Arkansas Business Rankings: Wealthiest Arkansas Families.

ARKANSAS BUSINESS RANKINGS: WEALTHIEST
ARKANSAS FAMILIES.
ARKANSAS BUSINESS RANKINGS: WEALTHIEST ARKANSAS FAMILIES
2000 1999
Ranking Ranking Identify City
one One Walton Loved Ones Bentonville
Helen walton, Rob walton
Jim walton, Alice Walton,
John Walton
2 Two Stephens Family Members Small Rock
Jackson T. Stephens,
Warren A. Stephens,
W.R. Stephens Jr.,
numerous family members trusts
three 4 Winthrop Paul Rockefeller [*] Small Rock
4 three Don Tyson family [*] Springdale
Don Tyson, John H. Tyson,
Barbara A. Tyson,
estate involving Randal Tyson
5 5 Murphy Family Members El Dorado
Charles Murphy Jr.,
R. Madison Murphy,
Michael W. Murphy,
Claiborne P. Deming,
William C. Nolan Jr.,
Caroline G. Theus,
Robert C. Nolan,
Rev. Christoph Keller III,
Eric M. Heiher
6 eight Walter Hussman Jr. Family Members Small Rock
7 six Frank Lyon Jr. Loved Ones little Rock
eight 10 John A. Cooper Loved Ones Bella Vista
9 7 Herbert McAdams II Small Rock
ten 16 David D. Glass Bentonville
11 14 Truman Arnold Texarkana
12 24 Donald G. Soderquist Rogers
13 21 John Ed Anthony Loved Ones Bearden
14 15 Roderick & Delbert Allen Siloam Springs
15 13 J.B. Hunt Family%% Fayetteville
J.B. Hunt, Wayne Garrison,
Johnelle Hunt, Bryan Hunt
16 30 Jack Shewmaker Bentonville
17 twenty Frank Fletcher North little Rock
18 9 Collier Wenderoth Jr. Fort Smith
19 22 Stephen LaFrance Loved Ones Pine Bluff
twenty 27 Don Harp Springdale
21 63 Carl D. Corley Sr. Fort Smith
22 23 Ronald M. Cameron North Small Rock
23 31 Willard Walker Family Members Springdale
24 NR Dr. J. Floyd Kyser little Rock
25 19 F. S. (Sheridan) Garrison Family Members Harrison
F.S. Garrison, Ben Garrison
26 NR Sonja Yates Hubbard Loved Ones Texarkana
27 26 Frank Hickingbotham Family Members Small Rock
Herren Hickingbotham,
Todd Hickingbotham
28 33 H.C. "Dude" Crain Jr. Fort Smith
29 17 Don Kirkpatrick Family Members little Rock
30 36 Wallace Fowler Loved Ones Jonesboro
31 41 Chesley Pruet EI Dorado
32 32 H.L. Hambree family Fort Sith
33 28 Reynie Rutledge Searcy
34 38 Charles D. Morgan little Rock
35 25 William Cohn Loved Ones Forrest City
36 12 James T. "Red" Hudson Loved Ones Rogers
James T. Hudson, Michael
T. Hudson, James R. Hudson
Jane M. Helmich
2000 2000 1999 Percentage
Ranking Estimated wealth Estimated wealth Change
1 $108 billion $77 billion 40%
2 $3.8 billion $3.4 billion 12%
3 $1.1 billion $1.1 billion 0%
4 $1.01 billion $2.5 billion -58%
5 $830 million $840 million -1%
6 $670 million $517 million 30%
eight $490 million $285 million 72%
24 $150 million - -
26 $135 million - -
2000
Ranking Resources involving Wealth
one Wal-Mark stock, Arvest Bank Group,
Neighborhood Publishers, Cannon Express
stock, Leggett & Platt stock,
Southern Development Bancorporation
two Stephens Team Inc., Stephens Inc.,
Donrey Medic Group, Staffmark Inc.,
public company stock (Alltel, First
United Banchshares, BankAmerica,
Monsanto, Power-One, Dillard's),
Stephens Production Co., natural
fuel fields, private organization ownerships,
Southern Development Bancorporation,
Very first National Security.
three John David Rockefeller Estate inheritance,
sale associated with Winrock Farms, real estate,
automobile dealerships, Carlisle Bancshares
4 Tyson Meals stock, investments
5 Stock within Murphy Oil, Regions Financial,
Very first United Bancshares along with Deltic
Timber, timber land; real estate;
auto dealerships.
6 Camden news Publishing Co. (Includes
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, other
daily newspapers, radio stations, cable
TV holdings); chattanooga times /
Chattanooga Totally Free Press, real estate
7 Initial stock, sale of Coca-Cola and
appliance distributorships, 13,000
-acre Wingmead Farm
eight Cooper Communities; stock in
Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt, Entergy
9 Stock inside BankAmerica, Alltel,
Dillard's investments, farms
10 Wal-Mart Stock
11 Sale associated with Regions Monetary stock,
sale involving Roadrunner convenience
stores, Truman Arnold Cos
aircraft fuel distributorship
12 Wal-Mark stock
13 Timber terrain lumber mills, sale of
Loblolly Stables, thoroughbred horses
14 Allen Canning Co., Arkansas State
Bank stock
15 J.B. Hunt Transport Solutions stock,
cattle ranch, residential
developments, auto dealership
16 Wal-Mart stock
17 Frank Fletcher Cos (Cheyenne
Industries, Legacy Lamps, auto
dealerships, Riverfront Hilton
Inn, restaurants), Wal-Mart stock
18 OK Industries, Initial Bank Corp.
19 Wholesale pharmacy, USA Durg
Shop chain.
twenty Harps Meals Stores
21 Carco Transportation
22 Mountaire Corp.
23 Wal-Mart stock, oil holidays
24 Equity portfolio, real
estate (industrial multifamily)
25 American Freightways stock
26 E-Z Mart Inc. Convenience
store chain
27 Sale regarding TCBY Enterprises,
Regions Monetary stook,
auto dealerships, restaurants
28 Sale of Crain Industries
29 Top Quality Foods
30 Sale of Regions Financial
stock, Fowler Meals (Taco
Bell & KFC restaurant
franchises), Fowler Enterprises,
sale associated with KFC franchises,
real estate
31 Oil holdings, Very first United
Bancshares stock
32 Sale associated with Arkansas Greatest stock,
Trans States trucking, First
American Corp. stock, Texas
banks, cattle ranch
33 Very first security Bancorp,
Baxter County Bancshares,
real estate, insurance
34 Stock inside Acxiom and
Fairfield Communities
35 Forrest Metropolis Grocery Co.
36 Tyson Food Items stock, sale
of Hudson Foods, real estate
37 40 Ross Whipple Loved Ones Arkadelphia $110 million
38 39 Thomas "Mack" McLarty Small Rock $107 million
39 18 Mark Simmons Siloam Sprihgs $106 million
40 74 Jon E.M. Jacoby Small Rock $102 million
41 43 Cabe family Small Rock $100 million
41 44 Ed Ligon family little Rock $100 million
43 11 William Dillard Loved Ones Small Rock $99 million
William Dillard, William
Dillard III, Alex Dillard
Mike Dillard, Drue Corbusier
44 34 Tenenbaum Loved Ones North Small Rock $99 million
45 42 Gene George Family Members Springdale $96 million
46 45 Tom Loberg Family Members Jonesboro $95 million
47 101 Wayne Ridout Family Members Searcy $94 million
48 104 Bill Carlton Loved Ones little Rock $93 million
49 47 Ed Warmack Loved Ones Fort Smith $92 million
50 46 Charles "Bo" Adams Leachville $92 million
51 29 Lloyd E. Peterson Loved Ones Decatur $91 million
52 51 Richard & Patti Upton Heber Springs $83 million
53 55 John A. Riggs III Loved Ones Small Rock $78 million
54 83 Thomas B. Schueck Small Rock $74 million
55 59 John Allison Conway 74 million
56 64 H. Francis Bland Jr. family Paragould $72 million
57 49 Sloan & William Rainwater Loved Ones Jonesboro $71 million
58 65 Joe T. Ford Loved Ones Small Rock $71 million
59 NR John L. Anthony Loved Ones El Dorado $79 million
60 61 Jane Dills Morgan Conway $70 million
61 58 John Flake little Rock $70 million
37 $106 million 4%
38 $107 million 0%
39 $210 million -50%
40 $52 million 97%
41 $100 million 0%
41 $100 million 0%
43 $265 million -63%
44 $115 million -14%
45 $103 million -7%
46 $98 million -3%
47 $35 million 170%
48 $33 million 182%
49 $92 million 0%
50 $93 million -1%
51 $153 million -41%
52 $83 million 0%
53 $76 million 2%
54 $46 million 61%
55 $70 million 6%
56 $64 million 13%
57 $91 million -22%
58 $62 million 14%
59
60 $66 million 7%
61 $70 million 0%
37 Sale regarding Firstar stock, Horizon Bancorp
38 Automobile dealerships, real estate, stocks
39 Simmons Meals Inc., Arkansas State Bank stock
40 Stock within Power-One and also Delta & Pine Property Co.;
investments
41 Sale involving forest & paper operations
41 Sale of Orbit Valve Co.
43 Stock throughout Dillard'S along with Acxiom, CDI
Contractors, real estate
44 A. Tenenbaum Co.
45 George's Inc., J.B. Hunt stock, sale of
Initial National Bank involving Springdale
46 Hytrol Conveyors, Regions Economic stock
47 Arkansas Wholesale Lumber Co. (includes Ridout operations)
48 Carlton-Bates Co.
49 Mail developments, First Bank Corp. stock
50 Adams Terrain Co., farm land, real estate
51 Peterson Industries, J.B. Hunt stock, Decatur Bancshares
52 Aromatique, sale associated with Arkansas Distribution Co.,
Red Apple Inn Nation Club
53 J.A. Riggs Tractor
54 Lexicon Inc., Schueck Steel Co.
55 Sale associated with Regions Economic & Belmont Homes
stock; sale associated with Spirit Homes, real estate,
House Bancshares Inc., Marine Bank regarding the
Florida Keys
56 Dr Pepper, RC and 7Up bottling plants and
distributorships within Arkansas and also Mississippi
57 Regions Economic stock, farm holdings, motels,
insurance
58 Alltel stock, Pinnacle Bank
59 Anthony Forest Goods Co.
60 Acxiom stock, Initial Bank Corp. stock
61 Real estate investments
62 57 Kenneth B. McGruder Loved Ones Fort Smith $70 million $70 million
63 37 Donald Munro Hot Springs $69 million $109 million
64 48 Doyle Rogers Batesville $67 million $92 million
65 35 James T. Dyke Small Rock $66 million $114 million
66 73 John Troutt Jr. Family Members Jonesboro $62 million $52 million
67 50 Bean family Glenwood $62 million $90 million
68 66 James F. Keenan family Fayetteville $61 million $61 million
69 95 Nabholz family Conway $60 million $40 million
70 53 John Ed Chambers Family Members Danville $60 million $78 million
71 75 Rodger S. Kline Small Rock $59 million $51 million
72 67 Fred C. Ballman Fort Smith $57 million $60 million
73 71 Robert Clay Family Members Hardy $57 million $55 million
74 68 William de Yampert Family Members Wilmot $56 million $56 million
75 70 Fred Swindle Paragould $55 million $55 million
76 NR Douglas Parker Sr. Loved Ones Fort Smith $54 million -
77 76 Walter Coleman Jr. family little Rock $50 million $51 million
78 NR Chris Whitt Fort Smith $50 million -
79 96 Jim Lindsey Fayetteville $47 million $39 million
80 91 James T. Womble little Rock $46 million $42 million
81 56 Kenneth Pat Wilson family Jacksonville $42 million $72 million
82 60 Samuel Sicard family Fort Smith $42 million $66 million
83 78 Glen Hinkle Family Members Mountain View $40 million $50 million
84 97 Lee Wilson Loved Ones Wilson $39 million $39 million
85 NR Curt Bradbury Small Rock $39 million -
86 54 Harold Gwatney family Jacksonville $38 million $77 million
87 111 Mike Coulson family little Rock $38 million $30 million
88 90 Robert A. Younger III Fort Smtih $37 million $42 million
89 52 Leland E. Tollett Rogers $37 million $80 million
90 99 Gerald Hamra Family Members little Rock $37 million $37 million
91 72 Wilkinson Loved Ones Greenwood $36 million $54 million
92 NR Dick & Tim Hill Russellville $35 million -
93 62 H.C. Schmieding Loved Ones Springdale $35 million $64 million
94 103 Robert Hernreich Loved Ones Fort Smith $34 million $34 million
95 80 Larry Brewer Family Members Paragould $33 million $49 million
96 98 James C. East Family Members little Rock $33 million $38 million
97 NR H. Lee Scott Jr. Rogers $33 million -
98 NR Thomas M. Coughlin Bentonville $32 million -
99 81 Neely Cassady family Nashville $31 million $47 million
100 85 William H. Bowen little Rock $31 million $44 million
101 92 Larry Crain Loved Ones little Rock $30 million $41 million
102 79 Cecil W. Cupp Jr. Hot Springs $30 million $50 million
103 77 William hurt family Jonesboro $30 million $50 million
104 108 E.G. Bradberry Loved Ones Fayetteville $30 million $30 million
105 109 Hugh Patterson Loved Ones Small Rock $30 million $30 million
106 82 Edward G. Sims family Blytheville $30 million $47 million
107 106 Roland S. Boreham Jr. Fort Smith $30 million $31 million
108 107 Yamell Family Members Searcy $30 million $30 million
109 one hundred Bonnie Cupp Wyatt Family Members Calico Rock $30 million $35 million
62 0% K-Mac Enterprises restaurants
63 -37% Munro & Co.
64 -27% Rogers Bancshares (Metropolitan National Bank),
Citizens Bancshares regarding Batesville, real estate
65 -43% Dyke Industries
66 19% the Jonesboro Sun newspaper, real estate
67 -31% Hatfield Lumber Co., Buddy Bean Lumber,
Curt Bean Lumber, Bean Lumber Co., C.
Bean Transport, real estate, sawmills
68 0% Sale regarding Pace Industries
69 48% Nabholz Construction Co.
70 -24% Chambers Bancshares stock, Petit Jean
Poultry, insurance, real estate
71 15% Acxiom stock
72 -5% Baldor Electric Co. stock
73 3% town & country Supermarkets, real estate
74 0% Farm holdings
75 0% Sale of National Florist Directory
76 - Loislaw.com stock
77 -2% Sale of Coleman Dairy
78 - Sale associated with Air Methods Inc.
79 20% Real estate development and purchases company,
Very first Safety Bancorp stock,
Baxter County Bancshares stock
80 10% Acxiom stock
81 -41% Initial Arkansas BancShares Inc. stock
82 -37% Very first Bank Corp. stock
83 -21% Mountain View Bancshares Inc., Mountain View
Phone Co.
