B. 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. He was able to carry more freight and provide more work for the drivers. By age 21, Johnnie Hunt was trying to design a way to package and distribute wood shavings for poultry litter. And we feel like we really did.. When I asked why, she replied, "Well, we have about 16,000 square feet here, and we don't need this much space. 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. Let me tell you, women can get things done, Mrs. Hunt once said. Weve invested. J.B. and Johnelle Hunt on their wedding day, January 19, 1952. 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. The Arkansas Business Hall of Fame inducted them as a couple in 2001. Haverty was confident in the logic of the idea that capitalized on the two industries' strengths. [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. 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. With the company's growing success, he moved the base of operations to Lowell. B. 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. . Were a 10 billion company today and were going to look completely different in the next 10, 20, 25 years, Bingham says. [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. He grew up on a farm and learned the value of hard work at an early age. 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). [8], J. 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. Johnnie Bryan Hunt is a businessperson who has been at the helm of 7 different companies and holds the position of Chairman of Best Buy Here Pay Here, Chairman for Progressive Auto Finance Corp., Chairman for Global . JB Hunt Net Worth, Biography, Career (Updated) Mrs. Hunts steady presence in our organization has helped establish us a welcoming company. encouragement to turn those dreams into reality. 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. Johnelle Hunt - Forbes Our six-week newsletter will help you make the right decision for you and your property. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. 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. But Johnnie promised me that if we moved I did not have to work.. He also secured a lucrative contract to haul merchandise for Walmart Inc., which became Hunt's largest customer. Arkansas. How to avoid leaving money on the table, Congressional investigators blame airlines for most flight cancellations, First Republic Bank stock plunges to record low as rescue plan proves elusive, Fed faults Silicon Valley Bank execs and itself in bank failure. Also, the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Center in Springdale, Arkansas, has been established . Johnnie Bryan Hunt was born on February 28 1927, in Heber Springs. You pick up newspapers and read about a child that is being abused or hurt, and as I learned more about it I realized how much we need this organization and what great things they do. He briefly served in the army before working as a truck driver for Superior Forwarding Company. She bore the wrath of her friend, who didnt speak to her for several days afterward, but she got her man. or connect with us on LinkedIn. Save $25 when you book your first LTL shipment. Johnnie and I have always felt like, Be fair to the people, care about the people, Mrs. Hunt says. 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. In 1995, Hunt retired as chairman of J.B. Hunt and became senior chairman, a position he held until his retirement. "Many truckers and truck lines scoffed at this new operation and said we would fail. 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. 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. The 10-year-old had to go to work cutting timber at his uncle's sawmill. She also served as a sounding board to some of her husbands biggest ideas. Save time on shipping and get reliable service with Shipper 360. All rights reserved. He also sold the mills wood shavings to poultry farmers for ground cover in their chicken coops. 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. "I think that's the secret -- don't be afraid. Johnnie Bryan Hunt Sr., a former truck driver who founded one of the nation's largest trucking companies, died Thursday, the . 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. 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. [1][2], In the 1990s, the company grossed over $1 billion annually, employed thousands of people, and operated in Mexico and the United States. Our founder, Johnnie Bryan Hunt, was a dreamer, and his spirit of innovation is still very much felt at J.B. Hunt today. 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 . J. Bryan Hunt Jr. is the son of Johnnie Hunt, the founder of J.B Hunt Transport. Johnnie Bryan Hunt Jr., 57, was arrested in connection with aggravated assault, a Class D felony, on June 3. From the Associated Press. Linked companies : J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. - PowerBand Solutions Inc. Summary. career with a company that is always finding new ways to grow, search jobs to find an opening near you, B. Hunt with their children, Jane and Bryan© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas, #33: J. 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. Most of us humans won't do it, but for entrepreneurs, it's part of being an entrepreneur.". In 1969, the Hunts relocated to Northwest Arkansas, where we are headquartered Johnny A. Isenhour Obituary. I also did the hiring, but that was when we were smaller. Johnelle Hunt is a true American icon. It really does feel like a family.. If you are looking to build your To supplement his income, he sold lawn sod. 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. B. He shifted his focus to trucking and created J.B. Hunt Transport Services in 1969. 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. Capacity to deliver. ), 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. Transportation Industry Leader. Love struck Johnelle and J.B. Hunt in, of all places, a truck The industry is making progress in adding female employees, and J.B. Hunt in particular is committed to diversifying its workforce. With our scale and fleet density, we are equipped to deliver. The Women's Foundation of Arkansas named her 2012 Woman of the Year. 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. Thinking outside the box ultimately led to one of the best decisions in the history of J.B. Hunt Transport.". 2023 Five Legged Stool LLC. [9], In 2016, he was inducted into the Supply Chain Hall of Fame.[2]. B. He was a truck driver who left school after the seventh grade to work, a forward-thinking optimist who didnt like details. Lowell, Arkansas, is the company's headquarters. Your email address will not be published. B. And thats been true since the very beginning of our company. He devoted the remainder of his life to pursue other investments, philanthropic activities, and real estate development. After the graduation ceremony, Johnnie stayed around to tell her parents what he had done. Johnnie Bryan "J. B." Hunt Sr. was born on February 28, 1927, in Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas. It wasnt just a little quick Hi, how are you? The criteria for admission? We are a family at J.B. Hunt, and we work to honor the small trucking company that started it all. Johnnie Bryan "J. He implemented many cost cutting efforts that allowed him to increase profits dramatically. It didnt work out that way. Springdale, Arkansas (AR), US. . 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. And I always felt like that was the most important thing that he did for the company. Three years later, the company went public and by 1983 it had $63 million in revenue. He briefly served in the army before working as a truck driver for Superior Forwarding Company. B. 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. Her son Bryan Hunt is on the board of J.B. Hunt Transport Services. B. Technology that empowers. J.B. Hunt Transport is the Fortune 500 trucking company based in Lowell, Arkansas that comprises a large part of my beat coverage. 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 . (AP file photo by April L. Brown) . J.B. Hunt employees are the human capacity working to create . The ERGs also support the advancement of women, African Americans, Latinos, veterans and individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+. J.B. Hunt has grown exponentially over the last 60 years, and a driving force behind this growth has always been . "Let's just say I have been laughing a lot.". 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. He would pat people on the shoulder and let them know they were doing a good job and he was glad they were there. Supply chain professionals who have "changed the world we live in," said Brian Hancock, a member of the council's board and chairman of the hall of fame development committee.
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