I've never heard Welcome to the family. And whats really interesting is I've experienced that every day since. Today, JB Hunt is a Fortune 500 company with over 29,000 employees and a fleet of more than 12,000 trucks. He and Johnelle DuBusk were married that year and settled in Texarkana. 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. 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. B. He briefly served in the army before working as a truck driver for Superior Forwarding Company. 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. Privacy Policy | Terms, Conditions & Notices | Comment Policy. B." We engineer innovative technology that accelerates our growth and is disrupting the transportation industry. Our company came from a family and that family had beliefs and a system of values that it brought to our foundation, says John Roberts, president and CEO. Growth brings opportunity, Roberts adds. Want to receive more stories like this in your inbox? J. Bryan Hunt Jr. is the son of Johnnie Hunt, the founder of J.B Hunt Transport. Innovative, driven, disruptive, integrity all terms we heard often with great passion. His gut told him when things would work. We will continue to invest in people, technology and capacity. Our culture is one where we care about people, we care about our employees and we care about our communities. Stuart Scott, chief information officer and executive vice president, saw that firsthand during a new employee orientation in 2016. The key is to find out how to maintain a degree of resilience that allows you to keep on moving," said Terry Esper, associate professor in the department of supply chain management at the Walton College. By cherishingthe logo, weensurethat as wedream ofnew ways to innovate and grow, westay grounded inthetrust, integrity and purpose onwhich we were founded. When someone works with J.B. Hunt, they know they are working with people they can rely on to get the job done. Brad Hicks, president of highway services and executive vice president, recalls one such story particularly well. [8], J. So much so that they used to host company picnics in their home in Springdale, just down the road from headquarters. I have been the wife of a trucker myself, so I would often speak to their wives if they were upset. B. Categories: United States, Philanthropists | Arkansas, Notables | Business Owners | Salesmen | Arkansas County, Arkansas | Stuttgart, Arkansas | 1930 US Census, Cleburne County, Arkansas | West Peter Creek Township, Cleburne County, Arkansas | 1950 US Census, Cleburne County, Arkansas | Truck Drivers | Giles Township, Cleburne County, Arkansas | Miller, Arkansas | Cleburne County, Arkansas | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Washington County, Arkansas | Pinnacle Memorial Gardens, Rogers, Arkansas | Business Leaders | Notables, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. We offer career 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. Then he would come to our office and tell me what certain people were doing wrong so that I would go and address it. None of us can see it, but the people that are passing by can. We encourage you to research and examine these records . Johnnie Bryan Hunt is a famous American businessman. 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. He grew up picking cotton, says Johnelle. 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). #1: Composite image of early photo of Johnelle and J. He also sold the mill's wood shavings to poultry farmers for ground cover in their chicken coops. We celebrate Mrs. Hunt and all the women who are part of the J.B. Hunt family, today and every day.

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