84 1% Farm holdigns
85 - Stock throughout BankAmerica, power one Inc., real estate
86 -50% Automobile dealerships, real estate
87 27% Coulson Oil Co. distributorship;
convenience stores
88 -11% Arkansas best stock, Initial Bank Corp, stock
89 -53% Tyson Food Items stock, farm operations
90 0% Sale associated with Wendy's restaurant franchises
91 -33% Wilkinson Banking Corp.
92 - Daymark Meals Inc.
93 -46% Schmieding Enterprises produce company
94 0% Sale involving Sigma Broadcasting
95 -32% First Paragould Bankshares, Brewer Brothers Oil
96 -14% Pulaski Bank & Trust, Pulaski Mortgage Co.,
Northwest Title Services, Lenders Title
97 - Wal-Mart stock
98 - Wal-Mart stock
99 -34% Tyson Meals stock, sale of TSC Human Resources
100 -30% Regions Monetary stock, investments
101 -26% Crain Management Group, Initial Security
Bancorp stock
102 -40% Regions Monetary stock
103 -40% Spirit Manufacturing, Southern Marketing,
hurt Enterprises, Motion Signal Group,
sale associated with Sun Industries
104 0% Sale regarding Continental Ozark, Transmontaigne
Oil Co. stock, real estate
105 0% Sale of Arkansas Gazette, real estate
106 -37% Initial Delta Bankshares Inc.
107 -6% Stock throughout Baldor Electric Co., USA Truck Inc.,
Initial community Banking
108 -4% Yarnell Ice Cream, Very first security Bancorp stock
109 -19% Wyatt Bancshares Inc.
Other Folks Who May Well Qualify
Name City
W.C. "Cal" Partee Family Members Magnolia
Terry Renaud North Small Rock
Walter V. Smiley Small Rock
Bernice Jones% Springdale
Bogle Family Members Fayetteville
David Curry Fort Smith
Dr. Ted Bailey family Small Rock
Harry Hastings Small Rock
Hill Wheatley Family Members Hot Springs
J.D. Ashley Loved Ones North Small Rock
J.D. Simpson Small Rock
Julia Peck Mobley Texarkana
Randall G. Mourot Small Rock
Randy Warner Small Rock
Remmel Family Members little Rock
Sam Winstead little Rock
Melanie Steele Small Rock
Name Resources of Wealth
W.C. "Cal" Partee Loved Ones Thoroughbred horses, oil, real estate
Terry Renaud Firstar Corp. stock, investments
Walter V. Smiley Stock in Alltel Corp. as well as Acxiom
Bernice Jones% Sale associated with Jones Truck Lines, First National
Bank involving Springdale, real estate
Bogle Loved Ones Wal-Mart stock
David Curry Investments
Dr. Ted Bailey Loved Ones Real estate
Harry Hastings Eagle Bank, Moon Distributing,
Star Bolt Co.
Hill Wheatley family Real estate
J.D. Ashley Family Members Real estate
J.D. Simpson Wal-Mart stock, investments
Julia Peck Mobley Bank holdings, investments
Randall G. Mourot Mail Contractors of Arkansas
Randy Warner Investments
Remmel family Rebsamen Insurance Co., investments
Sam Winstead professional Leasing Co., investments
Melanie Steele Investments
Wealthiest Arkansans Families
Walton Family
* Bentonville
2000 Estimated Wealth: $108 billion
The country's wealthiest loved ones owns 38 percent in the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart
Retailers Inc. Founded with a down-to-earth patriarch, the actual late Sam Walton, Wal-Mart's
phenomenal growth of more than 1.7 billion shares regarding stock (mostly locked in family
members trust) continues, using prosperity up a lot more than 40 % in the past yr as well as greater
than double since mid-1998.
Helen Walton, now considered the wealthiest woman in the world, signed notes thus Sam could open
the initial shop inside Rogers inside 1962. Robson, as reserved as his father ended up being
sanguine, delivered papers like a teen-ager along with competed inside the Ironman Triathlon
throughout 1985. Currently Robson instructions Wal-Mart's 3,810 total stores, $165 billion in
revenue along with 1.14 million employees worldwide as chairman.
Son John is truly a California resident, vice president regarding Walton Enterprises along with Wal-
Mart director.
Son Jim chairs the particular $2.6 billion Arvest Bank Team Inc. as well as presides more than
Walton Enterprises as well as community Publishers Inc. throughout Bentonville. The Particular
Walton loved ones ownership within Arvest would fetch at least $400 million.
Daughter Alice led efforts pertaining to progression of Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport and
holds stock inside Leggett & Platt Inc. and also Cannon Express Inc.
In June 1999, Wal-Mart purchased Asda Team PLC, Excellent Britain's third largest grocery store
chain, pertaining to $10.8 billion.
Stephens Family
* little Rock
2000 Estimated Wealth:
$3.8 billion
Outside of the Waltons, the actual Stephens family members may always be the the majority of well-
known throughout Arkansas enterprise circles. It's impossible to overestimate the family's influence
on enterprise inside the state; the identical may be stated regarding figuring the particular family's
worth.
This year, the family's high-tech investments get really paid out off, specifically its stake throughout
Power-One Inc., that Stephens took public within 1997 in a primary offering price of $14 the share.
The Actual stock offers shot up coming from concerning $12 the discuss this past year to over $115
today, which includes a 3-for-2 split, putting the Stephens stake inside the business in greater than
$700 million.
Without the particular Power-One stock Stephens' prosperity will be $400 million less than it has
been final year.
Stephens Inc. ended up being founded in 1933 from the late W.R. "Witt" Stephens like a municipal
bond house. His brother, Jacks on T. Stephens, joined your firm as president in 1956.
Warren Stephens, Jack's son, took more than Stephens Inc. inside 1986. Witt Stephens Jr. is also a
component of the actual subsequent generation regarding leadership within the loved ones empire.
Stephens group Inc., that is the holding company for all the family's investments--including Stephens
Inc. -- paid an estimated $950 million with regard to Donrey Media group within 1993. Donrey is
now valued at approximately $724 million.
Its holdings include Arkansas Oklahoma Gasoline Corp. within Fort Smith -- or possibly the "goose,"
while they think of it as -- which usually is a natural gas production business whose untapped fields
over the world happen to always be able to be valued within the $1 billion range.
Last May, Stephens group bought the actual commercial solutions division associated with
StaffMark Inc. regarding $195 million throughout cash. It's furthermore any major player within
Beverly Enterprises Inc., the nation's largest nursing house chain. Holdings include major stock
positions within Bank regarding America Corp., Alltel Corp., Monsanto Co.; First United Bancshares
Inc.; pursuits inside multiple private banks inside the state; and also 25-story Stephens building
along with Richesse Hotel, each inside little Rock.
Winthrop Paul Rockefeller
* Small Rock
2000 Estimated Wealth: $1.1 billion
Fabulous inheritance from his great-grandfather, John David Rockefeller, gas political and business
endeavors regarding Lt. Gov. Rockefeller.
Rockefeller marketed Winrock Farms, any Morrilton-based operation, as well as the thing that was
the particular largest yacht construction company in world. Rockefeller owns Carlisle Bancshares.
He ended up being elected lieutenant governor in 1996, 3 decades following his father, Winthrop
Rockefeller, became the initial Republican to serve as Arkansas' governor since Reconstruction.
Rockefeller's inheritance will be the least diluted of some of John D. Rockefeller's great-
grandchildren because he has been an simply child. The Particular father regarding seven children,
Rockefeller and his awesome wife, Lisenne, maintain homes from Winrock Farms atop Petit Jean
Mountain as well as in little Rock.
Murphy Family
* El Dorado
2000 Estimated Wealth: $830 million
The Murphy fortune grew via seeds planted within the early 1900s when Charles H. Murphy Sr.
became involved with lumber along with banking.
Murphy drilled his first oil well in 1907, nevertheless exploration didn't repay huge until 1936, when
fields in Shuler, Ark., along with Ezzell, Texas, started producing. This particular ended up being the
actual turning point for that business since the Murphys turned their particular emphasis far from
timber and banking to capitalize about the finds.
The family's worth, now estimated conservatively with $830 million, can be grounded inside stock of
publicly traded Murphy Oil, the worldwide oil and fuel exploration along with production
organization using refining along with marketing along with advertising operations within the U.S.
as well as the United Kingdom.
Other family holdings contain stock within Regions financial Corp., that bought Initial Commercial
Corp. in 1998; Initial United Bancshares Inc.; and Deltic Timber Corp., a new public business spun
off from Murphy Oil throughout late 1996.
It was Charles H. Murphy Jr., son in the original Murphy oil man, whom molded the business
straight into what it can be today, creating Murphy Oil to manage the particular family's broad
pursuits and using it public in 1952.
Charles Murphy Sr. has been 50 yrs . old when Charles Jr. ended up being born. Murphy Oil Corp.
chairman R. Madison Murphy, grandson of Charles Sr., said his father was only 21 when his father's
ill health thrust him towards the company's helm.
In 1972, Charles H. Murphy Jr. relinquished the actual responsibilities associated with president
along with began serving as chief executive officer as well as chairman. Within 1984, he stepped
down as CEO, but remained chairman until 1994, when Madison Murphy took over as chairman.
Charles H. Murphy Jr. remained a part of your board until this year.
Other Murphy relatives within the enterprise consist of Michael W. Murphy, Madison's brother along
together with a director involving Murphy Oil; director Caroline G. Theus, a new niece of Charles
Murphy Jr.; Claiborne P. Deming, president and chief executive officer, as well as William C. Nolan,
both nephews of C.H. Murphy Jr.
Charles H. Murphy Jr. was among the initial 4 inductees into the Arkansas Enterprise Hall regarding
Fame within 1999.
Walter Hussman Jr. Family
* Small Rock
One of your very most potent families within Arkansas, the particular Walter Hussman Jr. loved ones
is also any media energy in several markets, reaching hundreds of thousands of people daily via
their newspaper, radio and also television properties.
The bulk of family members fortune rests below Camden news Publishing Co., including the actual
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; 5 additional smaller newspapers throughout Arkansas; your
Chattanooga Occasions / Chattanooga Free Regarding Charge Press throughout Tennessee; and
radio, TV along with cable holdings. Throughout 1999, Camden news recorded estimated income
associated with $200 million. Founded throughout 1929, the company employs with regards to
1,650.
Under the actual Camden Publishing umbrella tend to be Wehco Media Inc. (the newspapers, using
average circulation involving 245,549 and Wehco Video cable system, using 115,000 subscribers)
and KCMC Inc., which usually controls three r / c as well as the TV station.
Hussman won one of your country's most intense newspaper wars in 1991, when he bought
Arkansas Gazette through Gannett Co. regarding $67 million. He then mixed that newspaper -- your
oldest west with the Mississippi River -- along using his Arkansas Democrat to produce your
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Frank J. Lyon Jr. Family
* Small Rock & Boca Raton, Fla.
The late Frank Lyon Sr. began through selling suits door-to-door as well as later became General
Foods' youngest district manager. He borrowed $5,000 in order to go into enterprise regarding
himself along with ultimately wound up with the Whirlpool along with RCA distributorships for 90 %
of Arkansas along with areas of Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana and Texas.
Lyon, that died in 1998, brokered deal along with his previous friend, Sam Walton, early 1970s, this
agreement he supplied every RCA television marketed within the country until 1989.
Frank Lyon Jr. graduated via Harvard business University throughout 1967, as well as the next
season he and his father acquired Twin Metropolis Bank within North little Rock, then an institution
along with $10 million within assets. It grew 150 occasions larger over the particular subsequent 28
years.
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. associated with Arkansas ended up being acquired throughout 1969, along
with Coca-Cola plants throughout Shreveport, Texarkana along with Natchitoches, La., had been
extra later.
In 1989, the actual Coke distributorship has been offered to Coca-Cola Enterprises for probably
more than $250 million.
Frank Lyon Jr. provides asserted careful analysis sell the actual distributorship had been produced
while he ended up diagnosed with what doctors believed would always be a terminal case of cancer.
Instead, Lyon recovered completely as well as the timing in the sale proved to become really
favorable.
TCBancshares ended up being offered to Mercantile Bancorporation in 1995. Whenever Mercantile
struck an arrangement in order to offer for you to Firstar Corp. of Milwaukee, Lyon ended up being
poised to end up being able to end up being the largest individual shareholder within Firstar
together with 14.2 million shares really worth with regards to $525 million.
He expended $4.2 million this season in order to set up a fresh address by making use of an 80-acre
spread in west little Rock. the family furthermore owns your 13,000-acre Wingmead Farm inside
Prairie County along with Summer Wind Farm inside Kentucky, where brood mares are generally
acquired for you to breed in order to premier stallions.
Frank Jr. owns mom associated with Favorite Trick, 1997 Horse of Year, as well as the mother
involving Skip Away, 1997 Older Horse involving Year. The Particular family members is this type of
big benefactor involving that that was Arkansas college in Batesville that the school changed its
identify to be able to Lyon Higher Education throughout 1295.
John A. Cooper Jr. Family
* Bella Vista
Cooper Communities Inc., founded within 1954, may be among your leaders inside creating planned
communities.
Cooper Communities consists of Bella Vista as well as Hot Springs Village in Arkansas, Stonebridge
Village near Branson, Mo., Tellico Village inside Loudon, Tenn., and Savannah Lakes Village inside
McCormick, S.C. Cooper marketed off Cherokee Village in north Arkansas in 1992.
Cooper Communities employs 673 people.
John Jr. joined the company in 1962 along with had been named president/CEO in 1968, a new
publish he held until 1990. He stepped into company's top submit throughout 1998. John Jr. serves
as director associated with and also stockholder in Entergy Corp., WalMart stores Inc. and J.B. Hunt
Transport Solutions Inc.
Herbert McAdams Family
* little Rock
Herbert Hall McAdams II, any shrewd businessman having an uncanny eye for the future, reaped
much more financial prize in the banking consolidation wave of the 1990s as compared to some
other Arkansan. but his family's fortune, just like bank stocks inside general, has brought a beating,
dropping via an estimated $570 million per year ago.
The McAdams fortune had been mainly built on the $10 million investment within Small Rock's
Union National Bank, which in turn has been teetering on the brink of failure inside 1970.
McAdams had currently verified himself being a savvy operator in acquiring and creating a string
involving successful banks in northeast Arkansas, and he saw the worth of his bank holdings roll
over multiple occasions following first offering your family's stake throughout Your Union associated
with Arkansas for $115 million to Small Rock's Worthen Banking Corp. Worthen marketed to always
be able to Boatmen's Bancshares involving St. Louis, which usually marketed for you to Nations
Bancorp. regarding Charlotte, N.C., that bought Bank of America within San Francisco.
Stock holdings continued to roll using subsequent stock swap-sale associated with Jonesboro's
Citizens Bank but retained ownership of seven-story building. after purchasing Union National Bank,
McAdams moved his loved ones to Small Rock through Jonesboro.
McAdams began investing in banks throughout 1949. He shifted the focus of his profession from law
for you to be a bank CEO using the 1959 acquisition of Jonesboro's Citizens Bank.
David Glass
* Bentonville
Successor to become able to Sam Walton as head of the nation's largest retailer, Glass retired as
CEO involving Wal-Mart Inc. inside 1999 as well as took any position as chairman regarding
WalMart's executive committee with the board. This particular year, he purchased the actual Kansas
Metropolis Royals significant league baseball team. Any 29 % boost in his wealth since a 12 months
ago bumped him from 16th for you to 10th about the Arkansas Company listing of "Wealthiest
Arkansans."
Walton discovered Glass working for your Consumer Markets chain and recruited him to join Wal-
Mart as EVP involving finance inside 1976.
Described simply by Walton as "one of one of the particular most useful list talents" he had actually
met, Glass became CFO and vice chairman within 1982, COO along with president involving the
organization in 1984 and CEO throughout 1988. He had been credited using introducing
technological advances in which make the actual logistics involving the organization possible. He
ended up being voted Chief Executive in the Yr by simply viewers regarding Chief Executive journal
within 1995.
Truman Arnold
* Texarkana
Truman Arnold has a knack regarding expanding companies via modest beginnings.
He obtained a Texarkana petroleum production commission agency within 1964 pertaining to $2,500
along with came up with Truman Arnold Cos., an aircraft gas wholesaler and hangar leasing agency
which includes 400 employees and also posted $450 million within revenues throughout 1999.
He buys small , sells big. Arnold grew TAC during its very first twenty years to add 100 gasoline as
well as convenience stores in the Southwest as well as the Rockies as well as sold your Roadrunner
chain to Total Petroleum Co. throughout 1989. but the organization furthermore consists of seven
executive airport terminals as well as aircraft charter services throughout six states.
From a new double-Wide mobile next in order to St. Michael's Regional Healthcare Middle within
Texarkana, Arnold also doubled the size of your Initial National Bank regarding New Boston, Texas,
in a year's period following the 1998 purchase.
Arnold and his awesome loved ones personal 65 % of the Texas bank, the sole bank held by New
Boston Bancshares Inc.
He also was obviously a person in the particular board involving Very first Commercial Corp. ahead
regarding the Arkansas banking network ended up being offered to Regions Economic Corp. within
1998. He owns considerable stock in Regions.
Arnold served as finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee throughout 1995.
Donald Soderquist
* Rogers
Donald Soderquist's wealth arises from stock in Wal-Mart Retailers Inc., exactly where he has been
senior vice chairman until announcing his retirement inside July in the chronilogical grow older of
66. He is considered for you to happen to be the particular Wal-Mart executive whom nearly all
resembled organization founder Sam Walton inside individual style; Soderquist once reportedly
turned up with a Saturday morning company meeting throughout shorts along with T-shirt.
It took Walton 17 many years right after their initial meeting to steer soderquist to join the company
inside 1980. Inside 1988, he was named vice chairman and COO.
Soderquist can be a graduate of just one small, Christian school -- Wheaton University inside
Wheaton, Ill. -- plus a longtime. benefactor of another -- John Brown university with Siloam Springs,
site of the Donald G. Soderquist center for Enterprise Leadership and also Ethics.
John Ed Anthony Family
* Bearden
The family members timber business, were only available in 1907 when Garland Anthony began
operating a little sawmill near Bearden, is currently headed simply by John Ed Anthony.
By the 1930s, Garland Anthony had built the operation directly into that which was reputed being
the largest private lumber producer in the world.
Anthony Timberlands Inc. is nevertheless located in Bearden. the Anthonys in addition personal
Bearden Lumber Co. as well as Anthony Wood Treating Inc. and manage the particular family's vast
terrain holdings within southern Arkansas.
Anthony's pursuits include raising along with promoting thorough bred horses. He owns Shortleaf
Stable, named for a division associated with timber business. He formerly owned Loblolly Secure
together along with his ex-wife, Mary Lynn Dudley, wife associated with former state Supreme Court
Justice Robert Dudley.
John Ed Anthony's son, Steve Anthony, presides over your Arkansas Forestry Association, your trade
association that coordinates lobbying efforts amongst state's timber interests.
Anthony Timberlands may be modernizing its primary manufacturing websites at Bearden, Malvern
and Bierne to remain leaders within the very competitive south Arkansas forest items industry.
Income throughout 1999 had been $156 million.
Distant cousins -- as well as enterprise competitors -- are Clary Anthony, owner regarding Anthony
Forest products Co. of El Dorado, along with former U.S. Rep. Beryl Anthony.
Allen Family
* Siloam Springs
Infighting among siblings Roderick "Rick" Allen as well as Delbert "Pete" Allen dominated the
business involving Allen Canning Co. all through 1999 and directly into 2000. Your fourth largest
private organization throughout northwest Arkansas (with 1999 revenue involving $284 million) as
well as the nation's largest impartial canning company, Allen Canning continues for you to be ranked
on their e-mail list of nation's top twenty performers through Poultry magazine.
Rick bought out his brother within 1999. The Actual very private family members lately owned
greater than 58 % regarding Arkansas State Bank throughout Siloam Springs, however you will find
widespread rumblings that the Allens might also be within the procedure for parting ways within the
banking business.
The Allen family's business holdings have been demonstrated being vast and prosperity estimates
are believed extremely conservative.
Product collection for the company, which features 1,100 employees as well as operates 3 plants,
features a variety of canned vegetables, the Popeye label as well as other Southern foods.
J.B. Hunt Family
* Fayetteville
J.B. Hunt Transport Solutions Inc. is the largest publicly traded truckload carrier in the nation, and
J.B. Hunt family members personal 16 million shares of the company's stock.
Hunt, which dropped from school in the eighth grade to guide his family, worked in timber mills,
picked cotton, harvested grain, auctioned livestock, served inside the infantry during world War II
along with later drove trucks regarding 12 years.
He formed his business inside 1962, hauling rice hulls in the Delta in order to northwest Arkansas.
He obtained a Kansas trucking organization within 1969 and also relocated it in order to Bentonville.
Within 1971, Hunt incorporated the organization along with transferred to Lowell.
The business has greater than 7,750 tractors as well as 28,000 trailers.
The business struggled throughout March involving 2000 as its stock cost plummeted for you to
$10.50 for each share, nevertheless it had bounced back again as high as $17.50 through mid-
summer.
On July 1, the business commenced operations involving Transplace.com, a logistics company where
Hunt offers joined forces with five various other big truckload carriers.
Hunt resides within Goshen and also owns 3 cattle ranches within northwest Arkansas. His son,
Bryan, owns Greatest Motor Co. in Rogers.
Jack Shewmaker
* Bentonville
Jack Shewmaker will continue to affect today's enterprise world by simply journeying internationally
to speak about huge store stores. Very first learning to be a Wal-Mart Shops Inc. district manager in
1970, Shewmaker continues in order to be around the board regarding directors since 1977.
Following retiring coming from his place as president along with COO, Shewmaker, now 61, is
constantly in the serve as a store consultant. Throughout his 1992 biography, Wal-Mart founder Sam
Walton referred to always be able to as him "a brilliant, shoot-from-the-hip executive having a store
manager's mentality."
His Wal-Mart stock holdings have got soared through $15.2 million this past year for you to $213
million this year.
Frank Fletcher
* North Small Rock
The gregarious Frank Fletcher was obviously a companies rep to be able to Wal-Mart Shops Inc.
within the 1960s and an early investor in Wal-Mart stock inside the early 1970s.
In the particular late 1970s, he took Sam Walton's guidance along with switched to end up being
able to manufacturing. His diverse conglomerate associated with companies consists of Cheyenne
Industries, Legacy Lamps, Silverwood Products, the actual Riverfront Hilton in North Small Rock,
restaurants, Fletcher-Bensky Furs and, most conspicuously, auto dealerships throughout little Rock,
North little Rock, Sherwood, Rogers as well as Springdale.
Sales of companies combined for $425 million within 1999. Frank Fletcher Cos. continues to end up
being able to be the ninth-largest privately held company, as ranked simply by Arkansas Business,
for that past a couple of years.
Collier Wenderoth Jr.
* Fort Smith
Like all others inside the poultry industry, Collier Wenderoth Jr.'s prosperity has decreased
dramatically since final summer. From in which time, it had been estimated with $370 million, and
which he ranked ninth about the "Wealthiest Arkansans" list.
Wenderoth's father, Collier Wenderoth Sr., started OK Feed Mills Inc. throughout 1933 together
with 12 employees. Your Fort Smith-based livestock feed plant grew for you to grow in order to be
OK Industries Inc., the particular largest private food processing company inside the state as well as
the 16th-largest vertically integrated poultry business inside the U.S.
The business posted an estimated $800 million within income within 1999.
OK Industries is the parent organization involving 4 wholly owned subsidiaries: OK Farms Inc., QK
Meals Inc., QK Transportation Inc. along with Ecology Management Inc.
Wenderoth Jr., which left Fort Smith for you to show up at college and serve in the U.S. Air Force,
took more than in the death of his father in 1955.
He built its initial poultry processing plant within 1959 and additional a hatchery inside 1962 plus a
new feed mill throughout 1965. OK now owns hatcheries throughout Heavener, Okla., and Stigler,
Okla., along along with a deboning plant in Heavener, Okla. OK Industries now employs a lot a lot
more than 4,300.
Stephen LaFrance Family
* Pine Bluff
Stephen LaFrance, a pharmacist with-astute company skills, has built one of the actual largest
regional drugstore chains.
He stumbled on Pine Bluff throughout 1967 and also developed the USA Drugs concept in the early
1970s.
LaFrance saw any money-maker which could function anywhere as well as bought out Super D Drug
involving Memphis inside a offer estimated in $100 million in 1997.
The LaFrance empire is situated upon large warehouse room plus a distribution system performing
company as SAJ Distributors. SAJ sells items wholesale for you to 1,100 customers throughout your
region.
LaFrance features 117 pharmacies within 6 states, which includes 30 throughout Arkansas. Annual
revenue happen to be conservatively estimated in $300 million, yet LaFrance divulges zero economic
information regarding his privately owned company.
Don Harp
* Fayetteville
Harvard and also Floy Harp began a supermarket within 1930 in downtown Spring dale together
with money saved through working inside the citrus fields associated with California. their son, Don,
joined the particular loved ones business inside 1953 following his discharge in the Air Force. He
opened the Meals Palace together along with his father.
Don Harp led the particular expansion in the supermarket chain after his father's death within an
automobile accident in 1968. after retiring as president of the company inside 1995, he left charge
of the grocery chain in order to his younger brother, Gerald. Harps provides more than 40 retailers
inside Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
Don Harp now operates Harps Properties, creating housing subdivisions and also managing rental
property.
He provides disputed Arkansas Business' previous estimates of his wealth. Harps Meals stores had
sales of $332 million throughout 1999.
Carl D. Corley Sr.
* Fort Smith
Carl D. Corley Sr. owns Carco Transportation systems Inc., the particular giant Fort Smith truckload
carrier along with $128.1 million in 1999 operating income and also 1,000 employees.
The company Corley founded throughout 1962 is becoming very diversified. Via CCC Express Inc.,
Corley leases fleets of trucks along along with other companies. Operates Hertz Rent-A-Car
franchises all through Arkansas along with sells Navistar as well as John Deere equipment
throughout Fort Smith.
Ronald Cameron Family
* North Small Rock
Ronald Cameron owns North Small Rock-based Mountaire Corp., which in turn generates animal
feed within Arkansas as well as North Carolina. the business had $320 million within revenue final
year.
Founded within 1914 by Guy Cameron, the enterprise enterprise had been known as Cameron Feed
Mills by 1931. Throughout 1959, the business and also 6 some other organizations formed the joint
venture with an integrated poultry operation that became Mountaire Poultry Co. Your identify
changed to always be able to Mountaire Corp. in 1971.
Ted Cameron, Guy's son, had been chairman, along with Ronnie, Ted's son, became CEO throughout
1975. Your corporation now includes 3 companies: Mountaire Feeds Inc., a North Small Rock
commercial feed mill that will sells products under your brand name prime quality Feeds; and
Mountaire Farms of Delmarva Inc. along with Mountaire Farms regarding North Carolina Inc., each
integrated poultry processing companies.
Willard Walker Family
* Fayetteville
Pat and also Willard Walker, a couple of of northwest Arkansas' nearly all generous philanthropists,
both battled bad health throughout 1999. Their Own early Wal-Mart Retailers Inc. investments get
churned over your years straight into an extraordinary quantity involving wealth.
Because of their own philanthropy, their fortune can be estimated to be about the same as a yr ago
despite the appreciation within the price of Wal-Mart stock. Your couple retains a new tremendous
amount associated with Wal-Mart stock and oil holdings. Willard was the first manager involving
Sam Walton's five-and-dime store inside Fayetteville. That did $90,000 inside its fresh involving
business inside 1952.
The Walker's philanthropies are the School involving Arkansas' Pat & Willard Walker Pavilion
throughout Fayetteville, your Arkansas Cancer Study center in Small Rock and a lot much more than
$2 million toward the particular 1994 achievement in the UA's Baum Stadium baseball facility. They
Will likewise have offered massive donations towards the Harvey & Bernice Jones Middle with
regard to families inside Springdale and planned facilities in John Brown School within Siloam
Springs.
Their son and also daughter-in-law, Johnny Mike along with Debbie Walker, operate a ranch near
Fayetteville and a construction company.
Dr. J Floyd Kyser
* little Rock
J. Floyd Kyer is truly a retired ear, nose and throat specialist as well as productive investor.
F.S. "Sheridan" Garrison Family
* Harrison
2000 Estimated Prosperity $150 million
Sheridan Garrison offered his initial trucking company since of a contract with the Teamsters union
he believed Would eventually destroy the particular company. The idea ended up to become the
smart move.
Harrison-based American Freightways Inc. offers expanded directly into 40 continental states. and
by means of exclusive marketing and advertising partners, Freightways in addition serves Alaska,
Hawaii, Canada, Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America as well as South America.
Garrison's father, Ben, formed Garrison Motor Freight inside 1955. Sheridan bought the business
through his brother, Ben Jr., in 1977, nevertheless marketed it within 1979.
Sheridan founded Arkansas Freightways within 1982, took it public inside 1989 along with renamed
it American Freightways throughout 1993. He stepped down as CEO after 17 many years yet
remains the company's chairman.
His son, Tom, may always be the CEO and also president, while another son, Will, will end up being
the corporate vice president, secretary, treasurer as well as chief operating officer.
The less-than-truckload carrier actually benefited through the gas price hike earlier in 2000,
providing a lot more effective transportation for you to customers.
Freightways is actually expanding its facilities within Harrison, adding the 90,000-SF wing, a 5,000-
SF credit union along with a 2,700-SF print shop. The new parking lot, a couple of retention ponds
along with additional landscaping furthermore are usually part of the particular project that will add
towards the present 161,000 SF facilities on 51 acres.
The organization includes a total involving 8,859 drivers along with 35 hub sites. There are a lot a
lot more than 15,200 employees operating greater than 26,400 bits of revenue equipment from a
network involving 238 customer centers.
Sonja Yates Hubbard Family
* Texarkana
Sonja Hubbard became CEO associated with E-Z Mart Inc., a sequence associated with convenience
stores, following your death regarding the woman's father, Jim Yates, in a December 1998 plane
crash. Yates had co-founded the company throughout 1970 with A.G. Wright, whose curiosity he
later on bought out.
Last month, E-Z Mart had been ranked by simply Arkansas Enterprise because the sixth largest
privately held business in the state, despite the extremely fact that it is headquarters is actually on
the "wrong side" associated with Texarkana by regarding five blocks.
Hubbard stated Arkansas Business' estimate of the family's wealth ended up being probably of your
exact same quality as any kind of the lady could occur up with.
"That's not one thing we could go out as well as create any verify for," the girl said of the $135
million estimate. "We do attempt to reinvest. We're proud to say a new large quantity of our worth
will be bound in revenue-generating. properties."
E-Z Mart operates inside Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma along with Texas.
H.C. "Dude" Crain Jr.
* Fort Smith
Dude Crain began Crain Industries Inc. within Fort Smith in 1963 as a producer associated with
foam along with filler with regard to use in furniture, bedding, packaging along with carpet
cushioning. Its company divisions included Base Series Designs, the furniture manufacturing
company.
Crain Industries and just about all sorts of regarding its divisions were sold in 1995 for an estimated
$130 million to Dallas investment organization Hicks Muse Tate & Furst. Cram Industries' estimated
annual revenue at the duration of sale had been $230 million.
Crain owned warehouse area within Fort Smith and runs Dude Inc., a Fort Smith business he formed
within 1980.
Don Kirkpatrick Family
* little Rock
The seeds for any food distribution business had been planted through Don Kirkpatrick's father, any
Faulkner County truck farmer that marketed produce.
Today's Top Quality Foods, together with $323 million in revenue final year, began as being a $2,000
investment when Kirkpatrick bought his uncle's little Rock poultry as well as egg enterprise
throughout 1958. Your family operation had 815 employees around the payroll in 1999.
The 1st cycle of a western Tennessee facility (150,000 SF and $10 million) is placed to spread out
simply by end of 2000. He in addition lately purchased the 122,500-SF First little Rock Plaza at
10800 financial Centre Parkway, renamed Kirkpatrick Plaza, pertaining to $11.45 million as you
probably can corporate space pertaining to Top Quality Foods.
Quality Foods' income grew with regards to 4 % between 1998 as well as 1999, nevertheless the
family's wealth tumbled 44 percent from $230 million a year ago since regarding deflation in the
typical marketplace worth of meals distribution companies.
Wallace Fowler Family
* Jonesboro
The day-to-day target in the Fowler family's company features returned in order to its fast-food
restaurant roots. However, banking is still important towards the family's general wealth. Holdings
throughout Regions Monetary stock total "well over a new million shares," family patriarch Wallace
Fowler Sr. said.
Those holdings had been amassed after Southwest Banchshares, led by Fowler, marketed inside a
$127 million stock swap for you to little Rock's Very first Commercial Corp., which usually in turn
marketed for 4x e-book value in order to Birmingham, Ala.-based Regions.
Of late, your Fowlers have bought l5 KFCF/Taco Bell outlets inside southeast. Missouri and around
Arkansas. The Particular deal, which in turn quantities into a repurchase, now gives Fowler foods
concerning 40 areas throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky along with Illinois.
The Fowlers have got invested heavily in order to renovate as well as develop new locations. The
Particular upgrade efforts are usually already having to always be able to pay dividends. Regarding
instance, annual sales in the Forrest city KFC jumped coming from $450,000 in order to $1.2 million
after remodeling.
These forms of gains have got assisted offset the actual stock tumble associated with Regions stock
in which has- seen its for each talk about price drop to end up being able to $21, falling via a top
associated with $39 to be able to as low as $19 throughout yesteryear a pair of years.
Chris Fowler can be president associated with Jonesboro-based Fowler Foods, that oversees the
actual restaurant business. He is actually joined by his brother, Mark, vice president, who had
labored within constructing Southwest Bancshares.
A third son, Wally, operates Jr. Fowler Investments, that consists associated with eight Subway
Sandwich shops, the Elite Safety opportunity throughout Small Rock and a high-end gifts shop in
Jonesboro.
Chesley Pruet Family
* El Dorado
The son of a rancher, Chesley Pruet began working inside the oil fields about El Dorado throughout
1936. He worked whatsoever forms of field work opportunities for about ten many years prior to
forming a new partnership using Zack Brooks, then the owner associated with Zack Brooks Trucking
Co. Pruet brought drilling experience towards the venture, and Brooks put up the actual money.
They Will started along with one oil-rig that price $45,000.
The enterprise may be good to Pruet, whom eventually bought out Brooks' share in the company.
Today, it's referred to become able to as Chesley Pruet Oil Co.
Pruet features staked his daughters and sons-in-law to some vast majority reveal of the loved ones
business, although he nonetheless keeps a business office there. Your family sold their own drilling
company a few years ago.
Pruet, who's on the board with the National Cowboy Hall of Fame inside Oklahoma City, even now
owns a pair of operating ranches: 3,500 acres south involving Nashville as well as another 9,500
acres close to Texarkana.
Hugh Lawson Hembree Family
* Fort Smith
H.L. Hembree helped pioneer trucking and medical treatment in the Fort Smith area. Hembree co-
founded Arkansas Very Best Corp. with his- father-in-law, R. A. Youthful Jr. He's any past chairman
along with chief executive officer with the Fort Smith conglomerate in which weathered any hostile
takeover try to spawn Riverside Furniture Corp., USA Truck Inc., Treadco Inc., Trans-States Lines
and also no much less than seven other companies.
H.L.'s brother-in-law, Robert Small III, now's chairman as well as chief executive officer, regarding
Arkansas Best. 1 involving his sons, Scott Hembree, will be chairman associated with Trans-States
Lines, which in turn has been bought by simply management in 1989.
The Hembree family parlayed $20 million within stock from the sale involving Initial Merchants
financial Corp. throughout 1995 for you to a lot a lot more than $60 million price of stock within
Initial American Corp.
Hembree owns a pair of banks inside Texas as well as Sugarhill Farms, which in turn raises corn,
cattle along with pigs. His son, Lawson, runs Sugarhill Farms. Trans-States posted $67 million in
1998 hauling general as well as hazardous freight and is also one of the actual state's largest private
companies.
In the particular 1960s, Hembree assisted commence St. Edward Mercy Health-related Center, in
which the cancer middle bears his name.
Reynie Rutledge
* Searcy
Reynie Rutledge continues to grow your $1.1 billion-asset First Security. Bancorp. The Actual
Searcy-based holding business features developed a pair of locations within Fayeteeville, one inch
Rogers, 1 within the functions with regard to Bella Vista and a 2nd area at Heber Springs.
This year, he bought your Small Rock investment banking firm regarding Crews & Associates, that is
capitalized at $18 million.
The Smackover native began his banking profession inside 1977, when he ended up being 27, by
purchasing the actual $46 million-asset Very first security Bank inside Searcy upon assistance
associated with his college roommate, Curt Brad-bury, then an up-and-coming executive in Stephens
Inc. along with later on chairman regarding Worthen Banking Corp. (Bradbury is actually ranked
No. 85 about this list.)
First Safety surpassed $1 billion in assets inside March 1999, assisted through the holding
company's obtain associated with Baxter County Bancshares Inc., that currently had major
ownership by simply Rutledge.
Brother-in-law Jim Lindsey regarding Fayetteville, No. 79 on this list, shares significant ownership
within Very first Security. Rutledge, within turn, features a sizable stake throughout Lindsey's
apartment ventures.
William Cohn Family
* Forrest City
Founded through Sol Cohn, Forrest city Grocery Co. now wholesales for you to mote when compared
with 1,000 independent convenience retailers and also tiny supermarkets throughout parts of
Arkansas, Mississippi, as well as Tennessee within a 250-mileradius associated with Forrest City.
The Russian immigrant settled in east Arkansas and also obtained a food store known as Penny
Savers within the early 1930s. Then he took a one-third interest in Forrest Metropolis Grocery.
Inside a couple of years, Cohn bought our his two partners. He turned the particular wholesale
operation up to his son, William Cohn, within the 1950g.
William Cohn's sons, David and also Allen, both function for that grocery wholesaler. David Cohn
stated the organization features registered a minimum of ten % growth each year pertaining to
greater than a pair of decades.
Forrest Metropolis Grocery Co., with 210 employees, ranked 19th on Arkansas Business' most latest
list of the actual state's largest 75 private companies. The Actual organization recorded revenue
regarding $280 million within 1999, up $40 million from your previous year. However, the require
for the actual company--and your family's estimated prosperity -- offers declined dramatically in the
past year because of for you to depressed industry costs paid out regarding wholesale grocery
operations.
James T. Hudson Family
* Rogers
A yr ago, James T. "Red" Hudson's family members prosperity has been estimated with $250 million.
Right now it's actually a mere $111 million -- assuming the particular loved ones didn't jettison its
almost 6 million shares involving Tyson Meals Inc. stock before it plummeted 60 percent.
After 26 years together with Ralston Purina, Hudson founded Hudson foods Inc. of Rogers in 1972
with regarding $,100,000, "and that provides been mostly borrowed."
After an outbreak associated with e. coli bacteria from one of his beef processing plants triggered a
new huge beef recall along together with a land slide of negative publicity, Hudson sold your fifth-
largest poultry organization in America in order to Tyson foods Inc. regarding Springdale
throughout January 1998. Hudson Meals had $l.7 billion throughout sales during its last year.
The sale gave Hudson members of the family 5,885,958 shares involving Tyson stock and $82 million
cash.
Hudson now owns Hudson & Associates, a finance company located in Rogers that is associated with
poultry operations inside Poland.
Thomas "Mack" McLarty III
* Small Rock
Thomas "Mack" McLarty III, chief regarding staff
to be able to President Clinton coming from 1993
to end up being able to 1998, offered 51 percent
interest in his 19 auto dealerships to always be
able to Asbury Auto motive Team involving
Pennsylvania. Now he's vice chairman regarding
Asbury.
In Arkansas, McLarty grew his father's auto company inside Hope into dealerships throughout the
state along with all through the particular western hemisphere, such as Prestige Toyota, Premiere
Pontiac along with North Point Ford inside central Arkansas.
Before his days throughout Washington, D.C., as an aide to Clinton, McLarty was CEO as well as
chairman involving Arkla.
McLarty began his political profession early. He ended up being elected towards the state
legislature at age 23. He was hawaii Democratic Party chairman just before reaching 30. He ended
up being your treasurer regarding David Pryor's along with Clinton's gubernatorial races within the
1970s.
McLarty and his wife, Donna, get two sons, Mark and Franklin.
Mark Simmons Family
* Siloam Springs
Mark Simmons ran the particular day-to-day operations regarding Simmons Food Items Inc. through
1968 in order to 1999. Consolidating his function to the responsibilities involving chairman,
Simmons named Lindy M. "Buddy" Pilgrim CEO in the spring regarding 2000.
Pilgrim, the actual former chief operating officer of Pilgrim's Pride Corp. within Pittsburgh, said he
planned simply no strategic changes' for that firm, that have $420 million in 1999 gross sales, up 5
percent coming from $400 million in 1998.
Simmons Foods, which in turn celebrated its 50th anniversary inside 1999, had been founded by
Mark's father, M.H. "Bill" Simmons, and it has evolved into a diversified poultry empire under the
particular existing chairman's leadership. That was ranked among the industry's leading performers
with regard to 1999 by Poultry magazine.
The poultry industry's sagging values get pummeled the particular Simmons family's wealth, which
usually had been estimated in $210 million annually ago. The Actual famity in addition owns nearly 5
percent involving Arkansas State Bank involving Siloam Springs, yet another industry in which
values are usually depressed in contrast for you to final Year.
Jon E.M. Jacoby
* little Rock
Jon Jacoby joined Stephens Inc. inside 1963 and is a longtime Stephens executive vice president
involved with many in the Stephens loved ones investments. He sits about numerous organization
boards representing individuals investments, including Power-One Inc. as well as Delta Pine &
Territory Co. He in addition features a significant personal stake throughout many of individuals
companies. His investment throughout Power-One grew via concerning $9 million in order to $66
million over yesteryear year, explaining your growth in his private wealth, which has been estimated
at $52 million annually ago.
Cabe Family
* little Rock
Lucy Lockett Cabe has employed any fortune gained by means of the actual sale associated with
forest and also paper assets for you to advantage the particular Wildwood Middle pertaining to
Doing Arts. The Girl will end up being the widow associated with Gurdon Lumber Co. owner Harold
Cabe. Cabe gave $5 million to Wildwood, which includes $1 million necessary to build the particular
theater that will bears her name. Wildwood received an additional $3 million from your basis formed
within the name of Cabe's late brother-in-law, Horace Cabe.
Ed Ligon
* little Rock
Ed Ligon is retiring gradually. Inside April 1998, he offered Orbit Valve Co. regarding $100 million
to Cooper Cameron Corp. of Houston. He stepped down throughout January 1999 as chairman with
the high-profile "Crime Out!" program with regard to 60 for your Future.
He retains a new seat around the board of the countywide anti-crime unit and continues to perform
along with location youth by means of Fellowship Baptist Church.
Ligon's grandfather began the organization within Oklahoma within 1912, and also Ligon moved it in
order to Small Rock along with assumed manage within 1964. His son, Chris, remained with Orbit
Valve for nine month subsequent your sale along with now functions within investments.
Other members with the family include Ligon's wife, Judy, their own some other children, Lisa as
well as Shannon, and his Golf Course Real Estate bowie md sister, Nadine Hankinson.
William Dillard Family
* little Rock
William Dillard founded his very first department shop 60 in years past inside Nashville. Today, his
organization is among the particular largest mall chains in America along with a lot much more than
300 shops inside 29 states and $8.7 billion within annual revenue.
The company, however, provides struggled involving late, sending its publicly traded shares in in
order to a downward spiral. As Well As since the Dillard's stock goes, so should go the actual Dillard
family members fortune. Total holdings possess slipped below the actual $100 million mark as well
as the family's rank one of the state's wealthiest features fallen to become able to 43rd this year
from 11th a year ago.
Much involving Dillard's Inc.'s problems stem coming from its 1999 acquisition and integration
associated with Mercantile stores Co. through June, company sales were down two % for you to
$3.39 billion. The Actual business as well as loved ones are generally notorious pertaining to their
silence with most the press as well as stock analysts, which in turn hasn't helped the stock's price.
William Dillard, now 85, maintains an office at the corporate headquarters yet has turned much in
the day-to-day function to his 3 sons -- Bill II (CEO), Alex (president) as well as Mike (executive VP).
Daughter Drue Corbusier will be EVP along with chairman with the Fort Really Worth division. Your
Dillards are generally on their email list of highest paid executives within the stare each year. The
Actual family members firmly controls the organization along with just about all with the Class B
shares, which elect two-thirds involving its board.
Tenenbaum Family
* North Small Rock
Joseph M. Tenenbaum, that had been chairman with the 110-year previous A. Tenenbaum Co. since
1931, died inside August 1999, leaving an estate in which also includes Arkansas Aluminum Alloys
Inc. inside Hot Springs. A. Tenenbaum Co. processes along with sells scrap iron along using other
metals and also may become the stare's oldest and also largest recycler.
Joe Tenenbaum's son, Harold, will be president with the company, that have revenue involving
$126.5 million in 1999. In Which ended up being down concerning 12 percent from your previous
year, contributing to a reduction within the family's estimated wealth via $115 million this past year
in order to $99 million this year.
Gene George Family
* Springdale
The principals at George's Inc. have got diversified their own finances through owning certainly one
of the leading producers involving eggs and also chicken to always be able to getting holdings inside
a propane fuel company, 3 truck-stops, a couple of live-haul operations and also sizable cattle
holdings.
A third generation regarding Georges today runs George's Inc., founded almost 80 a lengthy time
ago.
The George family had been early investors in First National Bank associated with Springdale and its
holding company, Economic Investment Corp., that bought from 1994 to Very first Tennessee
National Corp. Which sale netted Gene George regarding $7.8 million and his awesome son, Gary,
regarding $4.6 million.
H. Tom Loberg
* Jonesboro
The post-World War II dream which began within Tom Loberg's Milwaukee basement has blossomed
in for you to a thriving Jonesboro organization together with $96.6 million within 1999 revenue
along with 830 employees.
In 1947, he designed and also built his initial belt-conveyor system. He founded Hytrol Conveyor Co.
Inc. inside Minnesota in order to offer industrial conveyor techniques a new decade later.
In 1962, the business gone to live in Jonesboro, lowering plant wages through $4 an hour to always
be able to $1.25. Its national distribution center was moved via St. Louis in order to a manufacturer
new 75,000-SF building Jonesboro throughout 1999.
Loberg also owned more than 300,000 shares associated with Very first Commercial Corp., an
Arkansas banking network marketed in order to Regions Monetary Corp. within 1998. Loberg's
stock was valued around the time of the. sale in $20.8 million.
He can be chairman as well as chief executive officer associated with Hytrol and involved with an $8
million housing development from RidgePoint Nation Club in Jonesboro.
Wayne Ridout Family
* Searcy
Ridout Lumber Cos. regarding Arkansas was founded in 1971 by simply Homer Ridout. The
Particular company is now led by simply his son, Wayne.
The organization moved to Searcy inside 1975 and also opened a 1,200-SF store. Today, Ridout
provides 15 retailers (one inside Missouri as well as the rest inside Arkansas), 197 employees and
sales regarding $118 million. The Actual business features thrived inside smaller sized communities
as well as succeeded despite intense competition coming from huge chains.
The family in addition owns Ridout Door Manufacturing Co. Apparent growth within the family's
fortune -- which in turn has been estimated with $35 million a year back -- is actually likely credited
to an error throughout calculations pertaining to final year's list.
Bill Carlton Family
* Small Rock
The Carlton family's wealth jumped $60 million more than yesteryear year, thanks for you to
favorable valuations with regard to Carlton-Bates Co., the economic electronic distributor associated
with that Carlton is actually CEO.
The company, founded within 1957 simply by Carlton's father, Joe, along with Doyle Bates, has
exploded to always be able to 30 places within 17 states and also Mexico. Your company's income
grew from $130 million in 1998 in order to $155 million throughout 1999.
Ed Warmack Family
* Texarkana
Warmack & Co. is truly a mall development company, at present owned by simply Ed Warmack's
son, George, who doesn't like talking concerning the family's sprawling business.
The company owns Central Mall inside Fort Smith, your largest within Arkansas from one million SF.
Total mall square-footage owned can be 3.66 million -- estimated value of holdings varies widely.
The business furthermore owns Indian Mall throughout Jonesboro along with Central Mall in
Texarkana, Texas; too as malls inside Salina, Kan.; Port Arthur, Texas; and Lawton and also
Muskogee, Okla. Has Been situated in Fort Smith, Organization headquarters is at Texarkana,
Texas, following relocating via Fort Smith.
Charles "Bo" Adams
* Leachville
Millions within residuals in the sale involving A.L. Williams Insurance supplies a steady stream
associated with money for Charles "Bo" Adams. a sound perform ethic and the opportunity to learn
through such company giants as Jack Stephens and also Sam Walton possess helped cause him to
certainly 1 of your state's the majority of productive businessmen.
Born into a sharecropper within Leachville, Adams graduated through Arkansas Tech University Or
College as well as began working for Union life Insurance about 1960.
Adams went together to work negotiating contracts pertaining to A.L. Williams Insurance, when the
business sold, he received a new fortune throughout percentages. His knowledge of farming led him
for you to go directly into the cotton business, and his awesome Adams Property Co. is actually
among the nation's leading cotton gin operations. His holdings include greater than 40,000 acres
within Mississippi as well as Craighead counties as well as the bootheel of Missouri.
Lloyd E. Peterson Family
* Decatur
Worldwide breeding stock marketer, Peterson Industries Inc., does nearly $200 million within
annual revenue from your remote Benton County town regarding Decatur. The Particular business
employs 1,450 individuals and also operates 1 plant at Decatur.
The Peterson family, which includes Lloyd, Dorothy Mae and Lorranyne, and the business maintain
greater than 90 percent regarding Decatur Bancshares Inc., priced at an estimated $32 million.
Lloyd Peterson was long-time person in J.B. Hunt Transportation services Inc.'s board.
Richard and also Patti Upton
* Heber Springs
Patti Upton's creativity and the woman's husband's detail-oriented naturel combined to produce
Aromatique Inc., your 16-year-old Heber Springs-based decorative fragrance company and
additionally the foundation the family's fortune.
Aromatique items are available in almost all 50 states, Canada, Europe, Japan as well as 20 to be
able to 30 foreign countries.
The family, including sons Peyton as well as Paige, furthermore is associated with catfish farming.
Paige Upton continues to be named manager in the Aromatique store in the Mall involving America
in Minneapolis.
J.A. Riggs Family
* little Rock
The Riggs family owns J.A. Riggs Tractor Co., the actual largest heavy equipment dealer within the
state. The Actual business was founded as Arkansas Street Equipment Co. within 1927 when John A.
Riggs Sr. bought the Russell Grader Manufacturing Co. dealership. John Riggs Jr. began working
with just about all the organization inside 1930.
His son, John A. "Jack" Riggs III, along with son-in-law Robert G. Cress, joined the actual firm in
1959. Jack Riggs is now senior chairman, and Cress is chairman and CEO.
The family's fourth generation, John Riggs IV, joined the organization within 1981. He has become
president. His brother, Keith Riggs, began work on your firm in 1984 and is vice president with the
hydraulics along with device shop operations. Rob Cress, son of Robert, can be vice president-sales.
Thomas B. Schueck
Little Rock
Steel continues in order to be an extremely good company for Thomas Schueck. His heavy-metal
wealth can be bankrolling a grand new house nearby the entrance associated with west Small Rock's
Pleasant Valley country Club. Your development developed a new stir as the initial teardown project
within the neighborhood as Schueck acquired along with bulldozed the particular former house
regarding Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to create room regarding his new residence.
On the business front, Schueck can be chasing the herd of new power plant construction tasks round
the nation. Annual sales inside his different steel-related ventures total $150 million. The,
organization employs 1,600, which includes 300 within Small Rock.
John W. Allison
Conway
Johnny Allison parlayed his mobile-home fortune straight into an ever-growing portfolio of financial
stock holdings. His move for you to banking began with a $900,000 investment within Very first
National Bank regarding Conway. Which 25 percent stake was transformed straight into an $11.1
million bit of Initial Commercial Corp. after having a 1984 stock swap. His Initial Commercial stock
had been priced at $50 million once the 1998 merger with Regions Monetary Corp. involving
Birmingham, Ala., has been announced.
He sold with regards to two-thirds of his Regions shares shortly following the merger and also
wishes he had marketed all regarding it throughout mild with the company's subsequent stock
performance. He resigned from Regions' board associated with directors inside 1998 to become able
to launch a manufacturer new bank enterprise with companion Robert "Bunny" Adcock.
They bought the Bank involving Holly Grove for $5 million and also earned extra investors to create
today's $198 million-asset concern. This yr these people resurrected the Twin city Bank title inside
anew $17 million-asset bank opportunity having a cadre associated with North Small Rock investors.
Allison sold his 50 % stake inside Conway-based Spirit Homes Inc. with regard to $4.9 million to
Belmont Homes Inc. throughout 1995. He continues to dabble inside mobile-home investments and
is expanding property interests, which usually include the 38,000-SF Bank associated with America
Constructing throughout Conway. His 21,500-SF house is one of greatest within the state.
Francis Bland Family
Paragould
Herb Bland mentioned he and his family don't belong on this list, yet Arkansas Business' estimating
strategies say these people do.
In inclusion for you to longtime Paragould bottling plant, Dr Pepper Bottling Co., the particular
family members features distribution operations inside Jackson as well as Gulfport, Miss. Estimated
sales are in the $50 million range. Founded in 1921, the particular soft-drink bottler employs 300.
Throughout Paragould, its product lines contain Royal Crown Cola, Dr Pepper, 7 Up and Mountain
Valley Water.
The loved ones will be well-known regarding its support involving youth baseball programs within
northeast Arkansas.
Rainwater Family
Jonesboro
Brothers Sloan and also Bill Rainwater very own huge holdings throughout banks, motels as well as
farms. Regions Monetary Corp. purchased your Arkansas Banking Co., owned from the Rainwaters,
in 1998.
The family members received Regions stock now worth an estimated $33.4 million (down via $58
million last year). The Particular loved ones bought Bank associated with Northeast Arkansas inside
1977, later renaming it Your Arkansas Bank. The Particular Rainwaters additionally very own
Jonesboro's Holiday Inn Express also as hotels in Stillwater, Okla., as well as Conway.
Other companies include insurance agencies throughout Arkansas and also Oklahoma and also cattle
farming. Terrain holdings in Arkansas as well as Mississippi are generally estimated with greater
than 20,000 acres.
Joe T. Ford Family
Little Rock
The majority with the family's wealth is at Alltel Corp. stock. The Particular family members has
1,184,604 shares regarding widespread stock priced at concerning $74.3 million. Executive
compensation strategy enables securities underlying stock alternatives worth $23.3 million for Joe
Ford, Alltel's chairman along with chief executive officer, and the son, Scott Ford, the particular
company's president and chief operating officer.
Joe Ford, any former state senator, will be married in order to Jo Ellen Ford, daughter of Hugh
Winbourn, whom founded Alltel's predecessor, Allied Phone Co.
Joe Ford became chief executive officer involving Alltel inside 1987 and additionally the company's
chairman in 1991. He also is actually a director and chairs your governance committee for Dial
Corp., along with is actually a director of Textron Inc. He holds 78,878 exercisable choices
throughout Dial having a worth of slightly more than $1 million. The Particular Fords also personal
stock within Pinnacle Bancshares Inc., associated with Small Rock, as well as Scott Ford serves as
the director of the bank holding company.
John L. Anthony Family
El Dorado
Started as Anthony Brothers Lumber Co. in 1916, these days Anthony Forest Items Inc. is a entirely
integrated forest products company.
The company owns approximately 73,000 acres regarding timberland in Arkansas, Louisiana and
also Texas, and also operates southern pine lumber producing mills inside Urbana. (Union County)
as well as Atlanta, Texas; and wood chip mills in Plain Dealing, La., along with Troup, Texas. the
organization in addition operates an engineered wood laminating plant inside El Dorado as well as
Washington, Ga. Regarding 47 percent with the company's timberland base is within Arkansas.
This 12 months the business joined with Domtar Inc. involving Montreal to always be able to create
a state-of-the-art facility with Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Plant startup will be specific with
regard to spring 2001.
Beryl Anthony Sr. along with Clary Anthony Sr., sons involving founder Frank Anthony, are generally
even now active within day-to-day operations. Beryl will be board chairman emeritus and also Clary
can be board chairman. John Lee Anthony will be president with the firm.
Jane Dills Morgan
Conway
Stock inside Acxiom Corp. ended up being used in Jane Dills Morgan subsequent any bitter divorce
with Acxiom organization leader Charles D. Morgan. Your company's acquisitions along with
issuances possess diluted Morgan's stock discuss in order to beneath the particular 5 % reporting
level.
A 1998 filing with the U.S. Securities and also Exchange Commission indicated the girl owned 2.3
million shares -- or perhaps $67 million -- inside Acxiom stock, also as stock within Initial Bank Corp.
of Fort Smith.
Her family owned Ward Bus Co. in Conway.
John Flake
Little Rock
John Flake's father was obviously a residential real-estate developer which developed the particular
Kingwood Subdivision inside little Rock. Flake followed inside his father's footsteps to end up
becoming the state's most prominent commercial real-estate developer.
Flake may be in the commercial real estate company his entire career. His firm,. Flake & Kelley
Management Co., manages the TCBY Tower, the particular state's largest building in 40 stories. the
firm is the state's largest property manager using more than three million SF involving workplace
and 2 million SF involving retail store space under management. Corporate clients consist of Acxiom
Corp., Procter & Gamble Corp., Beverly Enterprises Inc. and also Tyson Meals Inc. This owns as well
as manages properties within Arkansas, Mississippi and California, along with Flake himself offers
ownership curiosity about many with the properties.
Flake & Kelley Construction Co. oversees a lot more than $200 million throughout construction
projects. Wife Karen is actually CEO and co-owner involving Flake Wilkerson Marketplace Insights.
Kenneth B. McGruder Family
Fort Smith along with Cassville, Mo.
K-Mac Enterprises, the McGruder loved ones enterprise, has been the nation's second fast-food
franchisee to prepare up any arrange for "co-branding." Its marriage associated with Kentucky Fried
Chicken along with Taco Bell has made significant inroads in the central Arkansas fast-food market.
K-Mac presently has 142 restaurants throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and also Texas, such
as 15 that will share the KFC along with Taco Bell logo. the organization bought an additional 12
KFCs in Hot Springs, North Small Rock, Pine Bluff. and Van Buren from the Haynie Co. final year.
The Fort Smith enterprise ended up being founded inside 1964 simply by Ken McGruder, that began
through operating franchises regarding Griff's Hamburgers and opened his first combined KFC-Taco
Bell spot in 1993. the 36-year-old company not too long ago added a new Taco Bell towards the KFC
throughout Sherwood and it is adding any Taco Bell in order to its KFC upon McCain Boulevard
inside North Small Rock.
McGruder and his awesome early partner, Kenny King, marketed the company inside 1997 in order
to Brent McGruder, chief economic officer Jon Dyer and also chief operating officer Sam Fiori.
McGruder has retired to become able to Missouri as well as Brent McGruder, whom launched his
profession operating in a Fayetteville Taco Bell, is currently president. The Actual company posted
any 15-percent boost in revenues in 1999 -- in order to $106.1 million. By Means Of Golden Partners
Inc.; the actual loved ones also holds an fascination with Golden Corral restaurants within Branson,
Mo., Fort Smith, North little Rock and also Springfield, Mo.
Don Munro
Hot Springs
Don Munro, your founder regarding Hot Springs-based shoe producer Munro & Co., originally
opened an Arkansas store for Connors & Hoffman Footwear Co. He went on in order to choose the
company's three Arkansas plants inside 1972 along with later, built 4 more, bucking the actual trend
involving U.S. shoemakers leaving the nation pertaining to cheaper labor markets.
The company's 1999 income was $137 million, down coming from $155 million the previous year.
Throughout February, Munro & Co. announced a fresh marketing strategy that includes the
consolidation associated with four lines involving children's shoes Perfection, Jacks, JJ and also Molly
Munro -- in for you to a single brand name: MunroKids.
In supplement for you to its own brands, Munro & Co. manufactures private-label shoes with regard
to Sears Roebuck & Co., JC Penney Co., Nordstrom and additionally the U.S. government in plants
from DeWitt, Clarendon, Mount Ida, Wynne and also Hot Springs.
Don Munro owns 79 % in the company, as well as the rest is actually owned by simply non-family
interests. Sons Bruce and also Neil as well as daughters Mollie and also Christine each 1 is involved.
Doyle Rogers
Batesville
Back inside the late 1940s, young Doyle Rogers has been working to possess an Express company in
Newport, generating deliveries daily into a Ben Franklin retailer owned by simply Sam Walton.
Walton opened his own discount chain within Rogers, and also Rogers moved to Batesville for you to
get into enterprise purchasing manganese for your government. Later On he soon started building
houses and then any Kroger shop inside Batesville, the beginning involving commercial development
with regard to national companies such as J.C. Penney, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie and
McDonald's.
He built Wal-Marts in Small Rock and also North little Rock, Colony West shopping Center
throughout west little Rock along with Mellor Park Mall inside El Dorado.
In the particular 1970s along with '80s, Rogers built his a pair of biggest projects inside the state,
Arkansas' Excelsior Resort and the Rogers building (now the Stephens Building) inside little Rock.
Rogers, now 81, bought little Rock's Metropolitan National Bank within 1983 along with moved its
headquarters via southwest little Rock in order to downtown. His bank passions have become
estimated from $47 million, down through $71 million annually ago, thanks to become able to
slumping bank values nationally.
James T. Dyke
Little Rock
Chairman as well as CEO of 133-year-old Dyke Industries, that specializes in creating materials. The
Actual company's annual revenue can be estimated in $95 million.
Dyke is actually a Yale graduate and pal associated with President Clinton, and the man served as
director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Bean Family
Glenwood
Glenwood's Bean family provides numerous companies, such as sawmills, treatment plants along
with trucking businesses. Your Beans also provide timberlands as well as property holdings
including Stone Back Links greens and residential development within North little Rock.
Darrell M. "Buddy" Bean owns Hatfield Lumber Co., Buddy Bean Lumber, additionally a couple of
sawmills along with a private trucking fleet. Curt Bean holds Bean Lumber Co., Curt Bean Lumber
and also C. Bean Transport. Your family members got straight into lumber industry in 1956.
Although the actual loved ones is from Arkansas, several members went to Colorado and California
when sector was slow here. 4 members of the family -- Curt, Buddy, Tim as well as Leroy -- tend to
be active in the businesses and additionally have operations within Amity, Glenwood, Hot Springs,
Hatfield, Fort Smith, Morrilton and Buckner, Mo.
A significantly depressed value regarding lumber operations will be responsible for your family's
estimated wealth declining from $90 million final year.
Keenan Family
Fayetteville
A big portion of the family's wealth arrives from the $55.6 million sale involving Pace Industries Inc.
to Leggett & Platt Inc. in Could 1996. Pace Industries, originally founded by simply Jess Keenan,
specializes in aluminum diecast products, such as barbecue grills.
Established within Harrison within 1970, Pace Industries included no much less than 12 places
before the business sold. James T. Keenan remains a specialist towards the company.
Nabholz Family
Conway
Four sons regarding Bob Nabholz very own about 52 percent of Nabholz Construction Corp., a 51-
year-old business along with places in Conway, little Rock, Rogers, Fort Smith, Tulsa as well as
Springfield. each holds position with just about all the company: Dan, chief executive officer; David,
general superintendent; Tim, manager regarding Nabholz Industrial Services; and also John,
manager of data systems.
The company had sales of greater than $296 million throughout 1999, an increase of nearly 40
percent in which drove the particular estimated price of the particular family's holdings up via $40
million final year.
John Ed Chambers Family
Danville
Danville State Bank is actually a loved ones legacy which John Ed Chambers III expanded into a
string associated with banks that features any stake inside a pair of northwest Arkansas operations:
Bank associated with Elkins and Neighborhood Bank associated with Fayetteville.
Holdings in cattle, real estate, the Chamberlyne Nation Club development north associated with
Danville along using a stake inside Petit Jean Meats will pull Chambers through any kind of banking
market doldrums.
Since 1987 Chambers' holding business swelled from $75 million within assets to $750 million along
with $500 million throughout loans, Chambers said.
Chambers sister Gene is actually married for you to Dallas Cowboys vast majority owner Jerry Jones;
sister Patricia married Jack Dixon, the sports consultant; as well as sister Jackie married Dr. Jack
Counce, the cardiovascular surgeon in Springdale along with former Razorback basketball player.
Rodger S. Kline
Little Rock
Operations leader associated with Acxiom Corp. and also one of 4 team leaders answering directly to
business leader Charles D. Morgan.
Kline, Morgan as well as monetary services division leader James T. Womble attended your
university associated with Arkansas Engineering school with every single other within the 1960s and
worked from IBM Corp. prior to following one another to the data integration along with
management firm which later on became Acxiom.
Also Acxiom's chief operating officer, Kline joined Acxiom throughout 1973. He owns 1,988,700
shares -- or 2.3 percent associated with Acxiom's outstanding shares.
Fred C. Ballman
Fort Smith
Fred Ballman started together with Baldor Electric Co., the Fort Smith-based company, within the
1940s. He was CEO via 1961-1976. He is its former chairman along with a member of the particular
board involving directors via 1944 to 1982 and once more coming from 1992 for the present.
Ballman's father, Edwin C. Ballman, 86, founded Baldor inside St. Louis as well as lives in Fort Smith
Ballman's prosperity can be built from ownership of Baldor stock, which in turn hasn't posted a poor
year associated with performance within no much less than ten years.
Robert Clay Family
Hardy
Robert Clay owns 21 City as well as Country, Value Chopper and Nu-Way food stores inside
northeast Arkansas along with Missouri. the company's annual revenue is estimated from $105
million, adequate to set it at No. 48 upon Arkansas Business' list of largest private companies.
Clay additionally owns a 7,500-acre cattle ranch, a candy as well as tobacco warehouse as well as 3
Tobacco world stores.
William de Yampert Family
Wilmot
The de Yampert family members has owned Ashley County terrain since ahead associated with the
Civil War, you start with great-grandfather Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus de Yampert, for a total
involving most likely 15,000-20,000 acres. Currently throughout his 80s, William de Yampert is also
involved in various other loved ones enterprises that will include farming as well as catfish farming.
Fred Swindle
Paragould
Sold National Florist Directory in order to Teleflora inside 1997. National Florist is famous primarily
as Redbook Florist Solutions pertaining to red include of directory with regard to thousands of
florists nationwide.
Douglas Parker Sr. Family
Fort Smith
Kyle Parker, Douglas Parker's son, provides generated wealth for the loved ones by means of his
Web legal information organization Loislaw.com Inc.
Formed in 1987, your Van Buren organization went public final September. Its stock shot
approximately $47.50 a new talk about just before settling back down beneath $10. Your company-
-which is actually rivalling against well-established giants Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw - provides legal
information via 1,800 databases, which includes nearly all federal and state courts.
Both Kyle Parker and Douglas Parker tend to be attorneys. Kyle Parker conceived your venture
whilst participating in Franklin Pierce Law Institution in Concord, N.H., as getting a way to supply
low-cost legal research. The Particular family's combined holdings --including individuals associated
with Kyle, Douglas and Melanie Parker -- total more than 6 million shares with the company.
Chris Whitt
Fort Smith
Chris Whitt's prosperity is attributed to the sale involving his company, Air Techniques Inc.
regarding Fort Smith, a company involving cabinets and furnishings, to end up being able to
Mercury capital involving New york within October 1999. The Actual revenue price was not
disclosed, nevertheless the $50 million estimate will be conservative according to 1998 income
involving $85 million.
Jim Lindsey
Fayetteville
Jim Lindsey, any former School of Arkansas along with Minnesota Vikings football player, employed
his math diploma to create a greater impact in Arkansas property as compared to NFL gridirons.
A native regarding Forrest City, Lindsey utilized any $75,000 signing bonus plus a helpful hometown
loan to purchase several terrain within north Fayetteville inside 1966. He developed a large revenue
3 a lengthy time later on when he sold the particular property in order to developers of the
Northwest Arkansas Mall.
He has proved his 1st real-estate transaction was no fluke through constructing a new real-estate
empire within northwest Arkansas. Lindsey & Associates, which usually he formed right after
retiring coming from football throughout 1973, offers sales associated with a lot a lot more than
$188 million throughout 1999.
Also, Lindsey builds, owns and also operates more apartment units compared to virtually any
organization inside state.
Lindsey owns about $11 million in Reynie Rutledge's (No. 33) Very first security Bancorp. of Searcy.
James T. Womble
Little Rock
Global database software weren't on the horizon when James T. Womble, Rodger S. Kline (No. 71)
along with Charles D. Morgan (No. 34) strode the campus in the College of Arkansas together.
But the close school pals get parlayed their own engineering degrees along with and stints from IBM
directly into success from Acxiom Corp.
"We didn't have a clue," Womble said involving their own university days.
Womble earned any civil engineering degree from your UA inside January 1966. He left IBM to grow
to be able to be listed on Acxiom throughout 1974 and also may be a business director since 1975.
Next a realignment involving Acxiom divisions inside 1997, Womble had been named leader in the
monetary solutions division.
Womble can serve as a new director and also owns 5,000 shares involving Sedona Corp., a Limerick,
Pa.-based company that will writes client relations management computer software with regard to
small, and mid-sized banks along with holds various other pursuits in additional private ventures
with Morgan, Acxiom's organization leader, as well as Kline, the company's chief operating officer.
Kenneth Pat Wilson Family
Jacksonville
Kenneth Pat Wilson opened the particular doors associated with Very first Jacksonville Bank &
Believe In -- that actually was Jacksonville's 1st bank -- in 1949 together with $65,000 inside capital.
As regarding Dec. 31, 1999, the monetary institution had $28 million within equity and also total
assets regarding nearly $207 million. Wilson will be nevertheless its chairman; son Mike, any former
state legislator, is vice chairman; as well as son Larry is actually president and also CEO. His
daughter, Kathryn W. Roberts, can always be a little Rock lawyer.
In the past half-century, Jacksonville has exploded via 1,200 residents to regarding 30,000, partly
because Wilson led the $1 million fund-raising effort to be able to territory the particular little Rock
Air Force Base.
Like other family fortunes built about bank holding, the particular Wilson family's prosperity has
decreased dramatically from final year, when it had been estimated with $72 million.
Samuel Sicard Family
Fort Smith
The Sicard family members leads Fort Smith-based Very first Bank Corp., the particular second-
largest nonpublic bank holding business in the state, powering Jim Walton's Arvest Bank group Inc.
The company's flagship operation is actually Fort Smith's 128-year-old First National Bank. Some
Other holdings consist of Citizens Bank & Believe In in Van Buren and also National Bank involving
Salisaw, Okla.
The family bought River Valley Bank within Lavaca throughout 1998 along with merged its branch
operation into the Fort Smith along with Van Buren operations.
Sicard's great-grandfather, Samuel McLoud, has been president involving the lender throughout
1907. Within 1909, McLoud authorized Fort Smith's very first high-rise -- an eight-story creating that
even now houses the particular bank.
In 1977, Samuel Sicard took over as fourth generation for you to grow to be president. Sicard, in
addition chairman along with CEO, told Arkansas Business, "Our situation remains the same. We're
actually certainly not thinking about offering as long as we could compete."
Family consists of Sicard's mother, Lucy Kathryn Harper Sicard, and the children, Melissa Caroline
Sicard and also Samuel Timothy Sicard.
Glen Hinkle Family
Mountain View
Glen Hinkle, 81, began his phone profession throughout 1938 performing every thing imaginable,
through digging holes for you to climbing poles. The Actual family members owns almost all of
Mountain View telephone Co. and also Mountain View Bancshares Inc., a holding business in which
owns the particular Bank associated with Mountain View.
When Hinkle began working for his father-in-law, E.B. Watts, in the Mountain View Phone Co. within
1938, the sole experience he had would end up being a correspondence course in electronics. the
phone organization simply had concerning 60 phones. Today, Hinkle oversees all of the operations in
the phone company, which in turn has about 7,000 phones as well as operations all through Stone
County along with elements of Cleburne and Izard counties.
Glen Hinkle can be chairman involving Mountain View Bancshares, which in turn he joined as a
board member throughout 1950. The Particular holding company offers assets of regarding $122
million. His son, James, will end up being the company's president.
Lee Wilson Family
Wilson
In 1996 the family had almost 28,000 acres of farmland inside southern Mississippi County. The
Actual terrain is divided one associated with the Lee Wilson & Co. (24,049 acres) R.E.L. Wilson
Testamentary Have Confidence In (160 acres), and in addition the R.E. Lee Wilson Estate (3,765
acres). Lee Wilson & Co. CEO Mike Wilson is truly a main supporter involving Arkansas University
with Batesville and also Arkansas State University. He and his loved ones have been agribusiness
supporters associated with President Clinton. His membership within the Arkansas Enterprise
Council additionally emphasizes his support of schooling in Arkansas. Mike Wilson led effort to
legalize as well as establish casino operation within eastern Arkansas.
Curt Bradbury
Little Rock
Bradbury is famous -- amongst other things -- for his remarkable turnaround of the former Worthen
Banking Corp. (now Bank regarding America). in 1985, he was a Stephens executive when Worthen
actually lost $52 million overnight in a negative loan to Bevil Bressler Schulman Management Corp.,
which usually went bankrupt.
Stephens dispatched Bradbury and a $30 million loan in order to become able to save the bank.
Bradbury was instantly named president and also later took over as chairman and also CEO. He
revived the particular flagging bank holding company in less than a decade. Within 1994, it offered
for about $600 million within stock for you to Boatmen's Bancshares Inc.
In 1995, Bradbury returned in order to Stephens as chief operating officer. His investments include
shares of Bank regarding America priced at $12.9 million and also Power-One Inc. valued (on July 7)
from $24.8 million.
Harold Gwatney Family
Jacksonville
Harold Gwatney's title has been upon auto dealerships in Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas since
1957. More Than the actual years, Gwatney has been involved with with regards to 10 dealerships
across Arkansas, Tennessee and also Texas. Right now the particular holdings are usually pared
down for the original Harold Gwatney Chevrolet in Jacksonville (the just holding left within
Arkansas), North Point Ford within Millington, Tenn., Saturn regarding Germantown, Tenn., Saturn
regarding Memphis, Gwatney Chevrolet of Memphis and also Saturn associated with Jackson, Miss.
Along With 475 employees, the company had an estimated $240 million in income in 1999.
Each in the dealerships can be owned in a partnership in between Gwatney and the a couple of sons,
Russell along with Bill. Bill Gwatney, also a new Democratic state senator, offers majority ownership
with the Jacksonville dealership. Russell owns nearly all Gwatney Chevrolet inside Memphis, and
also Harold Gwatney has the greatest stake in all one other dealerships.
Car dealerships aren't fetching the prices that they used to, therefore the Gwatneys' estimated
prosperity will be down significantly through final year, when it had been estimated from $77
million.
Mike Coulson Family
North little Rock
Ray Coulson started Coulson Oil Co. inside 1969 using nine Amoco fuel stations, five regarding
which were closed.
Now the business operates 25 Arkansas stores and distributes oil along with gasoline in order to 120
outlets all through state.
Mike Coulson, president of the company, began employed by his father within 1975 after graduating
coming from Emory College with Atlanta. His sister also works for company, which throughout fact
had income of $165 million throughout 1999.
Robert A. Youthful III Family
Fort Smith
In 1951, attorney Robert "Bob" Small Jr. has been seeking for any buyer regarding three friends' 28-
year-old trucking business when he decided to buy it himself.
His son, Robert A. Youthful III, has become president along with CEO regarding Arkansas Very Best
Corp., whose divisions include ABF Freight System Inc., G.I. Trucking Co., Treadco Inc. along with
Clipper Express Co.
Robert young III even offers main stock holdings throughout First Bank Corp. associated with Fort
Smith, and Mosler Inc., a Hamilton, Ohio, manufacturer regarding banking equipment.
While the value of the family's Arkansas Greatest Corp. stock has grown through $19 million to
always be able to $22 million over days gone by year, the require for Initial Bank Corp. holdings
features declined through $23 million for you to $15 million.
Leland E. Tollett
Rogers
The former chairman and also CEO regarding Tyson foods Inc., Tollett, 63, retired inside 1998 right
after 39 many years using the Springdale-based poultry producer. Throughout Tollett's tenure from
Tyson Foods, the organization went from processing 15 million chickens per 12 months in 1959 to
end up being able to 2.3 billion birds annually inside 1998. Tyson Meals is actually responsible for
approximately thirty percent of most poultry processed from the industry.
Tollett's poultry-based fortune offers suffered over days gone by year. His estimated prosperity has
dropped via $70 million annually ago, and he dropped through No. 52 in order to No. 89 about the
"Wealthiest Arkansans" list.
Gerald Hamra Family
Little Rock
The late George Hamra's 34-store Wendy's involving Small Rock restaurant franchise sold in June
1995, 4 months right after Hamra died. He had built certainly one of the particular country's many
successful Wendy's franchise operations.
James E. Wilkinson Family
Greenwood
The Wilkinson family's involvement throughout Farmers Bank inside Greenwood dates back to
become able to its 1907 inception, when W.N. Wilkinson began as the bank's first cashier. This was a
two-man operation operate out in the corner of your retailer inside the Greenwood square,
mentioned Ed Wilkinson, W.N. Wilkinson's grandson.
The store owner's son opened the initial account at the bank, depositing 38 cents, Wilkinson said.
Today, Farmers Bank provides concerning $139 million throughout assets and also eight locations.
Over time, the actual Wilkinson family offers were in a new position to acquire controlling interest
within the bank now owns 100 percent of the the particular bank's holding company, Wilkinson
Banking Corp. W.N. Wilkinson held nearly every position in the bank, via cashier in order to
chairman, as do his son, Indicates Wilkinson. Indicates Wilkinson died in 1991.
Ed Wilkinson, a state representative, may be the bank's president; his brother, Stanhope Wilkinson,
is actually its CEO; and their mother, Elizabeth Wilkinson, is actually chairman.
Dick Hill and also Tim Hill
Russellville
The Hills, making his or her initial visual appeal on the "Wealthiest Arkansans" list, very own
Daymark Group, an exclusive organization that provides time and temperature sensitive logistics
solutions for the meals as well as floral industries.
Last year, Daymark partnered along with i2 Technologies to become able to concentrate about the
joint development of logistics as well as IT solutions regarding major customers.
Tim Hill is actually president and also CEO associated with Daymark, which in turn ended up being
founded in 1974 as well as posted with regards to $100 million within revenue final year. It employs
about 600.
H.C. Schmieding Family
Springdale
The owners of your H.C. Schmieding Generate wholesale operation also develop office buildings and
store space, for example Signature Square within Springdale. The Particular item organization
features estimated income associated with $87 million. Depressed market prices for create
operations has dropped your family's estimated prosperity through $64 million final year.
Robert Hernreich Family
Fort Smith
The Hernreich family owned Sigma Broadcast Inc., the Fort Smith-based television business that
owned KHBS/KHOG-TV, Channels 29/49, an ABC network affiliate.
The family members sold Sigma in 1997 to Argyle Television Co. involving San Antonio (Hearst-
Argyle Corp.) for an estimated $34 million. Robert Hernreich and wife, Becky, now reside in Vail,
Colo. Robert's sister, Cindy Hernreich-Beller, remains in Fort Smith.
Larry Brewer Family
* Paragould
The family members owns almost 40 % associated with First National Bank throughout Paragould
and also Corning Bank. William Brewer is chairman and CEO regarding bank operations. Bank
holdings grew coming from sale of different gasoline distribution investments in the 1970s.
The family members offered the actual remaining fuel holding, your Brewer Brothers Oil propane
distribution firm, this past year to end up being able to MFA Inc. associated with Columbia, Mo. Still
within the family will be Shawill Farms, any 1,000-acre operation inside Mississippi County along
with southeast Missouri.
James C. East Family
* little Rock
The East loved ones owns 92 % regarding Pulaski Bank & Have Confidence In Co., additionally
Pulaski Mortgage, Lenders Title Services, and Lenders Title.
James East bought controlling interest within the mortgage lending firm involving Jack Collier East
inside 1967. He bought charge of the actual former Pulaski Heights Bank throughout 1973 when
bank's assets totaled $18 million. the mortgage firm became Pulaski Mortgage.
East began the title business via scratch. His son, Hunter, oversees mortgage and also title
operations. James East, 62, has been identified as having cancer throughout June 1998. He co-
founded Arkansas Cancer With The Prostate foundation along with provided five year's involving
seed capital. The Actual family members provides rebuffed current speculation, which the bank
could always be pertaining to sale.
H. Lee Scott Jr.
* Rogers
Lee Scott, 50, features risen by means of the particular ranks in Wal-Mart Retailers Inc. to end up
being able to become CEO and also president in the world's largest retailer. Scott, any 21-year
employee of the Golf Course Real Estate bowie md Bentonville-based company, was named for the
head occupation last January, replacing David Glass. He began his profession in the company's
logistics department and eventually assisted build the actual company's distribution centers and its
hub-and-spoke distribution network. He may be groomed for your position for that past several
years, shifting towards the store aspect of the company 3 many years ago.
Thomas M. Coughlin
* Bentonville
Thomas Coughlin, 50, is an additional lately promoted Wal-Mart stores Inc. executive. Final fall, he
replaced H. Lee Scott Jr. (No. 97) as president along with CEO with the Wal-Mart stores division.
Coughlin is also an executive vice president with the company.
Neely Cassady Family
* Nashville
The former Arkansas state senator via Nashville served as CEO regarding TSC Human Resources,
which in turn he sold pertaining to $20 million throughout 1995 to Express Personnel services
regarding Oklahoma City.
His family owns part of the factor which was H.K. Brewer Electric and also Cassady Associates, led
by his son, Tony. Cassady offers served as a director involving Tyson Food Items Inc. since 1974
(he's now chairman with the board) along with owns more than 1.2 million shares regarding Tyson,
which are worth $11 million (compared for you to $27 million a year ago).
William H. Bowen
* little Rock
Bill Bowen is actually a former chief executive officer involving First Commercial Corp. and a
current director. He also was obviously a former interim dean associated with what your law states
university at the College regarding Arkansas from little Rock, which usually was recently renamed
your William H. Bowen University associated with Law.
He ended up being president of Commercial National Bank of Small Rock inside 1971 along with
amassed his prosperity by means of investments, specifically throughout First Commercial Corp.
Bowen, 77, owns an estimated 1.06 million shares regarding Regions financial Corp., that acquired
Very first Commercial.
He also can always be a former president as well as CEO of Healthsource Arkansas Ventures. Inc.,
an Arkansas-based health maintenance organization, along using a former director associated with
TCBY Inc., by which he owned 34,000 shares regarding stock priced at $204,000 when the company
was sold earlier this year.
Larry Crain Family
* little Rock
The landscape of Crain family holdings changed this year, when Crain Automotive Inc. marketed its
Arkansas KarPro Auto Parts retailers for $14 million inside cash.
The family members also owns Freeway Ford Lincoln Mercury throughout Benton, Midway Ford Inc.
in the Memphis suburb associated with Collierville, Tenn., and Freeway Auto Outlet in North little
Rock.
Larry Crain Sr.'s son, Larry Crain Jr., directs your dealerships, using plans ultimately to manage the
entire operation. His other son, Chris, runs the automotive parts division. Searcy ties remain having
a tiny ownership inside Very first security Bancorp, worth about $500,000.
Larry Crain Sr.'s company, known as Grain Management Group, hauled inside an estimated $124
million inside revenue within 1999. The Particular organization employs 380.
Cecil W. Cupp Jr.
* Hot Springs
Cecil W. Cupp Jr. started his profession with a small Arkadelphia bank owned simply by simply his
namesake father. Within 1961, the actual loved ones bought control of Arkansas Bank & Believe In
Co. throughout Hot Springs, and in the end sold its Arkadelphia bank.
Arkansas Bank & Have Confidence In had regarding $15 million throughout assets if the Cupp loved
ones bought it. The idea grew to regarding $250 million by 1990, if the Cupp's marketed the bank to
little Rock-based Very first Commercial Corp., which in turn consequently marketed for you to
Regions financial Corp. within Birmingham, Ala.
Cupp, 75, retired six years back however maintains an office in the lender regarding his individual
company along with sits about its advisory board, which usually he says is simply an "honorary"
position.
William Harm Family
* Jonesboro
William Damage Sr., whom died throughout 1997, founded a farm implement business, Southern
Marketing and Advertising Affiliates, and his son, William Damage Jr. will be classic entrepreneur
which began Sun Industries Inc. A New brother, Rodger, runs Spirit Manufacturing, which tends to
always be able to make exercise equipment. a son,, Blant, is the vast majority owner regarding
action Indicator Group, which would regarding $8 million inside sales last year.
Williams hurt Jr. can be about the board associated with First Neighborhood Bank associated with
Jonesboro.
E.G. Bradberry Family
* Fayetteville
In 1977, Edwin G. Bradberry founded Continental Ozark Inc., a new Fayetteville-based business in
the company associated with transporting, storing, terminaling as well as wholesale marketing
petroleum products, primarily unleaded gasoline, diesel oil along with allow fuel.
Continental Ozark marked annual sales of more than $500 million using seven locations inside 4
states once the assets marketed for you to TransMontaigne in April 1995. Afterward, Bradberry
owned concerning 1.5 percent of the stock inside TransMontaigne.
Bradberry now tends to B & B Sources Inc., an investment firm located in Fayetteville.
Hugh Patterson Family
* Small Rock
Hugh Patterson, son-in-law associated with longtime Arkansas Gazette publisher J.N. Heiskell,
oversaw the actual sale with the Gazette in order to Gannett Co. inside 1986 regarding $51 million.
Regarding half the particular proceeds in the sale visited Hugh's children, Carrick and Ralph; the
other half to other Heiskell and also Allsopp loved ones heirs living out of state. Regarding 1 percent
visited Hugh Patterson, the actual 84-year-old widower said.
Other Heiskell heirs reside from stare. Carrick Patterson as soon as managed a Small Rock
marketing agency along with now works as freelance photographer. Ralph Patterson will freelance
marketing and writing.
Gannett marketed the newspaper to Arkansas Democrat publisher Walter Hussman Jr. (No. six in
this list) in 1991 regarding $67 million, after which usually Hussman mixed the two newspapers,
forming your Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Edward G. Sims Family
* Blytheville
Edward Sims would become a residence builder in the 1960s whenever a contractor pal told Sims
with regards to a brand name new resort he'd built-in West Memphis for any burgeoning Memphis
operation referred for you to as Holiday Inns. Sims eventually owned eight Holiday Inns, such as
hotels in Oklahoma City, Tucson, Ariz., El Paso, Texas, Columbia, S.C., as well as Fort Worth.
For six years, Sims ran the property department pertaining to Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson.
Sims sold his franchise operation to the father or mother Holiday Inn Corp. in 1981 along with
employed the money to purchase the First National Bank throughout Blytheville. Jerry T. Sims,
Edward's son, is actually chairman and chief executive officer associated with Initial National Bank
as well as Very first Delta Bancshares Inc., the actual holding company. Edward Sims can be vice
chairman associated with both institutions. the Sims loved ones owns a little a lot much more than
90 percent in the bank, which provides assets regarding regarding $148 million.
Roland S. Boreham Jr.
* Fort Smith
Roland Boreham moved to Fort Smith via Los Angeles to always be able to become vice president
regarding revenue with regard to Baldor Electric Co. and also has been the particular director
associated with the business since 1980.
Boreham, 75, additionally can serve as the director involving USA Truck Inc.
Yarnell Family
* Searcy
In 1932, Ray Yarnell has been assistant manager with a Searcy dairy that went bankrupt. Driven to
end up being able to salvage the particular business, Yarnell convinced family members to become
able to pool personal savings for the project, and also Yarnell Frozen Goodies Co. has been born,
offering a new luxury product with a period when many people didn't know exactly where their
subsequent meal was coming from.
Ray Yarnell passed the organization to his just child, Albert, that started operating in the business at
get older 10. Albert has become chairman, and his awesome son, A. Rogers Yarnell II, will be
president.
The loved ones also offers an curiosity about Initial security Bancorp worth concerning $6 million.
Bonnie Copp Wyatt Family
* Calico Rock
The Wyatt family owns almost almost all of First National Bank involving Izard County in Calico
Rock.
Bonnie Copp Wyatt is actually chairman with the bank, following inside the footsteps of the woman's
grandfather, William "Judge" Copp, as well as the woman's father, Dr. Noel "Buck" Copp.
DON TYSON FAMILY
2000 Estimated Wealth: $1.04 billion, Springdale
HARD TIMES within the poultry sector have reduced the actual Tyson family prosperity by simply
sixty percent since this past year -- yet your Tysons dropped only 1 place in the "Wealthiest
Arkansans" ranking and also continue to get among only four loved ones fortunes estimated from
much far better than $1 billion.
Sixty-five years right after its initial shipment involving chickens coming from Springdale to Chicago,
Tyson Food Items Inc. remains solidified because the poultry industry's giant.
The organization has been founded by simply John Tyson Sr., that took the business public
throughout 1963. Whenever he died inside a car crash throughout 1967, Tyson had lower than two
percent in the U.S. chicken marker. His son, Don, chairman until 1995 and now the actual
company's majority stockholder, grew the organization to a business of 25 percent.
Tyson Meals expended $1 billion to purchase Hudson foods within 1998 just before Don's son,
Johnny Tyson, as well as former CFO Wayne Britt were promoted in order to chairman along with
CEO, respectively. Then, in April regarding this year, Britt suddenly retired along with Johnny took
over each roles with the company.
The organization can be trying to recover from the major drop within stock costs inside the final
year, falling from the 52-week substantial involving $22.88 per discuss in July 1999 to $8.50 in July
2000.
Tyson Food Items continues trying to expand, reportedly obtaining in a bidding war with regard to
California-based private poultry organization Zacky Farms. Also, Tyson Foods' wholly owned
subsidiary Cobb-Vantress Inc. involving Siloam Springs, finalized its acquisition regarding Maine-
based Avian Farms USA Inc. throughout June 2000.
The organization features 65,000 employees along with 72 plants throughout 16 states.
HICKINGBOTHAM FAMILY
2000 Estimated Wealth: $170 million little Rock
THIS YEAR, THE HICKINGbotham loved ones finally sold the organization which place frozen yogurt
on the national menu. Stamford, Conn.-based Capricorn Management Inc.'s $140 million cash
provide for TCBY Enterprises Inc. ended up being viewed having a combination of surprise and
relief.
The company endured any decade of stagnant performance under your family's leadership, as
sharper competition overwhelmed its once novel product. Hailed pertaining to recognizing your
tasty opportunity and also capitalizing about it, Frank Hickingbotham also has been criticized
regarding not really relinquishing control significantly earlier if the business has been in top.
Golden parachutes pushed the particular family's just take about the sale north associated with $70
million.
Building the particular nation's largest chain regarding frozen yogurt shops has been most certainly
not without its compensate pertaining to Hickingbotham and sons Herren as well as Todd.
The first shop opened within little Rock inside September 1981 right after Frank Hickingbotham
discovered any frozen yogurt product at a cafe inside a Neiman Marcus retailer inside Dallas. His
purported response -- "This can't be Yogurt!" -- provided the fledgling company with its original
name.
Hickingbotham took the business public in may 1984, and from the finish of the year, TCBY
Enterprises Inc. had 102 stores.
The business faced among its the majority of significant challenges in 1989 along with 1990 when
fast-food operations such as McDonald's and Dairy Queen stole a large talk about with the frozen
yogurt market, partially by undercutting TCBY's prices. The Actual company survived that crisis,
along with a rash regarding dissatisfied franchisees, and also now could be the world's largest
manufacturer-franchisor involving frozen yogurt.
Recently, the vast majority of your company's growth may be attributed to be able to "co-branding"
along with additional franchise concepts like Subway Sandwiches & Salads and also Taco Bell, since
the actual U.S. market is saturated using TCBY stores.
Family transformed the part associated with TCBY produced fortune into banking interests, which
includes stock inside First Commercial Bank, that had been acquired simply by Regions Financial.
(The value of that investment provides dropped from almost $90 million last summer for you to
beneath $51 million as regarding July 7.) a former Initial Commercial board member, Hickingbotham
resigned his position around the board regarding Regions Financial. He splits residency in between
Nevada along with little Rock.
The family members owns a string of California auto dealerships, offering seven various brands of
luxury cars and a quantity of Harley Davidson dealerships within three states.
CHARLES D. MORGAN
2000 Estimated Wealth: $116 million, Small Rock
CHARLES MORGAN'S MECHANICAL ENGIneering studies in the School involving Arkansas weren't
exactly geared towards global information integration.
Instead, his studies were geared towards gears.
"I desired to deal with cars along with gears and also stuff mechanical," stated the organization
leader of Acxiom Corp. "We did not really have virtually any computers, along with I didn't consider
just about any pc courses in college."
Morgan fed his adore with regard to speed through racing motorcycles and then labored his method
as much as sports cars -- a passion he now shares along together with his son, Rob. Along With
which has blossomed to the racing-related marketing and advertising enterprise RM promotions.
The younger Morgan features put the Morgan-Dollar Motorsports team amongst the very best
twenty within the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
At 57, the older Morgan chased his dream around the monitor inside the Watkins Glen 700 once
more last month. He qualified 23rd in the field associated with 38 in a high-speed pickup and also
finished 18th.
"I were needed to get in shape, and also I does a little practice," Morgan said.
Morgan furthermore not too long ago has guided Acxiom, one of the world's leaders throughout data
integration, management along with delivery, via choppy waters which included the actual layoff
involving 5 percent involving its workforce last year.
On June 26, the business reported annual net income associated with $90.4 million in revenues
associated with $964.5 million -- up 28 percent coming from fiscal 1999.
He credits your good results to Acxiom's introduction of AbiliTec, any real-time marketing
application for viewing customer computer data within depth.
"The answer is definitely driven from the desire to improve outcomes with alternative strategies," he
said.
Morgan joined numerous UA Engineering University buddies from IBM after graduating within
Fayetteville as well as had grow to be the vice president regarding Acxiom, then called
Demographics, within 1972. He became chairman throughout 1975 as well as took the organization
through a couple of identify changes to introduce Acxiom inside 1988.
Morgan, that in addition can be chairman with the boards regarding Hendrix University as well as
the Immediate Advertising Association, went by means of any bitter divorce in which substantially
reduced his Acxiom holdings inside the 1990s. (His ex-wife, Jane Dills Morgan, ranks 60th upon this
list.)
By this summer, Charles Morgan had increased his or even the woman's own Acxiom holdings for
you to practically $113 million -- primarily by means of an equity-forward place he took with an
additional million shares of the organization as a new swap regarding $19 million throughout debt.
He holds 3,878,745 -- or perhaps 4.4 percent -- of Acxiom's outstanding shares.
Acxiom directors elevated Morgan's base pay by simply 23 % this coming year to $595,000. Apart
from his minority fascination with RM Promotions, with regard to which in turn Acxiom is really a
corporate sponsor, also, he is actually a pilot along with controls MorAir Inc. The Particular business
leases aircraft to Acxiom regarding $80,000 any month.
His wife, Susie P. Morgan, owns the particular little Rock franchise of Norrell Staffing Support Inc.,
which supplies Acxiom using temporary staffing for an estimated $250,000 the year.
ROSS WHIPPLE FAMILY
2000 Estimated Wealth: $110 million, Arkadelphia
ROSS WHIPPLE'S BANKING ODYSSEY BEGAN inside 1989 when he quickly began operating from
Merchants as well as Planters Bank, by which his cousin, Jane Ross, had controlling interest.
Whipple acquired the particular almost all your hank's holding business coming from Ross
throughout 1991. He consolidated banks throughout Malvern, Arkadelphia, Hot Springs as well as
Sheridan in in order to a single charter as Horizon Bancorp Inc. in 1995.
To become successful within his company dealings, Whipple mentioned he's relied upon passion
pertaining to his perform as well as compassion with regard to others. "If you're taking those a pair
of qualities, you're going the long, way."
Whipple went a considerable ways in February 1998, when St. Louis-based Mercantile
Bancorporation Inc. bought Horizon in a $120 million stock swap. Mercantile received Horizon's
$551 million within assets along with offices in Arkadelphia, Sheridan, Malvern and Hot Springs.
Whipple said he wasn't trying to offer Horizon, yet Mercantile's provide ended up being some thing
he knew should take towards the shareholders.
Whipple wasn't through with banking. He retained Horizon's young Magnolia operation, which
usually state law prevented him through selling. Following any no-compete clause using Mercantile
expired within February associated with this year, Whipple moved the lender to Arkadelphia and
also renamed it Summit Bancorp. The idea had been the initial bank of the new system, that then
had with regards to $75 million within total assets.
Other branches followed (Summit's Hot Springs and also Malvern branches opened on the identical
day, March 13), as Summit -- with former Horizon executives aboard -- re-entered familiar markets.
Right now Whipple is actually rapidly rebuilding any neighborhood bank system in which through
June boasted $128 million within assets. He expects to be successful in $150 million from the end
regarding 2000.
He personally estimates his prosperity at only $85 million.
Whipple nonetheless turns in order to his life-long philosophy of compassion regarding additional
and also adore of his work. Yet he's careful not to allow 1 overtake the particular other.
"I use a real passion for which I do. Nevertheless I believe I possess some sort of your compassion
with regard to people," he said. "Now also, in the event you permit either one outweigh the other
any total lot, you receive in trouble, in which in turn you walk' about individuals or perhaps they
walk in you. Thus it's a quite fine balance."
WALTER COLEMAN JR. FAMILY
2000 Estimated Wealth: $50 million, little Rock
COLEMAN DAIRY SOLD TO TURNER HOLDINGS LLC inside 1998, ending 136 many a lengthy time
of family members ownership, nevertheless the family members is actually nonetheless active inside
the day-to-day operations.
"We're just about all nevertheless here," Buddy Coleman said.
Coleman attributed the particular company's extended success, going again to 1862, to "the
fantastic individuals that have worked using and for people over your years. We get lots of folks
that's been along with us 30 for you to 40 years. you can't appreciate in which kind involving
dedication along with services enough."
Dedication and service exacted huge toll in company founder Eleither Coleman when a delivery
horse killed him having a kick for the head in the corner regarding Seventh and Scott streets, Fred
B. Coleman used the particular reigns and steered the organization onward as well as upward.
And Buddy Coleman stated he by absolutely no means actually considered whatever else for a living.
"When I got my degree via LSU I was considering pro baseball -- nevertheless it didn't just take me
extended to recognize there wasn't anything there," he said. "Then I got any commission inside the
U.S. Air Force. Then my late brother, Boots, convinced me to have out in the Air Force following 26
months. This proved that I was supposed to always be able to ship out to Korea. so my brother's
ended up being sage advice."
More essential than any organization accomplishment, Coleman said, can be his family.
"I guess I'd have to say having 4 sons that have grown up straight into fine fantastic men [is my
greatest accomplishment]," Coleman said. "Walt will become the NFL referee and plant manager
with regard to Goldstar, Bob is at cost associated with revenue from Coleman, Charles is surely an
attorney with Wright Lindsey Jennings, and Cherb runs our operations along with processing fleet."
And inside a enterprise globe that will preaches you may anticipate your unexpected, Buddy
Coleman will be firmly grounded.
"I know it absolutely was the real shock for me -- I officiated Southwest Conference football
pertaining to 26 many years -- I got again from the bowl game inside Japan and located out my wife
really was poor ill," he explained associated with his late wife, Robbye, that died of cancer inside
1984. "It would be a really short illness. The idea has been a factor that just kind of developed truly
fast and also before the lady got therapy the lady ended up being gone. Every little Thing within the
business world kind of pales throughout comparison."
But Coleman serendipitously noticed divorce recognize inside the paper filed by a senior high school
sweetheart, Carolyn, and also determined to obtain his feet wet again.
"I study inside the paper that she filed with regard to divorce through Dr. Travis Crusie," Coleman
said. "So I called your ex along with informed her in which some time when it was convenient for her
I'd just like to take her out to dinner."
"How about tonight?" the girl said.
The couple have eight kids as well as 11 grandchildren among them.
JOHN TROUTT JR. FAMILY
2000 Estimated Wealth: $62 million, Jonesboro
SOME WERE SURPRISED IN JUNE WHEN JOHN Troutt Jr. announced in the front page he may well
sell his 100-year-old newspaper, Your Jonesboro Sun.
No one nevertheless a Troutt provides published editorials for your paper in 97 years. Troutt's
grandfather, W.O. Troutt, purchased the particular newspaper from the Cone estate within 1901.
W.O. Troutt along with later on his sons, John along with Fred, ran the Sun being an afternoon
paper. John Troutt died in 1948, Fred throughout 1980. John Troutt Jr. produced the actual Sun the
morning paper inside 1982.
"When I started carrying papers within 1939, this is a tiny town, possibly 10,000 folks maybe, as well
as there is the rivalling paper here then -- it went out in 1943 -- circulation was about 3,500," John
Troutt Jr. Said. "Now it's more than 30,000."
John Troutt Jr. continues to be running the actual newspaper together with his sons, assistant
publishers Bob as well as Ed. Your brothers are generally involved with real-estate development
within Florida plus Jonesboro, where they've developed Sage Meadows golf Course, a new
residential community on a semi-private golf course.
John Troutt Jr., 70, cited his sons' company hobbies outside the newspaper, the price of maintaining
on leading of fast-changing technologies as well as "punishing estate and inheritance taxes" as
reasons to check out alternatives for the paper's future, which in turn include offering it by the
fourth quarter.
Experts have mentioned the newspaper could fetch among $50 million as well as $75 million.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Journal Publishing, Inc.
No portion want for you to know , can be reproduced with out the express written permission from
your copyright holder.
Copyright 2000 Gale, Cengage Learning. all rights reserved.

Arkansas Business Rankings: Wealthiest Arkansas Families.

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originaltitel

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Arkansas Business Rankings: Wealthiest Arkansas Families.

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

ARKANSAS BUSINESS RANKINGS: WEALTHIEST

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen