Arkansas Business Rankings: Wealthiest Arkansas Families.

ARKANSAS BUSINESS RANKINGS: WEALTHIEST
ARKANSAS FAMILIES.
ARKANSAS BUSINESS RANKINGS: WEALTHIEST ARKANSAS FAMILIES
2000 1999
Ranking Ranking Title City
one 1 Walton Loved Ones Bentonville
Helen walton, Rob walton
Jim walton, Alice Walton,
John Walton
2 2 Stephens family little Rock
Jackson T. Stephens,
Warren A. Stephens,
W.R. Stephens Jr.,
numerous loved ones trusts
3 4 Winthrop Paul Rockefeller [*] little Rock
4 3 Don Tyson Family Members [*] Springdale
Don Tyson, John H. Tyson,
Barbara A. Tyson,
estate associated with 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
six 8 Walter Hussman Jr. family Small Rock
7 six Frank Lyon Jr. Family Members little Rock
8 ten John A. Cooper Family Members Bella Vista
9 7 Herbert McAdams II little 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 20 Frank Fletcher North Small Rock
18 9 Collier Wenderoth Jr. Fort Smith
19 22 Stephen LaFrance family 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 Loved Ones Springdale
24 NR Dr. J. Floyd Kyser little Rock
25 19 F. S. (Sheridan) Garrison Loved Ones Harrison
F.S. Garrison, Ben Garrison
26 NR Sonja Yates Hubbard family Texarkana
27 26 Frank Hickingbotham Family Members little Rock
Herren Hickingbotham,
Todd Hickingbotham
28 33 H.C. "Dude" Crain Jr. Fort Smith
29 17 Don Kirkpatrick Loved Ones Small Rock
30 36 Wallace Fowler family 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 Prosperity Change
one $108 billion $77 billion 40%
2 $3.8 billion $3.4 billion 12%
three $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%
twenty $179 million $165 million 9%
24 $150 million - -
26 $135 million - -
2000
Ranking Resources of Wealth
one Wal-Mark stock, Arvest Bank Group,
Neighborhood Publishers, Cannon Express
stock, Leggett & Platt stock,
Southern Development Bancorporation
2 Stephens group 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
gas fields, private organization ownerships,
Southern Development Bancorporation,
Very first National Security.
3 John David Rockefeller Estate inheritance,
sale regarding Winrock Farms, real estate,
car dealerships, Carlisle Bancshares
4 Tyson Food Items stock, investments
5 Stock throughout Murphy Oil, Regions Financial,
Very first United Bancshares and also 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 Occasions /
Chattanooga free Press, real estate
7 Very first stock, sale involving Coca-Cola and
appliance distributorships, 13,000
-acre Wingmead Farm
8 Cooper Communities; stock in
Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt, Entergy
9 Stock within BankAmerica, Alltel,
Dillard's investments, farms
10 Wal-Mart Stock
11 Sale of Regions Monetary stock,
sale of Roadrunner convenience
stores, Truman Arnold Cos
aircraft gasoline 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, Very first Bank Corp.
19 Wholesale pharmacy, USA Durg
Retailer 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
retailer chain
27 Sale involving TCBY Enterprises,
Regions Economic stook,
auto dealerships, restaurants
28 Sale associated with Crain Industries
29 High Quality Foods
30 Sale regarding Regions Financial
stock, Fowler foods (Taco
Bell & KFC restaurant
franchises), Fowler Enterprises,
sale associated with KFC franchises,
real estate
31 Oil holdings, Initial United
Bancshares stock
32 Sale involving Arkansas Greatest stock,
Trans States trucking, First
American Corp. stock, Texas
banks, cattle ranch
33 Very first Safety Bancorp,
Baxter County Bancshares,
real estate, insurance
34 Stock within Acxiom and
Fairfield Communities
35 Forrest Metropolis Grocery Co.
36 Tyson foods stock, sale
of Hudson Foods, real estate
37 40 Ross Whipple Family Members 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 Loved Ones Small Rock $100 million
41 44 Ed Ligon family Small Rock $100 million
43 11 William Dillard Family Members Small Rock $99 million
William Dillard, William
Dillard III, Alex Dillard
Mike Dillard, Drue Corbusier
44 34 Tenenbaum Loved Ones North little 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 Searcy $94 million
48 104 Bill Carlton Family Members 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 little 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 family 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 Small 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 of Firstar stock, Horizon Bancorp
38 Automobile dealerships, real estate, stocks
39 Simmons Meals Inc., Arkansas State Bank stock
40 Stock throughout Power-One as well as Delta & Pine land Co.;
investments
41 Sale regarding forest & paper operations
41 Sale involving Orbit Valve Co.
43 Stock throughout Dillard'S and Acxiom, CDI
Contractors, real estate
44 A. Tenenbaum Co.
45 George's Inc., J.B. Hunt stock, sale of
Very first National Bank regarding Springdale
46 Hytrol Conveyors, Regions Economic stock
47 Arkansas Wholesale Lumber Co. (includes Ridout operations)
48 Carlton-Bates Co.
49 Mail developments, Initial Bank Corp. stock
50 Adams Property Co., farm land, real estate
51 Peterson Industries, J.B. Hunt stock, Decatur Bancshares
52 Aromatique, sale of Arkansas Distribution Co.,
Red Apple Inn country Club
53 J.A. Riggs Tractor
54 Lexicon Inc., Schueck Steel Co.
55 Sale of Regions Monetary & Belmont Homes
stock; sale regarding Spirit Homes, real estate,
House Bancshares Inc., Marine Bank of the
Florida Keys
56 Dr Pepper, RC as well as 7Up bottling plants and
distributorships within Arkansas along with Mississippi
57 Regions Monetary stock, farm holdings, motels,
insurance
58 Alltel stock, Pinnacle Bank
59 Anthony Forest Items Co.
60 Acxiom stock, First Bank Corp. stock
61 Real estate investments
62 57 Kenneth B. McGruder Family Members 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. Loved Ones Jonesboro $62 million $52 million
67 50 Bean Family Members Glenwood $62 million $90 million
68 66 James F. Keenan Loved Ones Fayetteville $61 million $61 million
69 95 Nabholz Family Members Conway $60 million $40 million
70 53 John Ed Chambers Family Members Danville $60 million $78 million
71 75 Rodger S. Kline little Rock $59 million $51 million
72 67 Fred C. Ballman Fort Smith $57 million $60 million
73 71 Robert Clay Loved Ones Hardy $57 million $55 million
74 68 William de Yampert Loved Ones Wilmot $56 million $56 million
75 70 Fred Swindle Paragould $55 million $55 million
76 NR Douglas Parker Sr. family Fort Smith $54 million -
77 76 Walter Coleman Jr. Family Members 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 Loved Ones Mountain View $40 million $50 million
84 97 Lee Wilson Loved Ones Wilson $39 million $39 million
85 NR Curt Bradbury little Rock $39 million -
86 54 Harold Gwatney Loved Ones Jacksonville $38 million $77 million
87 111 Mike Coulson Loved Ones Small Rock $38 million $30 million
88 90 Robert A. Youthful III Fort Smtih $37 million $42 million
89 52 Leland E. Tollett Rogers $37 million $80 million
90 99 Gerald Hamra Family Members Small 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 Family Members Fort Smith $34 million $34 million
95 80 Larry Brewer Family Members Paragould $33 million $49 million
96 98 James C. East Family Members Small 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 Loved Ones Nashville $31 million $47 million
100 85 William H. Bowen little Rock $31 million $44 million
101 92 Larry Crain Family Members little Rock $30 million $41 million
102 79 Cecil W. Cupp Jr. Hot Springs $30 million $50 million
103 77 William Damage family Jonesboro $30 million $50 million
104 108 E.G. Bradberry Family Members Fayetteville $30 million $30 million
105 109 Hugh Patterson Loved Ones Small Rock $30 million $30 million
106 82 Edward G. Sims Family Members Blytheville $30 million $47 million
107 106 Roland S. Boreham Jr. Fort Smith $30 million $31 million
108 107 Yamell family Searcy $30 million $30 million
109 one hundred Bonnie Cupp Wyatt Loved Ones 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 of Batesville, real estate
65 -43% Dyke Industries
66 19% Your 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 involving 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% City & Nation Supermarkets, real estate
74 0% Farm holdings
75 0% Sale of National Florist Directory
76 - Loislaw.com stock
77 -2% Sale regarding Coleman Dairy
78 - Sale associated with Air Techniques Inc.
79 20% Real estate development and purchases company,
Initial Safety Bancorp stock,
Baxter County Bancshares stock
80 10% Acxiom stock
81 -41% Very first Arkansas BancShares Inc. stock
82 -37% Initial Bank Corp. stock
83 -21% Mountain View Bancshares Inc., Mountain View
telephone Co.
84 1% Farm holdigns
85 - Stock in BankAmerica, power 1 Inc., real estate
86 -50% Automobile dealerships, real estate
87 27% Coulson Oil Co. distributorship;
convenience stores
88 -11% Arkansas Very Best stock, First Bank Corp, stock
89 -53% Tyson Meals stock, farm operations
90 0% Sale of Wendy's restaurant franchises
91 -33% Wilkinson Banking Corp.
92 - Daymark foods Inc.
93 -46% Schmieding Enterprises create 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 regarding TSC Human Resources
100 -30% Regions financial stock, investments
101 -26% Crain Management Group, First Security
Bancorp stock
102 -40% Regions Monetary stock
103 -40% Spirit Manufacturing, Southern Marketing,
hurt Enterprises, Motion sign Group,
sale involving Sun Industries
104 0% Sale associated with Continental Ozark, Transmontaigne
Oil Co. stock, real estate
105 0% Sale associated with Arkansas Gazette, real estate
106 -37% Initial Delta Bankshares Inc.
107 -6% Stock inside Baldor Electric Co., USA Truck Inc.,
First community Banking
108 -4% Yarnell Ice Cream, First Safety Bancorp stock
109 -19% Wyatt Bancshares Inc.
Other people Who May Well Qualify
Name City
W.C. "Cal" Partee family Magnolia
Terry Renaud North Small Rock
Walter V. Smiley Small Rock
Bernice Jones% Springdale
Bogle family Fayetteville
David Curry Fort Smith
Dr. Ted Bailey Loved Ones Small Rock
Harry Hastings little Rock
Hill Wheatley Loved Ones Hot Springs
J.D. Ashley Family Members North little Rock
J.D. Simpson Small Rock
Julia Peck Mobley Texarkana
Randall G. Mourot little Rock
Randy Warner Small Rock
Remmel Loved Ones little Rock
Sam Winstead Small Rock
Melanie Steele little 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. and also Acxiom
Bernice Jones% Sale associated with Jones Truck Lines, Very 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 Members Real estate
J.D. Ashley Loved Ones Real estate
J.D. Simpson Wal-Mart stock, investments
Julia Peck Mobley Bank holdings, investments
Randall G. Mourot Mail Contractors regarding Arkansas
Randy Warner Investments
Remmel family Rebsamen Insurance Co., investments
Sam Winstead Skilled Leasing Co., investments
Melanie Steele Investments
Wealthiest Arkansans Families
Walton Family
* Bentonville
2000 Estimated Wealth: $108 billion
The country's wealthiest family owns 38 % with the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart stores Inc.
Founded by a down-to-earth patriarch, the late Sam Walton, Wal-Mart's phenomenal growth of
greater than 1.7 billion shares of stock (mostly located in loved ones trust) continues, with
prosperity up greater than 40 % inside the past year as well as greater than double since mid-1998.
Helen Walton, now considered the wealthiest woman inside the world, signed notes consequently
Sam could open up the extremely first retailer within Rogers inside 1962. Robson, as reserved as his
father had been sanguine, delivered papers as being a teen-ager and competed in the Ironman
Triathlon throughout 1985. Right now Robson instructions Wal-Mart's 3,810 total stores, $165
billion inside sales along with 1.14 million employees worldwide as chairman.
Son John is truly a California resident, vice president associated with Walton Enterprises and also
Wal-Mart director.
Son Jim chairs the actual $2.6 billion Arvest Bank Team Inc. and also presides more than Walton
Enterprises and community Publishers Inc. in Bentonville. Your Walton family ownership inside
Arvest would fetch a minimum of $400 million.
Daughter Alice led efforts regarding progression of Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport along with
holds stock throughout Leggett & Platt Inc. and Cannon Express Inc.
In June 1999, Wal-Mart bought Asda Team PLC, Excellent Britain's third largest supermarket chain,
with regard to $10.8 billion.
Stephens Family
* Small Rock
2000 Estimated Wealth:
$3.8 billion
Outside of the Waltons, your Stephens family members will be the most well-known in Arkansas
company circles. It's impossible to overestimate your family's influence on enterprise in the state;
the same could be said pertaining to figuring your family's worth.
This year, the family's high-tech investments get actually paid off, specifically its stake inside Power-
One Inc., which usually Stephens took public throughout 1997 in a preliminary offering expense of
$14 any share. Your stock features shot up coming from with regards to $12 a new share last year to
over $115 today, including the 3-for-2 split, putting the actual Stephens stake in the business from
greater than $700 million.
Without the Power-One stock Stephens' prosperity would be $400 million much less of computer
ended up being final year.
Stephens Inc. ended up being founded in 1933 through the late W.R. "Witt" Stephens as getting a
municipal bond house. His brother, Jacks upon T. Stephens, joined the actual firm as president
inside 1956.
Warren Stephens, Jack's son, took over Stephens Inc. within 1986. Witt Stephens Jr. can furthermore
be part of the actual subsequent generation involving leadership inside the loved ones empire.
Stephens group Inc., which may be the holding business pertaining to every 1 regarding the family's
investments--including Stephens Inc. -- compensated an estimated $950 million for Donrey Media
Team inside 1993. Donrey has become worth approximately $724 million.
Its holdings likewise incorporate Arkansas Oklahoma Fuel Corp. throughout Fort Smith -- or perhaps
the "goose," as they think involving it as -- which in turn can always be a gas production company
whose untapped fields across the globe happen to end up being able to be valued inside the $1
billion range.
Last May, Stephens group bought the commercial solutions division involving StaffMark Inc. for
$195 million within cash. It's additionally any major player throughout Beverly Enterprises Inc., the
actual nation's largest nursing residence chain. Holdings include main stock positions in Bank
involving America Corp., Alltel Corp., Monsanto Co.; Initial United Bancshares Inc.; hobbies
throughout multiple private banks within the state; and also 25-story Stephens Creating and capital
Hotel, each within Small Rock.
Winthrop Paul Rockefeller
* little Rock
2000 Estimated Wealth: $1.1 billion
Fabulous inheritance from his great-grandfather, John David Rockefeller, fuel political and company
endeavors for Lt. Gov. Rockefeller.
Rockefeller offered Winrock Farms, a Morrilton-based operation, as well as what was the particular
largest yacht construction company throughout world. Rockefeller owns Carlisle Bancshares. He has
been elected lieutenant governor inside 1996, 30 years following his father, Winthrop Rockefeller,
became the first Republican for you to serve as Arkansas' governor since Reconstruction.
Rockefeller's inheritance will be the smallest quantity of diluted regarding any of John D.
Rockefeller's great-grandchildren because he ended up being an just child. The Actual father
involving seven children, Rockefeller and his awesome wife, Lisenne, maintain homes with 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 associated with lumber and also banking.
Murphy drilled his initial oil well within 1907, but exploration didn't repay huge until 1936, when
fields inside Shuler, Ark., and also Ezzell, Texas, started producing. This specific has been the
particular turning point for your company because the Murphys turned their particular target far
from timber and banking for you to capitalize around the finds.
The family's worth, now estimated conservatively with $830 million, will be grounded in stock of
publicly traded Murphy Oil, a worldwide oil and fuel exploration and also production organization
together with refining as well as advertising operations inside the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
Other loved ones holdings contain stock in Regions Monetary Corp., that bought Very first
Commercial Corp. inside 1998; Very first United Bancshares Inc.; and also Deltic Timber Corp., any
public organization spun off via Murphy Oil within late 1996.
It was Charles H. Murphy Jr., son in the original Murphy oil man, who molded the organization in to
what it will be today, creating Murphy Oil for you to manage the particular family's broad hobbies as
well as getting it public inside 1952.
Charles Murphy Sr. had been 50 yrs . old when Charles Jr. was born. Murphy Oil Corp. chairman R.
Madison Murphy, grandson regarding Charles Sr., mentioned his father only agreed to be 21 when
his father's ill health thrust him for the company's helm.
In 1972, Charles H. Murphy Jr. relinquished the particular obligations associated with president as
well as began serving as chief executive officer and also chairman. Throughout 1984, he stepped
down as CEO, yet remained chairman until 1994, when Madison Murphy took over as chairman.
Charles H. Murphy Jr. remained a new part of the particular board until this year.
Other Murphy relatives in the company contain Michael W. Murphy, Madison's brother and a
director involving Murphy Oil; director Caroline G. Theus, the niece involving Charles Murphy Jr.;
Claiborne P. Deming, president as well as chief executive officer, along with William C. Nolan, each
nephews of C.H. Murphy Jr.
Charles H. Murphy Jr. ended up being amongst the very first 4 inductees in to be able to the
Arkansas Enterprise Hall associated with Fame throughout 1999.
Walter Hussman Jr. Family
* little Rock
One of the particular very potent people inside Arkansas, the actual Walter Hussman Jr. loved ones
can furthermore be a new media power in several markets, reaching a huge choice of a significant
amount of individuals daily through their newspaper, radio and also television properties.
The majority of loved ones fortune rests below Camden Information Publishing Co., including the
actual Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; 5 various other smaller newspapers throughout Arkansas; the
actual Chattanooga times / Chattanooga free Press inside Tennessee; and also radio, TV as well as
cable holdings. in 1999, Camden Information recorded estimated revenue associated with $200
million. Founded within 1929, the company employs regarding 1,650.
Under your Camden Publishing umbrella are usually Wehco Media Inc. (the newspapers, using
typical circulation regarding 245,549 along with Wehco Video cable system, along with 115,000
subscribers) and KCMC Inc., which in turn controls 3 stereo and the TV station.
Hussman won one of the actual country's many intense newspaper wars within 1991, when he
bought Arkansas Gazette coming from Gannett Co. with regard to $67 million. He then combined
which newspaper -- your oldest west with the Mississippi River -- with his Arkansas Democrat to
generate the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Frank J. Lyon Jr. Family
* little Rock & Boca Raton, Fla.
The late Frank Lyon Sr. began by simply selling suits door-to-door along with later on became
General Foods' youngest district manager. He borrowed $5,000 to always be able to enter into
business regarding himself and also ultimately wound up using the Whirlpool along with RCA
distributorships with regard to 90 percent involving Arkansas and also elements of Kansas, Missouri,
Louisiana as well as Texas.
Lyon, that died in 1998, brokered offer together together with his outdated friend, Sam Walton,
early 1970s, this agreement he supplied each and also every RCA television marketed inside the
nation until 1989.
Frank Lyon Jr. graduated from Harvard Enterprise College in 1967, and additionally the next year he
and his father acquired Twin city Bank within North Small Rock, then an institution using $10
million throughout assets. The idea grew 150 occasions larger over the particular next 28 years.
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. involving Arkansas has been acquired throughout 1969, as well as Coca-Cola
plants inside Shreveport, Texarkana as well as Natchitoches, La., were additional later.
In 1989, the Coke distributorship was offered to always be able to Coca-Cola Enterprises regarding
most likely a lot more than $250 million.
Frank Lyon Jr. features asserted the choice to sell the particular distributorship had been made
while he had been diagnosed with what doctors believed would end up being a terminal case
regarding cancer. Instead, Lyon recovered fully and the timing in the sale proved to be really
favorable.
TCBancshares ended up being marketed in order to Mercantile Bancorporation throughout 1995.
When Mercantile struck an offer to sell in order to Firstar Corp. of Milwaukee, Lyon had been poised
in order to get to become the largest individual shareholder in Firstar with 14.2 million shares really
worth concerning $525 million.
He expended $4.2 million this coming year for you to setup a fresh address on an 80-acre spread
throughout west Small Rock. The Particular loved ones also owns your 13,000-acre Wingmead Farm
in Prairie County and Summer Wind Farm within Kentucky, where brood mares are usually acquired
in order to breed for you to premier stallions.
Frank Jr. owns the mother involving Favorite Trick, 1997 Horse of Year, as well as the mother
involving Skip Away, 1997 Older Horse involving Year. The Particular loved ones is actually such a
huge benefactor associated with the factor that was Arkansas University throughout Batesville the
school changed its name to be able to Lyon college inside 1295.
John A. Cooper Jr. Family
* Bella Vista
Cooper Communities Inc., founded throughout 1954, may be one of your leaders throughout
developing planned communities.
Cooper Communities consists of Bella Vista and also Hot Springs Village throughout Arkansas,
Stonebridge Village close to Branson, Mo., Tellico Village throughout Loudon, Tenn., as well as
Savannah Lakes Village throughout McCormick, S.C. Cooper offered off Cherokee Village inside
north Arkansas inside 1992.
Cooper Communities employs 673 people.
John Jr. joined the organization throughout 1962 as well as has been named president/CEO
throughout 1968, a submit he held until 1990. He stepped into company's top publish throughout
1998. John Jr. may serve as director associated with as well as stockholder within Entergy Corp.,
WalMart Retailers Inc. and J.B. Hunt Transport Solutions Inc.
Herbert McAdams Family
* Small Rock
Herbert Hall McAdams II, a new shrewd businessman by getting an uncanny eye for that future,
reaped much more financial incentive from your banking consolidation wave of the 1990s when
compared with every other Arkansan. Nevertheless his family's fortune, such as bank stocks inside
general, has taken a new beating, dropping through an estimated $570 million annually ago.
The McAdams fortune ended up being largely built on the $10 million investment in little Rock's
Union National Bank, which usually had been teetering around the brink involving failure within
1970.
McAdams had currently confirmed himself to be any savvy operator within acquiring and
constructing a string associated with productive banks within northeast Arkansas, and he observed
the require for his bank holdings roll over multiple times following initial offering your family's stake
inside The Actual Union of Arkansas for $115 million to be able to Small Rock's Worthen Banking
Corp. Worthen offered in order to Boatmen's Bancshares involving St. Louis, which in turn offered
for you to Nations Bancorp. involving Charlotte, N.C., which usually purchased Bank of America in
San Francisco.
Stock holdings continued for you to roll with subsequent stock swap-sale of Jonesboro's Citizens
Bank yet retained ownership associated with seven-story building. after purchasing Union National
Bank, McAdams moved his family for you to Small Rock coming from Jonesboro.
McAdams began investing in banks in 1949. He shifted the primary objective regarding his
profession coming from law for you to be a bank CEO using the 1959 acquisition associated with
Jonesboro's Citizens Bank.
David Glass
* Bentonville
Successor to end up being able to Sam Walton as head in the nation's largest retailer, Glass retired
as CEO associated with Wal-Mart Inc. in 1999 as well as took any position as chairman involving
WalMart's executive committee of the board. This particular year, he bought your Kansas Town
Royals main league baseball team. Any 29 % rise in his wealth since last year bumped him from 16th
for you to 10th on the Arkansas Enterprise listing of "Wealthiest Arkansans."
Walton discovered Glass operating for the Consumer Markets chain along with recruited him to
participate Wal-Mart as EVP regarding finance throughout 1976.
Described through Walton as "one of the particular finest list talents" he had actually met, Glass
became CFO as well as vice chairman inside 1982, COO along with president of the business in 1984
along with CEO throughout 1988. He ended up being credited along with introducing technological
advances which are making your logistics of the organization possible. He has been voted Chief
Executive in the year simply by visitors involving Chief Executive journal inside 1995.
Truman Arnold
* Texarkana
Truman Arnold has a knack regarding growing companies from modest beginnings.
He obtained a Texarkana petroleum production commission agency throughout 1964 for $2,500 and
come up with Truman Arnold Cos., an aircraft fuel wholesaler along with hangar leasing agency
which has 400 employees as well as posted $450 million in revenues inside 1999.
He buys small, and sells big. Arnold grew TAC in your program of its initial twenty years to include
100 gasoline as well as convenience shops inside the Southwest and also the Rockies as well as
marketed your Roadrunner chain to always be able to Total Petroleum Co. throughout 1989.
Nevertheless the organization in addition includes seven executive airport terminals and aircraft
charter services throughout 6 states.
From any double-Wide mobile next for you to St. Michael's Regional Healthcare center within
Texarkana, Arnold furthermore doubled your size of your Very first National Bank associated with
New Boston, Texas, in a year's occasion following the 1998 purchase.
Arnold and his awesome family own 65 % of the Texas bank, the merely real bank held by simply
New Boston Bancshares Inc.
He additionally was a person in the particular board of First Commercial Corp. before the Arkansas
banking network ended up being marketed in order to Regions Monetary Corp. inside 1998. He
owns considerable stock in Regions.
Arnold served as finance chairman for that Democratic National Committee in 1995.
Donald Soderquist
* Rogers
Donald Soderquist's wealth comes from stock inside Wal-Mart stores Inc., where he ended up being
senior vice chairman until announcing his retirement inside July at the age of 66. He is said in order
to are already the actual Wal-Mart executive who most resembled business founder Sam Walton
inside personal style; Soderquist as soon as reportedly appeared with a Saturday morning company
meeting within shorts along with T-shirt.
It took Walton 17 many years following their particular very first meeting to influence soderquist to
join the company inside 1980. Inside 1988, he was named vice chairman and also COO.
Soderquist can end up being a graduate of one small, Christian college -- Wheaton college inside
Wheaton, Ill. -- plus a longtime. benefactor of another -- John Brown university in Siloam Springs,
website in the Donald G. Soderquist center for Company Leadership as well as Ethics.
John Ed Anthony Family
* Bearden
The family members timber business, were just available in 1907 when Garland Anthony began
operating any little sawmill near Bearden, is now headed by simply John Ed Anthony.
By your 1930s, Garland Anthony had built the operation into that which usually was reputed being
your largest private lumber producer in the world.
Anthony Timberlands Inc. is actually nonetheless located in Bearden. The Actual Anthonys
additionally own Bearden Lumber Co. along with Anthony Wood Treating Inc. as well as manage the
actual family's vast territory holdings inside southern Arkansas.
Anthony's passions also include raising and promoting thorough bred horses. He owns Shortleaf
Stable, named for any division regarding timber business. He formerly owned Loblolly Steady along
together with his ex-wife, Mary Lynn Dudley, wife involving former state Supreme Court Justice
Robert Dudley.
John Ed Anthony's son, Steve Anthony, presides more than your Arkansas Forestry Association, the
actual trade association that will coordinates lobbying efforts amongst state's timber interests.
Anthony Timberlands has been modernizing its primary manufacturing web sites from Bearden,
Malvern and also Bierne to keep leaders within the really competitive south Arkansas forest
products industry. Income inside 1999 ended up being $156 million.
Distant cousins -- as well as enterprise competitors -- are Clary Anthony, owner involving Anthony
Forest Goods Co. regarding El Dorado, as well as former U.S. Rep. Beryl Anthony.
Allen Family
* Siloam Springs
Infighting between siblings Roderick "Rick" Allen and also Delbert "Pete" Allen dominated the
business enterprise regarding Allen Canning Co. throughout 1999 and also straight into 2000. Your
fourth largest private business inside northwest Arkansas (with 1999 revenue associated with $284
million) as well as the nation's largest impartial canning company, Allen Canning has been ranked
among the nation's leading 20 performers by simply Poultry magazine.
Rick bought out his brother inside 1999. The Actual very private family not too long ago owned
greater than 58 % associated with Arkansas State Bank within Siloam Springs, nevertheless you will
find widespread rumblings the Allens could also always be inside the technique of parting ways
inside the banking business.
The Allen family's company holdings have been demonstrated to be vast along with prosperity
estimates are believed really conservative.
Product series for the company, that offers 1,100 employees along with operates 3 plants, carries a
number of canned vegetables, the actual Popeye label and other Southern foods.
J.B. Hunt Family
* Fayetteville
J.B. Hunt Transport services Inc. is the largest publicly traded truckload carrier inside the nation,
along with J.B. Hunt family members very own 16 million shares in the company's stock.
Hunt, whom dropped from institution within the eighth grade to guide his family, labored within
timber mills, picked cotton, harvested grain, auctioned livestock, served in the infantry in the
particular course of Globe War II and also later drove trucks pertaining to 12 years.
He formed his business within 1962, hauling rice hulls from the Delta for you to northwest Arkansas.
He purchased a Kansas trucking business within 1969 and relocated it in order to Bentonville.
Throughout 1971, Hunt incorporated the organization and gone to live in Lowell.
The company features more than 7,750 tractors as well as 28,000 trailers.
The organization struggled throughout March regarding 2000 as its stock value plummeted in order
to $10.50 per share, nevertheless it had bounced again as higher as $17.50 by simply mid-summer.
On July 1, the organization commenced operations of Transplace.com, a new logistics company
where Hunt offers joined forces together with 5 some other huge truckload carriers.
Hunt resides within Goshen and also owns 3 cattle ranches inside northwest Arkansas. His son,
Bryan, owns best Motor Co. in Rogers.
Jack Shewmaker
* Bentonville
Jack Shewmaker continues to affect today's enterprise world by touring internationally to speak with
regards to significant retail stores. Very first being a Wal-Mart Shops Inc. district manager within
1970, Shewmaker has been around the board involving directors since 1977. Right After retiring
through his place as president as well as COO, Shewmaker, now 61, continues to function as a list
consultant. Within his 1992 biography, Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton known as him "a brilliant,
shoot-from-the-hip executive using a shop 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 little Rock
The gregarious Frank Fletcher would be a companies rep to Wal-Mart stores Inc. within the 1960s
as well as an early investor in Wal-Mart stock within the early 1970s.
In your late 1970s, he took Sam Walton's guidance and also switched in order to manufacturing. His
diverse conglomerate involving companies includes Cheyenne Industries, Legacy Lamps, Silverwood
Products, the particular Riverfront Hilton within North little Rock, restaurants, Fletcher-Bensky Furs
and, many conspicuously, auto dealerships throughout Small Rock, North little Rock, Sherwood,
Rogers and also Springdale.
Sales of all companies mixed for $425 million inside 1999. Frank Fletcher Cos. may be your ninth-
largest privately held company, as ranked through Arkansas Business, for that past two years.
Collier Wenderoth Jr.
* Fort Smith
Like all others in the poultry industry, Collier Wenderoth Jr.'s prosperity features decreased
dramatically since final summer. With which time, it was estimated at $370 million, and he ranked
ninth around the "Wealthiest Arkansans" list.
Wenderoth's father, Collier Wenderoth Sr., began OK Feed Mills Inc. in 1933 with 12 employees.
The Actual Fort Smith-based livestock feed plant grew in order to become OK Industries Inc., the
particular largest private meals processing company inside the state and also the 16th-largest
vertically integrated poultry organization in the U.S.
The organization posted an estimated $800 million within income within 1999.
OK Industries may always be the parent organization involving four wholly owned subsidiaries: OK
Farms Inc., QK foods Inc., QK Transportation Inc. as well as Ecology Management Inc.
Wenderoth Jr., which left Fort Smith to end up being able to go to higher education and also serve in
the U.S. Air Force, took more than in the death of his father inside 1955.
He built its initial poultry processing plant within 1959 as well as extra a new hatchery in 1962 plus
a new feed mill inside 1965. OK now owns hatcheries inside Heavener, Okla., along with Stigler,
Okla., plus a deboning plant inside Heavener, Okla. OK Industries now employs a lot much more
than 4,300.
Stephen LaFrance Family
* Pine Bluff
Stephen LaFrance, the pharmacist with-astute enterprise skills, features built among the actual
largest regional drugstore chains.
He found Pine Bluff in 1967 and developed the USA Drugs concept in the early 1970s.
LaFrance found a new money-maker which could perform anywhere and also bought out Super D
Drug regarding Memphis in a deal estimated with $100 million in 1997.
The LaFrance empire is based upon huge warehouse room and a distribution system doing
enterprise as SAJ Distributors. SAJ sells items wholesale in order to 1,100 clients all through the
region.
LaFrance has 117 drug stores within six states, which includes 30 within Arkansas. Annual revenue
happen in order to be conservatively estimated in $300 million, but LaFrance divulges no monetary
information about his privately owned company.
Don Harp
* Fayetteville
Harvard and also Floy Harp started the food store within 1930 within downtown Spring dale
together with cash saved coming from working within the citrus fields regarding California. Their
Particular son, Don, joined the particular family members enterprise throughout 1953 right after his
discharge in the Air Force. He opened the food Palace together using his father.
Don Harp led the actual expansion in the supermarket chain following his father's death inside a car
accident throughout 1968. after retiring as president involving the company in 1995, he left control
of the particular grocery chain for you to his younger brother, Gerald. Harps has more than 40
retailers throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
Don Harp now operates Harps Properties, developing housing subdivisions along with managing
rental property.
He features disputed Arkansas Business' previous estimates of his wealth. Harps food stores had
sales involving $332 million inside 1999.
Carl D. Corley Sr.
* Fort Smith
Carl D. Corley Sr. owns Carco Transportation Methods Inc., the actual giant Fort Smith truckload
carrier with $128.1 million throughout 1999 operating revenue along with 1,000 employees.
The business Corley founded within 1962 is now really diversified. Via CCC Express Inc., Corley
leases fleets of trucks to other companies. Operates Hertz Rent-A-Car franchises all through
Arkansas and also sells Navistar and John Deere equipment in Fort Smith.
Ronald Cameron Family
* North Small Rock
Ronald Cameron owns North little Rock-based Mountaire Corp., which generates animal feed
throughout Arkansas and North Carolina. Your organization had $320 million in income final year.
Founded in 1914 simply by Guy Cameron, the company ended up being called Cameron Feed Mills
by simply 1931. in 1959, the business and also 6 various other businesses formed any partnership
with an integrated poultry operation that will became Mountaire Poultry Co. The Actual identify
changed in order to Mountaire Corp. inside 1971.
Ted Cameron, Guy's son, was chairman, and Ronnie, Ted's son, became CEO inside 1975. the
corporation now consists of three companies: Mountaire Feeds Inc., the North Small Rock
commercial feed mill in which sells items below your brand prime quality Feeds; and also Mountaire
Farms regarding Delmarva Inc. along with Mountaire Farms associated with North Carolina Inc.,
both integrated poultry processing companies.
Willard Walker Family
* Fayetteville
Pat and also Willard Walker, a couple of involving northwest Arkansas' the majority of generous
philanthropists, each battled bad health in 1999. their early Wal-Mart Retailers Inc. investments
possess churned through the actual years in to an extraordinary quantity regarding wealth.
Because associated with their own philanthropy, his or her fortune can be estimated to be with
regards to the identical as a year ago despite the particular appreciation in the price of Wal-Mart
stock. Your couple retains the considerable amount regarding Wal-Mart stock as well as oil holdings.
Willard ended up being the first manager of Sam Walton's five-and-dime store throughout
Fayetteville. This would $90,000 within its fresh involving business within 1952.
The Walker's philanthropies are the College associated with Arkansas' Pat & Willard Walker Pavilion
throughout Fayetteville, the Arkansas Cancer Study Middle within little Rock and more than $2
million toward your 1994 achievement with the UA's Baum Stadium baseball facility. These People
also provide provided large donations for the Harvey & Bernice Jones center regarding families
inside Springdale along with planned facilities in John Brown School in Siloam Springs.
Their son as well as daughter-in-law, Johnny Mike along with Debbie Walker, attempt a ranch close
to Fayetteville plus a construction company.
Dr. J Floyd Kyser
* Small Rock
J. Floyd Kyer is actually a retired ear, nose as well as throat specialist and also productive investor.
F.S. "Sheridan" Garrison Family
* Harrison
2000 Estimated Prosperity $150 million
Sheridan Garrison marketed his 1st trucking business simply because of a contract using the
Teamsters union he believed Would ultimately destroy the particular company. That turned out
being the smart move.
Harrison-based American Freightways Inc. has expanded directly into 40 continental states. Along
With through exclusive marketing and advertising partners, Freightways also serves Alaska, Hawaii,
Canada, Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America along with South America.
Garrison's father, Ben, formed Garrison Motor Freight in 1955. Sheridan bought the business via his
brother, Ben Jr., in 1977, however sold it inside 1979.
Sheridan founded Arkansas Freightways throughout 1982, took it public within 1989 as well as
renamed it American Freightways inside 1993. He stepped down as CEO after 17 years however
remains the particular company's chairman.
His son, Tom, is the CEO and president, while yet another son, Will, may end up being the corporate
vice president, secretary, treasurer as well as chief operating officer.
The less-than-truckload carrier really benefited throughout the gas value hike earlier inside 2000,
offering a lot more efficient transportation for you to customers.
Freightways will be expanding its facilities within Harrison, adding a new 90,000-SF wing, a new
5,000-SF credit score union and a 2,700-SF print shop. The new parking lot, a couple of retention
ponds as well as extra landscaping additionally tend to be a part of the actual project that may add
for the current 161,000 SF facilities about 51 acres.
The company has a total of 8,859 drivers and also 35 hub sites. You could find a lot more than
15,200 employees operating greater than 26,400 bits of income equipment from the network
associated with 238 client centers.
Sonja Yates Hubbard Family
* Texarkana
Sonja Hubbard became CEO regarding E-Z Mart Inc., a sequence involving convenience stores,
following your death regarding her father, Jim Yates, in the December 1998 plane crash. Yates had
co-founded the company within 1970 using A.G. Wright, whose curiosity he later on bought out.
Last month, E-Z Mart ended up being ranked through Arkansas Company because the sixth largest
privately held business within the state, despite the extremely fact that its headquarters is actually
on the "wrong side" associated with Texarkana by simply concerning five blocks.
Hubbard mentioned Arkansas Business' estimate with the family's prosperity has been possibly of
the particular exact same quality as virtually any she could arrive up with.
"That's not something we might venture out and write a examine for," the lady said of the $135
million estimate. "We do make an effort to reinvest. We're proud to say the large quantity of our
really worth will be tied up in revenue-generating. properties."
E-Z Mart operates inside Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and also Texas.
H.C. "Dude" Crain Jr.
* Fort Smith
Dude Crain began Crain Industries Inc. in Fort Smith within 1963 as getting a producer associated
with foam and also filler for use in furniture, bedding, packaging and also carpet cushioning. Its
company divisions included Base Collection Designs, any furniture manufacturing company.
Crain Industries and almost all sorts of involving its divisions were sold in 1995 for an estimated
$130 million to Dallas investment organization Hicks Muse Tate & Furst. Cram Industries' estimated
annual income in the duration of sale was $230 million.
Crain owned warehouse room in Fort Smith along with runs Dude Inc., the Fort Smith business he
formed within 1980.
Don Kirkpatrick Family
* little Rock
The seeds to obtain a meals distribution business had been planted by Don Kirkpatrick's father, a
new Faulkner County truck farmer who marketed produce.
Today's High Quality Foods, with $323 million within revenue last year, began as a $2,000
investment when Kirkpatrick bought his uncle's Small Rock poultry and egg business within 1958.
the loved ones operation had 815 employees about the payroll within 1999.
The initial phase of a western Tennessee facility (150,000 SF along with $10 million) is placed to
spread out by simply finish of 2000. He furthermore recently purchased your 122,500-SF Very first
little Rock Plaza in 10800 Monetary Centre Parkway, renamed Kirkpatrick Plaza, with regard to
$11.45 million as an individual can corporate room for Top Quality Foods.
Quality Foods' revenue grew concerning 4 percent among 1998 and also 1999, however the family's
prosperity tumbled 44 % coming from $230 million last year because associated with deflation in the
average market value of food distribution companies.
Wallace Fowler Family
* Jonesboro
The day-to-day focus of the Fowler family's company features returned for you to its fast-food
restaurant roots. However, banking is nonetheless essential for the family's general wealth. Holdings
throughout Regions Economic stock total "well more than any million shares," loved ones patriarch
Wallace Fowler Sr. said.
Those holdings had been amassed after Southwest Banchshares, led through Fowler, sold in the
$127 million stock swap to be able to little Rock's First Commercial Corp., which in turn marketed
for four times book value to end up being able to Birmingham, Ala.-based Regions.
Of late, the Fowlers have bought l5 KFCF/Taco Bell outlets inside southeast. Missouri and about
Arkansas. the deal, which in turn amounts to a repurchase, now provides Fowler Food Items
concerning 40 areas in Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and also Illinois.
The Fowlers have invested heavily to end up being able to renovate or construct new locations. The
Particular upgrade efforts tend to be previously paying dividends. Pertaining To instance, annual
sales at the Forrest city KFC jumped via $450,000 to $1.2 million following remodeling.
These kinds of gains get assisted offset the stock tumble involving Regions stock that will has- seen
its for each discuss cost drop to end up being able to $21, falling from a higher of $39 to become
able to as lower as $19 in the course of days gone by two years.
Chris Fowler can be president associated with Jonesboro-based Fowler Foods, that oversees the
actual restaurant business. He will be joined through his brother, Mark, vice president, which had
labored inside building Southwest Bancshares.
A third son, Wally, operates Jr. Fowler Investments, which usually consists associated with eight
Subway Sandwich shops, the actual Elite security venture in Small Rock along along with a high-end
gifts retailer inside Jonesboro.
Chesley Pruet Family
* El Dorado
The son of your rancher, Chesley Pruet began working within the oil fields about El Dorado within
1936. He labored at all forms of area work for about ten many years prior to forming a new
partnership with Zack Brooks, then your owner associated with Zack Brooks Trucking Co. Pruet
brought drilling expertise for the venture, along with Brooks set up your money. That They began
along with one oil-rig which cost $45,000.
The business may be excellent in order to Pruet, whom eventually bought out Brooks' talk about in
the company. Today, it's known as Chesley Pruet Oil Co.
Pruet offers staked his daughters and sons-in-law into a majority reveal with the loved ones
business, although he still keeps a workplace there. Your family members sold their own drilling
company a couple of years ago.
Pruet, who is around the board of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame throughout Oklahoma City,
nevertheless owns two working ranches: 3,500 acres south associated with Nashville as well as yet
another 9,500 acres near Texarkana.
Hugh Lawson Hembree Family
* Fort Smith
H.L. Hembree helped pioneer trucking and medical care within the Fort Smith area. Hembree co-
founded Arkansas Greatest Corp. along with his- father-in-law, R. A. Younger Jr. He's any past
chairman and also chief executive officer in the Fort Smith conglomerate that will weathered any
hostile takeover try to spawn Riverside Furniture Corp., USA Truck Inc., Treadco Inc., Trans-States
Lines as well as no less than seven additional companies.
H.L.'s brother-in-law, Robert Youthful III, now is chairman along with chief executive officer,
associated with Arkansas Best. one regarding his sons, Scott Hembree, can be chairman associated
with Trans-States Lines, which in turn had been bought by simply management inside 1989.
The Hembree family parlayed $20 million in stock from your sale associated with Initial Merchants
Monetary Corp. throughout 1995 to a lot much more than $60 million valuation on stock in Initial
American Corp.
Hembree owns 2 banks throughout Texas too as Sugarhill Farms, that raises corn, cattle and pigs.
His son, Lawson, runs Sugarhill Farms. Trans-States posted $67 million throughout 1998 hauling
general and also hazardous freight and is among the state's largest private companies.
In the actual 1960s, Hembree helped begin St. Edward Mercy medical Center, where the cancer
center bears his name.
Reynie Rutledge
* Searcy
Reynie Rutledge carries on to grow your $1.1 billion-asset First Security. Bancorp. The Particular
Searcy-based holding business offers developed a couple of places throughout Fayeteeville, one inch
Rogers, one within the works regarding Bella Vista along along with a second place with Heber
Springs.
This year, he bought the Small Rock investment banking firm involving Crews & Associates, which is
capitalized at $18 million.
The Smackover native began his banking profession in 1977, when he has been 27, by buying the
actual $46 million-asset First security Bank within Searcy about assistance involving his university
roommate, Curt Brad-bury, then an up-and-coming executive at Stephens Inc. along with later
chairman regarding Worthen Banking Corp. (Bradbury is actually ranked No. 85 on this list.)
First security surpassed $1 billion inside assets inside March 1999, assisted by the holding
company's purchase regarding Baxter County Bancshares Inc., which already had major ownership
through Rutledge.
Brother-in-law Jim Lindsey associated with Fayetteville, No. 79 about this list, shares significant
ownership inside Very first Security. Rutledge, within turn, features a sizable stake within Lindsey's
apartment ventures.
William Cohn Family
* Forrest City
Founded simply by Sol Cohn, Forrest city Grocery Co. now wholesales in order to mote when
compared with 1,000 impartial convenience shops and little supermarkets inside areas of Arkansas,
Mississippi, along with Tennessee inside any 250-mileradius regarding Forrest City.
The Russian immigrant settled inside east Arkansas and obtained a food store referred for you to as
Penny Savers inside the early 1930s. Then he took the one-third interest in Forrest Metropolis
Grocery. Inside a few years, Cohn bought our his a pair of partners. He turned the particular
wholesale operation to his son, William Cohn, within the 1950g.
William Cohn's sons, David and also Allen, both perform for that grocery wholesaler. David Cohn
mentioned the organization offers registered a minimum of 10 % growth every year regarding
greater than a couple of decades.
Forrest Town Grocery Co., along with 210 employees, ranked 19th upon Arkansas Business' the
majority of recent listing of the particular state's largest 75 private companies. Your business
recorded income regarding $280 million in 1999, up $40 million from the previous year. However,
the worth of the company--and the family's estimated prosperity -- provides declined dramatically
within the past 12 months thanks to become able to depressed market prices paid for wholesale
grocery operations.
James T. Hudson Family
* Rogers
A 12 months ago, James T. "Red" Hudson's loved ones prosperity was estimated at $250 million.
Currently it can be a mere $111 million -- assuming the family members didn't jettison its nearly 6
million shares regarding Tyson Meals Inc. stock just before it plummeted 60 percent.
After 26 many years with Ralston Purina, Hudson founded Hudson Food Items Inc. of Rogers inside
1972 with with regards to $,100,000, "and that offers been mostly borrowed."
After an outbreak regarding e. coli bacteria coming from certainly one of his beef processing plants
triggered a new huge beef recall plus a terrain slide of negative publicity, Hudson marketed the
actual fifth-largest poultry business throughout America for you to Tyson foods Inc. associated with
Springdale within January 1998. Hudson foods had $l.7 billion within revenue during its final year.
The sale gave Hudson loved ones 5,885,958 shares of Tyson stock and $82 million cash.
Hudson now owns Hudson & Associates, any finance organization based in Rogers that's involved
with poultry operations throughout Poland.
Thomas "Mack" McLarty III
* Small Rock
Thomas "Mack" McLarty III, chief involving staff to always be able to President Clinton from 1993 to
1998, marketed 51 % fascination with his 19 auto dealerships for you to Asbury Auto motive group
involving Pennsylvania. Currently he's vice chairman regarding Asbury.
In Arkansas, McLarty grew his father's auto enterprise inside Hope straight into dealerships
throughout the state and all through your western hemisphere, including Prestige Toyota, Premiere
Pontiac as well as North Point Ford inside central Arkansas.
Before his days throughout Washington, D.C., as an aide in order to Clinton, McLarty ended up
being CEO as well as chairman associated with Arkla.
McLarty began his political profession early. He had been elected for the state legislature at grow
older 23. He has been hawaii Democratic Party chairman just before reaching 30. He had been the
particular treasurer with regard to David Pryor's as well as Clinton's gubernatorial races within the
1970s.
McLarty and his wife, Donna, possess 2 sons, Mark and Franklin.
Mark Simmons Family
* Siloam Springs
Mark Simmons ran the day-to-day operations associated with Simmons foods Inc. coming from 1968
to be able to 1999. Consolidating his work towards the responsibilities of chairman, Simmons named
Lindy M. "Buddy" Pilgrim CEO inside the spring regarding 2000.
Pilgrim, the actual former chief operating officer involving Pilgrim's Pride Corp. in Pittsburgh,
mentioned he planned zero strategic changes' for the firm, which within fact had $420 million in
1999 gross sales, up 5 % via $400 million throughout 1998.
Simmons Foods, that celebrated its 50th anniversary within 1999, had been founded through Mark's
father, M.H. "Bill" Simmons, and it has evolved into a diversified poultry empire beneath the actual
current chairman's leadership. It has been ranked one regarding the industry's leading performers
for 1999 through Poultry magazine.
The poultry industry's sagging values have got pummeled your Simmons family's wealth, that ended
up being estimated from $210 million per year ago. Your famity additionally owns practically 5 %
regarding Arkansas State Bank of Siloam Springs, another sector by which values are depressed in
comparison in order to final Year.
Jon E.M. Jacoby
* Small Rock
Jon Jacoby joined Stephens Inc. inside 1963 and can end up being a longtime Stephens executive
vice president associated with many with the Stephens family members investments. He sits in
numerous company boards representing individuals investments, such as Power-One Inc. as well as
Delta Pine & Territory Co. He also has a significant private stake within many regarding these
companies. His investment throughout Power-One grew coming from with regards to $9 million in
order to $66 million more than days gone by year, explaining the particular growth in his private
wealth, which ended up being estimated in $52 million annually ago.
Cabe Family
* little Rock
Lucy Lockett Cabe features used a new fortune gained through your sale of forest and paper assets
in order to advantage your Wildwood center regarding performing Arts. she will be the widow
involving Gurdon Lumber Co. owner Harold Cabe. Cabe gave $5 million to Wildwood, such as $1
million necessary to construct the theater in which bears her name. Wildwood received another $3
million in the basis formed within the title regarding Cabe's late brother-in-law, Horace Cabe.
Ed Ligon
* little Rock
Ed Ligon can be retiring gradually. Inside April 1998, he offered Orbit Valve Co. for $100 million for
you to Cooper Cameron Corp. of Houston. He stepped down in January 1999 as chairman of the
high-profile "Crime Out!" plan with regard to 50 for your Future.
He retains the seat on the board with the countywide anti-crime unit as well as continues to work
with location youth through Fellowship Baptist Church.
Ligon's grandfather started the company inside Oklahoma inside 1912, along with Ligon moved it to
Small Rock along with assumed manage inside 1964. His son, Chris, remained with Orbit Valve
regarding nine month next the actual sale and also now works throughout investments.
Other members with the family include Ligon's wife, Judy, their additional children, Lisa and also
Shannon, and the sister, Nadine Hankinson.
William Dillard Family
* little Rock
William Dillard founded his initial mall 60 in years past within Nashville. Today, his business will be
among your largest department store chains in America using greater than 300 retailers inside 29
states and also $8.7 billion within annual revenue.
The company, however, offers struggled involving late, sending its publicly traded shares right into a
downward spiral. As Well As because the Dillard's stock goes, consequently moves the particular
Dillard family members fortune. Total holdings have got slipped down below your $100 million mark
and the family's rank on their e-mail list of state's wealthiest features fallen for you to 43rd this
coming year coming from 11th per year ago.
Much regarding Dillard's Inc.'s problems stem through its 1999 acquisition as well as integration
involving Mercantile Shops Co. through June, company revenue had been down 2 percent in order to
$3.39 billion. the organization along with family members are usually notorious regarding their
silence with most the press and stock analysts, that hasn't assisted your stock's price.
William Dillard, now 85, maintains a business office in the corporate headquarters yet provides
turned much of the day-to-day perform over to his 3 sons -- Bill II (CEO), Alex (president) and Mike
(executive VP). Daughter Drue Corbusier is actually EVP as well as chairman with the Fort Really
Worth division. The Particular Dillards are generally on this list of highest compensated executives
within the stare every year. The Particular family firmly controls the organization using just about all
with the Class B shares, which in turn elect two-thirds of its board.
Tenenbaum Family
* North Small Rock
Joseph M. Tenenbaum, that have been chairman in the 110-year previous A. Tenenbaum Co. since
1931, died inside August 1999, leaving an estate that furthermore consists of Arkansas Aluminum
Alloys Inc. inside Hot Springs. A. Tenenbaum Co. processes as well as sells scrap iron and other
metals as well as is the stare's oldest and largest recycler.
Joe Tenenbaum's son, Harold, is actually president with the company, that have revenue regarding
$126.5 million within 1999. that has been down with regards to 12 percent in the previous year,
leading to a new reduction within the family's estimated wealth through $115 million this past year
to $99 million this year.
Gene George Family
* Springdale
The principals at George's Inc. possess diversified their particular finances through owning one of
the actual leading producers involving eggs as well as chicken in order to getting holdings in the
propane fuel company, three truck-stops, 2 live-haul operations along with sizable cattle holdings.
A third generation involving Georges today runs George's Inc., founded virtually 80 years ago.
The George family members were early investors throughout Very first National Bank involving
Springdale along with its holding company, Monetary Investment Corp., which in turn purchased
from 1994 to Initial Tennessee National Corp. That Will sale netted Gene George with regards to
$7.8 million and his awesome son, Gary, about $4.6 million.
H. Tom Loberg
* Jonesboro
The post-World War II dream in which began throughout Tom Loberg's Milwaukee basement has
blossomed in for you to a thriving Jonesboro organization with $96.6 million inside 1999 income as
well as 830 employees.
In 1947, he designed and also built his very first belt-conveyor system. He founded Hytrol Conveyor
Co. Inc. inside Minnesota for you to sell industrial conveyor techniques any decade later.
In 1962, the organization gone to reside in Jonesboro, lowering plant wages via $4 an hour in order
to $1.25. Its national distribution middle ended up being moved via St. Louis to a new 75,000-SF
constructing Jonesboro throughout 1999.
Loberg also owned a lot more than 300,000 shares of Initial Commercial Corp., an Arkansas banking
network marketed to Regions financial Corp. within 1998. Loberg's stock has been valued around
the period of the. sale in $20.8 million.
He is actually chairman as well as chief executive officer associated with Hytrol as well as involved
in an $8 million housing development from RidgePoint country Club inside Jonesboro.
Wayne Ridout Family
* Searcy
Ridout Lumber Cos. of Arkansas was founded within 1971 by simply Homer Ridout. the business is
now led by his son, Wayne.
The business transferred to Searcy within 1975 and also opened a new 1,200-SF store. Today,
Ridout features 15 shops (one throughout Missouri and the rest throughout Arkansas), 197
employees and sales of $118 million. The Actual business provides thrived throughout smaller sized
communities along with succeeded despite intense competition via huge chains.
The family in addition owns Ridout Door Manufacturing Co. Apparent growth within the family's
fortune -- which in turn was estimated at $35 million per year back -- is likely due for an error inside
calculations for last year's list.
Bill Carlton Family
* little Rock
The Carlton family's prosperity jumped $60 million more than yesteryear year, thanks to always be
able to favorable valuations pertaining to Carlton-Bates Co., the industrial electronic distributor of
that Carlton is CEO.
The company, founded inside 1957 through Carlton's father, Joe, along with Doyle Bates, has
exploded to 30 spots within 17 states along with Mexico. Your company's income grew from $130
million in 1998 to be able to $155 million throughout 1999.
Ed Warmack Family
* Texarkana
Warmack & Co. is a mall development company, currently owned simply by Ed Warmack's son,
George, whom doesn't similar to talking about the family's sprawling business.
The company owns Central Mall throughout Fort Smith, the actual largest throughout Arkansas from
1 million SF. Total mall square-footage owned will be 3.66 million -- estimated worth of holdings
varies widely.
The organization also owns Indian Mall inside Jonesboro along with Central Mall inside Texarkana,
Texas; also as malls inside Salina, Kan.; Port Arthur, Texas; and also Lawton along with Muskogee,
Okla. Ended Up Being situated in Fort Smith, Business headquarters is at Texarkana, Texas, right
after relocating coming from Fort Smith.
Charles "Bo" Adams
* Leachville
Millions throughout residuals from the sale of A.L. Williams Insurance offers a steady stream of cash
with regard to Charles "Bo" Adams. a strong work ethic and furthermore the chance to learn from
such enterprise giants as Jack Stephens as well as Sam Walton get assisted cause him to one of the
actual state's the majority of successful businessmen.
Born to a sharecropper throughout Leachville, Adams graduated via Arkansas Tech University Or
College and also began working for Union Existence Insurance regarding 1960.
Adams went to perform negotiating contracts with regard to A.L. Williams Insurance, when the
business sold, he received a new fortune within percentages. His knowledge regarding farming led
him to become able to enter in the cotton business, and the Adams Terrain Co. will be certainly one
of your nation's leading cotton gin operations. His holdings consist of greater than 40,000 acres
within Mississippi along with Craighead counties as well as the bootheel associated with Missouri.
Lloyd E. Peterson Family
* Decatur
Worldwide breeding stock marketer, Peterson Industries Inc., really does practically $200 million
throughout annual sales from your remote Benton County city associated with Decatur. The
Particular business employs 1,450 people along with operates one plant with Decatur.
The Peterson family, which includes Lloyd, Dorothy Mae and also Lorranyne, and the business
maintain more than 90 % involving Decatur Bancshares Inc., priced at an estimated $32 million.
Lloyd Peterson has been long-time part of J.B. Hunt Transportation services Inc.'s board.
Richard and also Patti Upton
* Heber Springs
Patti Upton's creativity and also her husband's detail-oriented naturel mixed to generate Aromatique
Inc., your 16-year-old Heber Springs-based decorative fragrance organization and in addition the
foundation of the actual family's fortune.
Aromatique items are available in just about all 50 states, Canada, Europe, Japan and twenty for you
to 30 foreign countries.
The family, which include sons Peyton along with Paige, also is actually associated with catfish
farming. Paige Upton continues to be named manager of the Aromatique retailer at the Mall
associated with America at Minneapolis.
J.A. Riggs Family
* Small Rock
The Riggs family members owns J.A. Riggs Tractor Co., the largest hefty equipment dealer within
the state. the business was founded as Arkansas Street Equipment Co. within 1927 when John A.
Riggs Sr. bought the particular Russell Grader Manufacturing Co. dealership. John Riggs Jr. began
working with almost all the business inside 1930.
His son, John A. "Jack" Riggs III, and also son-in-law Robert G. Cress, joined the firm within 1959.
Jack Riggs has become senior chairman, and Cress can be chairman as well as CEO.
The family's fourth generation, John Riggs IV, joined the organization throughout 1981. He is
currently president. His brother, Keith Riggs, began work at your firm back inside 1984 and will be
also vice president of the hydraulics along with machine shop operations. Rob Cress, son regarding
Robert, is actually vice president-sales.
Thomas B. Schueck
Little Rock
Steel has been a very excellent enterprise for Thomas Schueck. His heavy-metal wealth is actually
bankrolling the grand new residence nearby the entrance regarding west little Rock's Pleasant
Valley country Club. The Particular development created a new stir as the extremely first teardown
project inside the neighborhood as Schueck acquired as well as bulldozed the former residence
associated with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to produce room pertaining to his new residence.
On the business enterprise front, Schueck is chasing the actual herd of new energy plant
construction projects around the nation. Annual sales inside his different steel-related ventures total
$150 million. The, organization employs 1,600, which includes 300 inside Small Rock.
John W. Allison
Conway
Johnny Allison parlayed his mobile-home fortune into an ever-growing portfolio of economic stock
holdings. His transfer to banking began using a $900,000 investment in Very first National Bank
regarding Conway. In Which 25 % stake has been transformed straight into an $11.1 million little bit
of Very first Commercial Corp. following a 1984 stock swap. His Very first Commercial stock had
been worth $50 million if the 1998 merger using Regions Economic Corp. regarding Birmingham,
Ala., has been announced.
He offered concerning two-thirds involving his Regions shares shortly after the merger as well as
wishes he had marketed it all inside light with the company's subsequent stock performance. He
resigned via Regions' board involving directors inside 1998 to end up being able to launch a new
bank enterprise using companion Robert "Bunny" Adcock.
They bought the actual Bank associated with Holly Grove regarding $5 million along with brought in
extra investors to create today's $198 million-asset concern. This year these people resurrected the
particular Twin Area Bank name inside anew $17 million-asset bank venture with a cadre regarding
North little Rock investors.
Allison marketed his 50 % stake in Conway-based Spirit Homes Inc. regarding $4.9 million to
become able to Belmont Homes Inc. in 1995. He continues to dabble throughout mobile-home
investments and is expanding real estate interests, which include the 38,000-SF Bank of America
building throughout Conway. His 21,500-SF home is one of greatest in the state.
Francis Bland Family
Paragould
Herb Bland stated he and the family don't belong about this list, but Arkansas Business' estimating
techniques say these people do.
In supplement to longtime Paragould bottling plant, Dr Pepper Bottling Co., the particular family has
distribution operations in Jackson along with Gulfport, Miss. Estimated sales are generally within the
$50 million range. Founded inside 1921, the soft-drink bottler employs 300. Within Paragould, its
product lines include Royal Crown Cola, Dr Pepper, 7 Up as well as Mountain Valley Water.
The loved ones is well-known regarding its support associated with youth baseball programs within
northeast Arkansas.
Rainwater Family
Jonesboro
Brothers Sloan and also Bill Rainwater very own huge holdings within banks, motels and farms.
Regions Economic Corp. bought the Arkansas Banking Co., owned through the Rainwaters,
throughout 1998.
The loved ones received Regions stock now worth an estimated $33.4 million (down via $58 million
final year). The Actual family members bought Bank associated with Northeast Arkansas inside
1977, later on renaming it The Particular Arkansas Bank. Your Rainwaters also very own Jonesboro's
Holiday Inn Express too as hotels throughout Stillwater, Okla., along with Conway.
Other businesses include insurance agencies inside Arkansas as well as Oklahoma along with cattle
farming. Terrain holdings throughout Arkansas and Mississippi are usually estimated in a lot a lot
more than 20,000 acres.
Joe T. Ford Family
Little Rock
The majority in the family's wealth is at Alltel Corp. stock. The Particular loved ones has 1,184,604
shares of typical stock worth with regards to $74.3 million. Executive compensation program
enables securities underlying stock options really worth $23.3 million for Joe Ford, Alltel's chairman
and chief executive officer, and the son, Scott Ford, the company's president and chief operating
officer.
Joe Ford, any former state senator, can be married in order to Jo Ellen Ford, daughter associated
Golf Course Condos bowie md with Hugh Winbourn, that founded Alltel's predecessor, Allied
telephone Co.
Joe Ford became chief executive officer involving Alltel in 1987 and also the company's chairman
within 1991. He in addition is actually a director and also chairs the actual governance committee
with regard to Dial Corp., and can end up being a director regarding Textron Inc. He holds 78,878
exercisable choices inside Dial having a worth of slightly greater than $1 million. The Particular
Fords additionally personal stock throughout Pinnacle Bancshares Inc., involving Small Rock, as well
as Scott Ford serves as a new director regarding the bank holding company.
John L. Anthony Family
El Dorado
Started as Anthony Brothers Lumber Co. in 1916, today Anthony Forest Items Inc. is really a totally
integrated forest items company.
The business owns approximately 73,000 acres associated with timberland within Arkansas,
Louisiana as well as Texas, along with operates southern pine lumber producing mills throughout
Urbana. (Union County) along with Atlanta, Texas; as well as wood chip mills in Plain Dealing, La.,
along with Troup, Texas. The Actual organization additionally operates an engineered wood
laminating plant throughout El Dorado and also Washington, Ga. about 47 % of the company's
timberland base is in Arkansas.
This yr the organization joined together with Domtar Inc. involving Montreal to become able to
create a state-of-the-art facility in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Plant startup is targeted with
regard to spring 2001.
Beryl Anthony Sr. and Clary Anthony Sr., sons involving founder Frank Anthony, are usually
nevertheless active within day-to-day operations. Beryl will be board chairman emeritus as well as
Clary is board chairman. John Lee Anthony is president in the firm.
Jane Dills Morgan
Conway
Stock in Acxiom Corp. had been transferred to Jane Dills Morgan subsequent a bitter divorce with
Acxiom organization leader Charles D. Morgan. Your company's acquisitions and issuances have
diluted Morgan's stock discuss to become able to beneath the 5 percent reporting level.
A 1998 filing with the U.S. Securities and also Exchange Commission indicated your woman owned
2.3 million shares -- or even $67 million -- inside Acxiom stock, as well as stock throughout First
Bank Corp. associated with Fort Smith.
Her family members owned Ward Bus Co. within Conway.
John Flake
Little Rock
John Flake's father would become a residential real-estate developer whom developed your
Kingwood Subdivision in little Rock. Flake followed in his father's footsteps to get to be the state's
nearly all prominent commercial real-estate developer.
Flake has been in the commercial real estate company his entire career. His firm,. Flake & Kelley
Management Co., manages the actual TCBY Tower, the actual state's largest building with 40
stories. The Actual firm will always be the state's largest property manager with a lot much more
than three million SF associated with office space and two million SF associated with list room under
management. Corporate customers contain Acxiom Corp., Procter & Gamble Corp., Beverly
Enterprises Inc. along with Tyson Meals Inc. That owns as well as manages properties inside
Arkansas, Mississippi and also California, along with Flake himself features ownership interest in
many of the properties.
Flake & Kelley Construction Co. oversees a lot more than $200 million throughout construction
projects. Wife Karen will be CEO and co-owner involving Flake Wilkerson Marketplace Insights.
Kenneth B. McGruder Family
Fort Smith and Cassville, Mo.
K-Mac Enterprises, the actual McGruder family enterprise, was your nation's second fast-food
franchisee in order in order to smoke up any plan for "co-branding." Its marriage of Kentucky Fried
Chicken as well as Taco Bell features created significant inroads inside the central Arkansas fast-
food market.
K-Mac presently has 142 restaurants inside Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and also Texas, including
15 in which reveal the KFC along with Taco Bell logo. Your organization bought an additional 12
KFCs throughout Hot Springs, North Small Rock, Pine Bluff. and Van Buren from your Haynie Co.
last year.
The Fort Smith enterprise was founded throughout 1964 by simply Ken McGruder, that began by
running franchises for Griff's Hamburgers along with opened his initial combined KFC-Taco Bell
location inside 1993. Your 36-year-old company recently extra a new Taco Bell to the KFC within
Sherwood and it is adding the Taco Bell to its KFC on McCain Boulevard within North Small Rock.
McGruder and his awesome early partner, Kenny King, offered the enterprise enterprise inside 1997
for you to Brent McGruder, chief economic officer Jon Dyer and chief operating officer Sam Fiori.
McGruder has retired for you to Missouri along with Brent McGruder, who launched his career
working in a Fayetteville Taco Bell, is now president. The Actual organization posted a new 15-
percent boost in revenues in 1999 -- to $106.1 million. Via Golden Partners Inc.; the actual family
furthermore holds an fascination with Golden Corral restaurants within Branson, Mo., Fort Smith,
North little Rock as well as Springfield, Mo.
Don Munro
Hot Springs
Don Munro, the founder associated with Hot Springs-based shoe company Munro & Co., originally
opened an Arkansas retailer for Connors & Hoffman Footwear Co. He proceeded in order to choose
the company's 3 Arkansas plants in 1972 along with later, built 4 more, bucking the actual trend
involving U.S. shoemakers leaving the country pertaining to cheaper labor markets.
The company's 1999 income was $137 million, down coming from $155 million the previous year.
Inside February, Munro & Co. announced a fresh marketing strategy that includes the particular
consolidation involving four lines of children's shoes Perfection, Jacks, JJ and also Molly Munro --
right in to a single brand name name: MunroKids.
In addition in order to its own brands, Munro & Co. manufactures private-label shoes pertaining to
Sears Roebuck & Co., JC Penney Co., Nordstrom and the U.S. government throughout plants with
DeWitt, Clarendon, Mount Ida, Wynne as well as Hot Springs.
Don Munro owns 79 percent with the company, and the rest is actually owned through non-family
interests. Sons Bruce and Neil and also daughters Mollie along with Christine each 1 is involved.
Doyle Rogers
Batesville
Back within the late 1940s, young Doyle Rogers had been working to possess an Express business
throughout Newport, generating deliveries every day to a Ben Franklin shop owned through Sam
Walton.
Walton opened their own low cost chain in Rogers, and Rogers transferred to Batesville for you to go
into enterprise buying manganese for your government. Later On he started constructing houses
then the Kroger store within Batesville, first of commercial development with regard to national
companies like J.C. Penney, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie as well as McDonald's.
He built Wal-Marts throughout Small Rock and also North little Rock, Colony West shopping Center
in west little Rock as well as Mellor Park Mall in El Dorado.
In the 1970s as well as '80s, Rogers built his 2 biggest tasks in the state, Arkansas' Excelsior hotel as
well as the Rogers Constructing (now your Stephens Building) in Small Rock.
Rogers, now 81, bought Small Rock's Metropolitan National Bank inside 1983 and also moved its
headquarters from southwest little Rock to always be able to downtown. His bank hobbies are now
estimated from $47 million, down via $71 million per year ago, thanks to slumping bank values
nationally.
James T. Dyke
Little Rock
Chairman along with CEO of 133-year-old Dyke Industries, that focuses primarily on building
materials. The Particular company's annual revenue is estimated from $95 million.
Dyke can end up being a Yale graduate and also buddy involving President Clinton, and that will he
served as director in the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Bean Family
Glenwood
Glenwood's Bean family members features a variety of companies, which includes sawmills, therapy
plants along with trucking businesses. The Particular Beans likewise have timberlands and also real
estate holdings which includes Stone Hyperlinks golf course and also residential development in
North little Rock.
Darrell M. "Buddy" Bean owns Hatfield Lumber Co., Buddy Bean Lumber, as well as a couple of
sawmills and a private trucking fleet. Curt Bean holds Bean Lumber Co., Curt Bean Lumber along
with C. Bean Transport. The Actual family members got straight into lumber industry throughout
1956.
Although the particular loved ones will be from Arkansas, several members visited Colorado and also
California when business had been slow here. four loved ones -- Curt, Buddy, Tim as well as Leroy --
are usually active within the companies and additionally have operations inside Amity, Glenwood,
Hot Springs, Hatfield, Fort Smith, Morrilton and Buckner, Mo.
A significantly depressed value with regard to lumber operations is actually responsible for that
family's estimated prosperity declining via $90 million last year.
Keenan Family
Fayetteville
A huge part with the family's prosperity comes from your $55.6 million sale of Pace Industries Inc.
for you to Leggett & Platt Inc. inside Could 1996. Pace Industries, originally founded by Jess Keenan,
focuses primarily on aluminum diecast products, such as barbecue grills.
Established within Harrison throughout 1970, Pace Industries included a minimum of 12 areas prior
to the business sold. James T. Keenan remains any expert for the company.
Nabholz Family
Conway
Four sons associated with Bob Nabholz personal with regards to 52 percent involving Nabholz
Construction Corp., any 51-year-old enterprise with areas throughout Conway, little Rock, Rogers,
Fort Smith, Tulsa as well as Springfield. each holds place with just about all the company: Dan, chief
executive officer; David, general superintendent; Tim, manager involving Nabholz Industrial
Services; and John, manager of data systems.
The organization had revenue regarding greater than $296 million throughout 1999, a rise of almost
40 percent that will drove your estimated worth of your family's holdings up via $40 million last
year.
John Ed Chambers Family
Danville
Danville State Bank is actually a family members legacy which John Ed Chambers III expanded to
some string involving banks that features a new stake inside a pair of northwest Arkansas
operations: Bank regarding Elkins as well as community Bank associated with Fayetteville.
Holdings in cattle, real estate, your Chamberlyne country Club development north of Danville and a
stake inside Petit Jean Meats will pull Chambers by means of virtually any banking sector doldrums.
Since 1987 Chambers' holding organization swelled coming from $75 million within assets to always
be able to $750 million using $500 million inside loans, Chambers said.
Chambers sister Gene is actually married for you to Dallas Cowboys vast majority owner Jerry Jones;
sister Patricia married Jack Dixon, a sports consultant; along with sister Jackie married Dr. Jack
Counce, any cardiovascular surgeon throughout Springdale as well as former Razorback basketball
player.
Rodger S. Kline
Little Rock
Operations leader involving Acxiom Corp. as well as one of 4 team leaders answering right to
company leader Charles D. Morgan.
Kline, Morgan along with financial services division leader James T. Womble attended your School
involving Arkansas Engineering University with every other within the 1960s along with labored at
IBM Corp. prior to following the additional person to the data integration along with management
firm that will later on became Acxiom.
Also Acxiom's chief operating officer, Kline joined Acxiom inside 1973. He owns 1,988,700 shares --
or 2.3 % involving Acxiom's outstanding shares.
Fred C. Ballman
Fort Smith
Fred Ballman began with Baldor Electric Co., any Fort Smith-based company, within the 1940s. He
had been CEO coming from 1961-1976. He will be its former chairman along together with a
member of the actual board associated with directors coming from 1944 to be able to 1982 as well
as once again coming from 1992 for the present.
Ballman's father, Edwin C. Ballman, 86, founded Baldor throughout St. Louis and lives inside Fort
Smith Ballman's wealth is actually constructed from ownership involving Baldor stock, which hasn't
posted a negative year of performance throughout no less than 10 years.
Robert Clay Family
Hardy
Robert Clay owns 21 City as well as Country, Value Chopper and Nu-Way food retailers inside
northeast Arkansas as well as Missouri. The Particular company's annual income is estimated at
$105 million, adequate to set it at No. 48 about Arkansas Business' set of largest private companies.
Clay furthermore owns a new 7,500-acre cattle ranch, a candy and tobacco warehouse and also
three Tobacco world stores.
William de Yampert Family
Wilmot
The de Yampert loved ones offers owned Ashley County land since ahead involving the Civil War,
beginning with great-grandfather Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus de Yampert, for any total associated
with most likely 15,000-20,000 acres. Now inside his 80s, William de Yampert is also associated with
additional loved ones enterprises in which include farming and also catfish farming.
Fred Swindle
Paragould
Sold National Florist Directory for you to Teleflora within 1997. National Florist is famous primarily
as Redbook Florist services for red deal with associated with directory pertaining to thousands of
florists nationwide.
Douglas Parker Sr. Family
Fort Smith
Kyle Parker, Douglas Parker's son, features generated prosperity for the family by means of his Web
legal details company Loislaw.com Inc.
Formed in 1987, the Van Buren organization went public last September. Its stock shot
approximately $47.50 any share prior to settling back under $10. Your company--which can be
competing against well-established giants Lexis-Nexis and also Westlaw - provides legal information
through 1,800 databases, which includes almost all federal while stating courts.
Both Kyle Parker and Douglas Parker tend to be attorneys. Kyle Parker conceived your opportunity
whilst attending Franklin Pierce Law University in Concord, N.H., as getting a way to supply low-
cost legal research. Your family's mixed holdings --including those regarding Kyle, Douglas and
Melanie Parker -- amount to more than six million shares with the company.
Chris Whitt
Fort Smith
Chris Whitt's prosperity is attributed towards the sale involving his company, Air systems Inc.
involving Fort Smith, the producer involving cabinets and also furnishings, to always be able to
Mercury capital of New york inside October 1999. the sales cost wasn't disclosed, however the $50
million estimate can be conservative depending on 1998 revenue associated with $85 million.
Jim Lindsey
Fayetteville
Jim Lindsey, a former School associated with Arkansas and Minnesota Vikings football player,
utilized his math degree to produce a larger impact inside Arkansas real-estate when compared with
NFL gridirons.
A native regarding Forrest City, Lindsey used a $75,000 signing bonus plus a friendly hometown
loan to buy a few terrain in north Fayetteville inside 1966. He made a huge gain three a prolonged
time later on when he sold your property to developers with the Northwest Arkansas Mall.
He provides proved his 1st property transaction was zero fluke through creating a property empire
throughout northwest Arkansas. Lindsey & Associates, which usually he formed following retiring
via football throughout 1973, features revenue involving greater than $188 million throughout 1999.
Also, Lindsey builds, owns as well as operates more apartment units as compared to any company
throughout state.
Lindsey owns about $11 million inside Reynie Rutledge's (No. 33) First security Bancorp. regarding
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 your campus with the university regarding Arkansas
together.
But your shut school pals possess parlayed their own engineering degrees and also and stints at IBM
into good results from Acxiom Corp.
"We didn't use a clue," Womble stated regarding his or her college days.
Womble earned a new civil engineering degree from your UA throughout January 1966. He left IBM
to join Acxiom throughout 1974 and has been a organization director since 1975. Next the
realignment associated with Acxiom divisions within 1997, Womble has been named leader in the
economic services division.
Womble serves as a director along with owns 5,000 shares of Sedona Corp., a Limerick, Pa.-based
business which writes customer relations management software program for small and mid-sized
banks and also holds other hobbies throughout additional private ventures together with Morgan,
Acxiom's company leader, and also Kline, the company's chief operating officer.
Kenneth Pat Wilson Family
Jacksonville
Kenneth Pat Wilson opened the actual doors involving Very first Jacksonville Bank & trust -- that
literally has been Jacksonville's 1st bank -- throughout 1949 together with $65,000 throughout
capital.
As of Dec. 31, 1999, the lender had $28 million within equity along with total assets associated with
practically $207 million. Wilson is even now its chairman; son Mike, any former state legislator, is
vice chairman; and also son Larry can be president and CEO. His daughter, Kathryn W. Roberts, can
end up being a Small Rock lawyer.
In days gone by half-century, Jacksonville has exploded via 1,200 residents to about 30,000, in part
since Wilson led a new $1 million fund-raising effort for you to land the particular Small Rock Air
Force Base.
Like additional family members fortunes built on bank holding, the Wilson family's prosperity has
decreased dramatically via final year, when it absolutely was estimated in $72 million.
Samuel Sicard Family
Fort Smith
The Sicard loved ones leads Fort Smith-based Initial Bank Corp., the second-largest nonpublic bank
holding business within the state, powering Jim Walton's Arvest Bank Team Inc.
The company's flagship operation can be Fort Smith's 128-year-old First National Bank. Additional
holdings contain Citizens Bank & trust inside Van Buren along with National Bank associated with
Salisaw, Okla.
The family members bought River Valley Bank throughout Lavaca within 1998 and merged its
branch operation to the Fort Smith and also Van Buren operations.
Sicard's great-grandfather, Samuel McLoud, was president associated with the lender in 1907.
Within 1909, McLoud authorized Fort Smith's 1st high-rise -- an eight-story building that will even
now houses the particular bank.
In 1977, Samuel Sicard had grow to be the fourth generation in order to turn out to end up being
able to be president. Sicard, also chairman and CEO, told Arkansas Business, "Our situation remains
to become the same. We're truly not considering promoting so long as we are usually able to
compete."
Family includes Sicard's mother, Lucy Kathryn Harper Sicard, and his awesome children, Melissa
Caroline Sicard as well as Samuel Timothy Sicard.
Glen Hinkle Family
Mountain View
Glen Hinkle, 81, began his telephone profession in 1938 performing everything imaginable, via
digging holes to become able to climbing poles. The Particular family members owns just about all
involving Mountain View Phone Co. as well as Mountain View Bancshares Inc., any holding business
that owns the particular Bank involving Mountain View.
When Hinkle started employed by his father-in-law, E.B. Watts, in the Mountain View telephone Co.
within 1938, the just real expertise he had was a correspondence program throughout electronics.
The Actual telephone company just had concerning 60 phones. Today, Hinkle oversees all involving
the operations in the telephone company, which in turn features concerning 7,000 phones as well as
operations all through Stone County as well as areas of Cleburne and Izard counties.
Glen Hinkle can be chairman involving Mountain View Bancshares, which he joined as a board
member within 1950. The Particular holding organization provides assets regarding with regards to
$122 million. His son, James, is the company's president.
Lee Wilson Family
Wilson
In 1996 your family had practically 28,000 acres regarding farmland within southern Mississippi
County. Your land will be divided one involving the Lee Wilson & Co. (24,049 acres) R.E.L. Wilson
Testamentary Believe In (160 acres), as well as the R.E. Lee Wilson Estate (3,765 acres). Lee Wilson
& Co. CEO Mike Wilson can become a significant supporter regarding Arkansas School in Batesville
and Arkansas State University. He and his loved ones happen for you to be agribusiness supporters
associated with President Clinton. His membership inside the Arkansas Enterprise Council also
emphasizes his support regarding education and learning within Arkansas. Mike Wilson led effort to
legalize and set up casino operation in eastern Arkansas.
Curt Bradbury
Little Rock
Bradbury is famous -- among other activities -- for his remarkable turnaround of the former Worthen
Banking Corp. (now Bank associated with America). Inside 1985, he was a Stephens executive when
Worthen literally lost $52 million overnight upon a bad loan to become able to Bevil Bressler
Schulman Management Corp., which in turn went bankrupt.
Stephens dispatched Bradbury along along with a $30 million loan to save your bank. Bradbury had
been right away named president along with later on took over as chairman along with CEO. He
revived the particular flagging bank holding organization throughout less when in contrast to a
decade. Throughout 1994, it sold for about $600 million within stock in order to Boatmen's
Bancshares Inc.
In 1995, Bradbury returned to Stephens as chief operating officer. His investments include shares
associated with Bank regarding America priced at $12.9 million as well as Power-One Inc. valued (on
July 7) at $24.8 million.
Harold Gwatney Family
Jacksonville
Harold Gwatney's name may be on auto dealerships within Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas since
1957. More Than the actual years, Gwatney continues for you to be involved with about ten
dealerships across Arkansas, Tennessee as well as Texas. Now your holdings tend to be pared down
towards the original Harold Gwatney Chevrolet within Jacksonville (the merely holding left inside
Arkansas), North Point Ford inside Millington, Tenn., Saturn of Germantown, Tenn., Saturn of
Memphis, Gwatney Chevrolet associated with Memphis along with Saturn associated with Jackson,
Miss. Along With 475 employees, the business had an estimated $240 million inside income
throughout 1999.
Each with the dealerships is actually owned in a partnership among Gwatney and his awesome a
couple of sons, Russell along with Bill. Bill Gwatney, in addition a Democratic state senator, offers
vast majority ownership with the Jacksonville dealership. Russell owns the vast majority of Gwatney
Chevrolet inside Memphis, as well as Harold Gwatney gets the biggest stake in all another
dealerships.
Car dealerships aren't fetching the costs they utilized to, and consequently the Gwatneys' estimated
prosperity is down significantly via final year, when it had been estimated with $77 million.
Mike Coulson Family
North little Rock
Ray Coulson started Coulson Oil Co. throughout 1969 along with nine Amoco gas stations, 5
associated with which are closed.
Now the business operates 25 Arkansas retailers and also distributes oil and also gas for you to 120
outlets all through state.
Mike Coulson, president of the company, began working for his father throughout 1975 right after
graduating coming from Emory School in Atlanta. His sister furthermore functions regarding
company, which in fact had revenue regarding $165 million within 1999.
Robert A. young III Family
Fort Smith
In 1951, attorney Robert "Bob" young Jr. has been seeking for any buyer with regard to three
friends' 28-year-old trucking company when he made a decision to purchase it himself.
His son, Robert A. Youthful III, has become president and CEO regarding Arkansas Greatest Corp.,
whose divisions consist of ABF Freight System Inc., G.I. Trucking Co., Treadco Inc. as well as
Clipper Express Co.
Robert Youthful III also has major stock holdings in Very first Bank Corp. involving Fort Smith, along
with Mosler Inc., a new Hamilton, Ohio, producer of banking equipment.
While the want for the particular family's Arkansas best Corp. stock has exploded coming from $19
million to $22 million more than the past year, the want for Initial Bank Corp. holdings provides
declined from $23 million to $15 million.
Leland E. Tollett
Rogers
The former chairman as well as CEO of Tyson foods Inc., Tollett, 63, retired inside 1998 right after
39 many years with the Springdale-based poultry producer. during Tollett's tenure from Tyson
Foods, the company went through processing 15 million chickens for each year in 1959 to be able to
2.3 billion birds a year throughout 1998. Tyson Food Items will be responsible for approximately 0.3
of all poultry processed through the industry.
Tollett's poultry-based fortune offers suffered over yesteryear year. His estimated prosperity offers
dropped coming from $70 million annually ago, and he dropped from No. 52 to No. 89 around the
"Wealthiest Arkansans" list.
Gerald Hamra Family
Little Rock
The late George Hamra's 34-store Wendy's of little Rock restaurant franchise bought from June
1995, four a number of months following Hamra died. He had built among the particular country's
nearly all successful Wendy's franchise operations.
James E. Wilkinson Family
Greenwood
The Wilkinson family's involvement in Farmers Bank inside Greenwood dates back again for you to
its 1907 inception, when W.N. Wilkinson began because the bank's very first cashier. The idea was a
two-man operation run out of the corner of your shop in the Greenwood square, mentioned Ed
Wilkinson, W.N. Wilkinson's grandson.
The shop owner's son opened the initial account in the bank, depositing 38 cents, Wilkinson said.
Today, Farmers Bank has regarding $139 million inside assets along with eight locations.
Over time, your Wilkinson loved ones offers managed to acquire controlling interest inside the bank
and today owns one hundred percent with the the particular bank's holding company, Wilkinson
Banking Corp. W.N. Wilkinson held almost each place inside the bank, from cashier to be able to
chairman, as would his son, means Wilkinson. Indicates Wilkinson died throughout 1991.
Ed Wilkinson, a situation representative, is the bank's president; his brother, Stanhope Wilkinson,
can be its CEO; as well as their mother, Elizabeth Wilkinson, is actually chairman.
Dick Hill as well as Tim Hill
Russellville
The Hills, creating their very first look about the "Wealthiest Arkansans" list, very own Daymark
Group, a personal company which provides serious quantities of temperature sensitive logistics
remedies to the meals as well as floral industries.
Last year, Daymark partnered together with i2 Technologies for you to emphasis around the joint
development of logistics and also IT remedies with regard to main customers.
Tim Hill is actually president along with CEO regarding Daymark, which usually had been founded
throughout 1974 and posted with regards to $100 million within income last year. That employs
regarding 600.
H.C. Schmieding Family
Springdale
The people which just love the particular H.C. Schmieding Create wholesale operation in addition
develop workplace buildings as well as store space, like Signature Square throughout Springdale.
the item company features estimated revenue regarding $87 million. Depressed market rates with
regard to generate operations provides dropped the particular family's estimated prosperity coming
from $64 million last year.
Robert Hernreich Family
Fort Smith
The Hernreich Loved Ones owned Sigma Broadcast Inc., any Fort Smith-based television business in
which owned KHBS/KHOG-TV, Channels 29/49, an ABC network affiliate.
The loved ones offered Sigma in 1997 for you to Argyle Television Co. involving San Antonio (Hearst-
Argyle Corp.) to have got an estimated $34 million. Robert Hernreich as well as wife, Becky, now
live in Vail, Colo. Robert's sister, Cindy Hernreich-Beller, remains in Fort Smith.
Larry Brewer Family
* Paragould
The family owns nearly 40 % associated with First National Bank in Paragould along with Corning
Bank. William Brewer is actually chairman and CEO of bank operations. Bank holdings grew from
sale regarding a variety of gasoline distribution investments within the 1970s.
The family sold the actual remaining fuel holding, the particular Brewer Brothers Oil propane
distribution firm, this past year in order to MFA Inc. associated with Columbia, Mo. Nonetheless in
the loved ones is actually Shawill Farms, the 1,000-acre operation in Mississippi County and also
southeast Missouri.
James C. East Family
* Small Rock
The East family members owns 92 percent of Pulaski Bank & Have Confidence In Co., additionally
Pulaski Mortgage, Lenders Title Services, along with Lenders Title.
James East bought controlling fascination inside the mortgage lending firm of Jack Collier East
throughout 1967. He bought control of your former Pulaski Heights Bank within 1973 when bank's
assets totaled $18 million. The Actual mortgage firm became Pulaski Mortgage.
East started your title business coming from scratch. His son, Hunter, oversees mortgage and title
operations. James East, 62, ended up being diagnosed with cancer within June 1998. He co-founded
Arkansas prostate Cancer Basis and also provided 5 year's regarding seed capital. The Particular
family members offers rebuffed current speculation, which the lender might end up being regarding
sale.
H. Lee Scott Jr.
* Rogers
Lee Scott, 50, features risen by means of the particular ranks in Wal-Mart stores Inc. for you to grow
to be CEO and also president of the world's largest retailer. Scott, any 21-year employee in the
Bentonville-based company, had been named to the head job last January, replacing David Glass. He
began his profession inside the company's logistics department and eventually helped construct the
company's distribution centers along with its hub-and-spoke distribution network. He continues in
order to be groomed for the position for the past several years, moving for the retail facet involving
the company 3 many years ago.
Thomas M. Coughlin
* Bentonville
Thomas Coughlin, 50, is another just lately promoted Wal-Mart Retailers Inc. executive. last fall, he
replaced H. Lee Scott Jr. (No. 97) as president along with CEO in the Wal-Mart retailers division.
Coughlin can be an executive vice president of the company.
Neely Cassady Family
* Nashville
The former Arkansas state senator through Nashville served as CEO involving TSC Human
Resources, which he offered with regard to $20 million inside 1995 to become able to Express
Personnel Solutions associated with Oklahoma City.
His loved ones owns part of that which was H.K. Brewer Electric and also Cassady Associates, led
simply by his son, Tony. Cassady features served like a director regarding Tyson foods Inc. since
1974 (he's now chairman with the board) as well as owns a lot much more than 1.2 million shares
involving Tyson, which are really worth $11 million (compared to $27 million per year ago).
William H. Bowen
* Small Rock
Bill Bowen is a former chief executive officer associated with Very first Commercial Corp. and a
existing director. He in addition would end up being a former interim dean of what the particular
law states university at the University Or College of Arkansas at Small Rock, which in turn has been
lately renamed the particular William H. Bowen College involving Law.
He had been president regarding Commercial National Bank involving little Rock within 1971 and
also amassed his wealth via investments, specially within Initial Commercial Corp. Bowen, 77, owns
an estimated 1.06 million shares of Regions financial Corp., that acquired First Commercial.
He in addition is truly a former president along with CEO associated with Healthsource Arkansas
Ventures. Inc., an Arkansas-based health maintenance organization, along with a former director
involving TCBY Inc., in which he owned 34,000 shares involving stock worth $204,000 if the
business was sold earlier this year.
Larry Crain Family
* little Rock
The landscape of Crain family holdings changed this year, when Crain Automotive Inc. offered its
Arkansas KarPro Auto Parts retailers regarding $14 million in cash.
The family members also owns Freeway Ford Lincoln Mercury within Golf Course Foreclosures
bowie md Benton, Midway Ford Inc. within the Memphis suburb associated with Collierville, Tenn.,
along with Freeway Auto Outlet throughout North little Rock.
Larry Crain Sr.'s son, Larry Crain Jr., directs the actual dealerships, using plans ultimately in order
to manage the entire operation. His various other son, Chris, runs the actual automotive parts
division. Searcy ties remain having a tiny ownership inside Initial security Bancorp, worth about
$500,000.
Larry Crain Sr.'s company, called Grain Management Group, hauled within an estimated $124
million inside revenue in 1999. The Actual business employs 380.
Cecil W. Cupp Jr.
* Hot Springs
Cecil W. Cupp Jr. began his profession with a small Arkadelphia bank owned in part by simply his
namesake father. in 1961, the actual family bought power over Arkansas Bank & trust Co. within
Hot Springs, and in the end marketed its Arkadelphia bank.
Arkansas Bank & Have Confidence In had concerning $15 million within assets once the Cupp loved
ones bought it. That grew to with regards to $250 million through 1990, once the Cupp's offered the
economic institution in order to little Rock-based Initial Commercial Corp., which in turn offered in
order to Regions Economic Corp. in Birmingham, Ala.
Cupp, 75, retired six years ago nevertheless maintains a business office with the bank regarding his
personal company and also sits on its advisory board, which in turn he says is just an "honorary"
position.
William Harm Family
* Jonesboro
William Damage Sr., whom died within 1997, founded a farm implement business, Southern
Marketing Along With Advertising Affiliates, and his son, William hurt Jr. is actually classic
entrepreneur that started Sun Industries Inc. a brother, Rodger, runs Spirit Manufacturing, that
helps make exercise equipment. A New son,, Blant, will be the vast majority owner involving Motion
sign Group, which in turn would with regards to $8 million in revenue last year.
Williams Harm Jr. can be on the board associated with Very first Neighborhood Bank regarding
Jonesboro.
E.G. Bradberry Family
* Fayetteville
In 1977, Edwin G. Bradberry founded Continental Ozark Inc., a new Fayetteville-based company
inside the company associated with transporting, storing, terminaling as well as wholesale
advertising petroleum products, primarily unleaded gasoline, diesel oil as well as permit fuel.
Continental Ozark marked annual revenue regarding more than $500 million along with seven
places within four states if the assets offered to end up being able to TransMontaigne inside April
1995. Afterward, Bradberry owned about 1.5 % in the stock in TransMontaigne.
Bradberry now tends in order to B & B resources Inc., a good investment firm positioned in
Fayetteville.
Hugh Patterson Family
* Small Rock
Hugh Patterson, son-in-law involving longtime Arkansas Gazette publisher J.N. Heiskell, oversaw the
actual sale with the Gazette to end up being able to Gannett Co. within 1986 pertaining to $51
million. about half your proceeds of the sale went to Hugh's children, Carrick and also Ralph; one
other half to other Heiskell as well as Allsopp loved ones heirs living from state. Regarding one
percent went to Hugh Patterson, the actual 84-year-old widower said.
Other Heiskell heirs stay out of stare. Carrick Patterson once operated the little Rock advertising
agency and now works as freelance photographer. Ralph Patterson does freelance marketing as well
as writing.
Gannett sold the actual newspaper to become able to Arkansas Democrat publisher Walter Hussman
Jr. (No. six on this list) inside 1991 pertaining to $67 million, after which in turn Hussman mixed
both newspapers, forming the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Edward G. Sims Family
* Blytheville
Edward Sims was obviously a house builder within the 1960s when a contractor good friend told
Sims regarding a manufacturer new resort he'd built in West Memphis to acquire a burgeoning
Memphis operation referred to as Holiday Inns. Sims eventually owned eight Holiday Inns, which
includes hotels throughout Oklahoma City, Tucson, Ariz., El Paso, Texas, Columbia, S.C., along with
Fort Worth.
For six years, Sims ran your property department pertaining to Holiday Inn founder Kemmons
Wilson.
Sims sold his franchise operation to the mother or father Holiday Inn Corp. three decades ago and
also used the cash to get The Initial National Bank inside Blytheville. Jerry T. Sims, Edward's son, is
actually chairman as well as chief executive officer involving Very first National Bank as well as Very
first Delta Bancshares Inc., the holding company. Edward Sims will be vice chairman of each
institutions. The Particular Sims family owns just any little a lot much more than 90 % with the bank,
which in turn offers assets associated with concerning $148 million.
Roland S. Boreham Jr.
* Fort Smith
Roland Boreham moved to Fort Smith coming from Los Angeles for you to grow for you to be vice
president associated with revenue for Baldor Electric Co. as well as continues for you to be the
actual director associated with the organization since 1980.
Boreham, 75, in addition may serve as the director associated with USA Truck Inc.
Yarnell Family
* Searcy
In 1932, Ray Yarnell had been assistant manager at a Searcy dairy which went bankrupt. Driven in
order to salvage the business, Yarnell convinced loved ones to pool cost savings for the project,
along with Yarnell Frozen Goodies Co. has been born, offering any luxury item in a occasion when
lots of people did certainly not know exactly where their own next meal has been coming from.
Ray Yarnell passed the company to his simply child, Albert, which began working at the organization
with get older 10. Albert is currently chairman, and his awesome son, A. Rogers Yarnell II, is
president.
The loved ones even offers an interest in Initial security Bancorp really worth regarding $6 million.
Bonnie Copp Wyatt Family
* Calico Rock
The Wyatt loved ones owns practically almost all associated with Initial National Bank associated
with Izard County throughout Calico Rock.
Bonnie Copp Wyatt can be chairman in the bank, next in the footsteps of your ex grandfather,
William "Judge" Copp, and also your ex father, Dr. Noel "Buck" Copp.
DON TYSON FAMILY
2000 Estimated Wealth: $1.04 billion, Springdale
HARD TIMES within the poultry sector have reduced your Tyson family members prosperity simply
by 0.6 since this past year -- yet the Tysons dropped only 1 location inside the "Wealthiest
Arkansans" ranking and carry on to get certainly 1 of just four loved ones fortunes estimated from
much much better than $1 billion.
Sixty-five many years after its original shipment involving chickens via Springdale for you to
Chicago, Tyson Meals Inc. remains solidified since the poultry industry's giant.
The business was founded by John Tyson Sr., who took the organization public in 1963. While he
died inside a car crash in 1967, Tyson had less than two % of the U.S. chicken marker. His son, Don,
chairman until 1995 as well as now your company's vast majority stockholder, grew the organization
into a business regarding 25 percent.
Tyson foods expended $1 billion to purchase Hudson food items throughout 1998 prior to Don's son,
Johnny Tyson, and also former CFO Wayne Britt had been promoted to chairman and also CEO,
respectively. Then, within April of this year, Britt suddenly retired as well as Johnny took more than
both roles with almost all the company.
The company will be attempting to recover from a new significant drop in stock rates within the final
year, falling from a 52-week high associated with $22.88 per reveal inside July 1999 to $8.50 in July
2000.
Tyson Food Items carries on attempting to expand, reportedly getting inside a bidding war
regarding California-based private poultry company Zacky Farms. Also, Tyson Foods' wholly owned
subsidiary Cobb-Vantress Inc. regarding Siloam Springs, finalized its acquisition of Maine-based
Avian Farms USA Inc. within June 2000.
The business features 65,000 employees along with 72 plants in 16 states.
HICKINGBOTHAM FAMILY
2000 Estimated Wealth: $170 million little Rock
THIS YEAR, THE HICKINGbotham family finally marketed the company that place frozen yogurt
around the national menu. Stamford, Conn.-based Capricorn Management Inc.'s $140 million money
supply pertaining to TCBY Enterprises Inc. had been viewed having a mixture of surprise along with
relief.
The business endured the decade involving stagnant performance below the family's leadership, as
sharper competition overwhelmed its as soon as novel product. Hailed regarding recognizing the
tasty chance and capitalizing on it, Frank Hickingbotham additionally has been criticized regarding
not really relinquishing control a lot earlier once the business was on top.
Golden parachutes pushed the actual family's take on the sale north regarding $70 million.
Building the actual nation's largest chain of frozen yogurt shops has been certainly not with out its
prize regarding Hickingbotham as well as sons Herren along with Todd.
The very first shop opened throughout little Rock in September 1981 after Frank Hickingbotham
discovered any frozen yogurt item at a cafe in the Neiman Marcus shop inside Dallas. His purported
reaction -- "This can't be Yogurt!" -- provided the particular fledgling company using its original
name.
Hickingbotham took the business public within Might 1984, and also from the finish of that year,
TCBY Enterprises Inc. had 102 stores.
The organization faced certainly one of its many significant challenges inside 1989 along with 1990
when fast-food operations similar to McDonald's and also Dairy Queen stole a big share with the
frozen yogurt market, partially by simply undercutting TCBY's prices. The Particular organization
survived that crisis, alongside with a rash regarding dissatisfied franchisees, and also now is the
world's largest manufacturer-franchisor of frozen yogurt.
Recently, most of your company's growth continues for you to be attributed to "co-branding"
together with various other franchise concepts similar to Subway Sandwiches & Salads and Taco
Bell, since the actual U.S. companies are saturated using TCBY stores.
Family converted any part involving TCBY produced fortune directly into banking interests, which
includes stock inside First Commercial Bank, which in turn had been acquired by simply Regions
Financial. (The value of this investment has dropped coming from practically $90 million last
summer to under $51 million as of July 7.) A New former First Commercial board member,
Hickingbotham resigned his situation about the board of Regions Financial. He splits residency
among las Vegas and Small Rock.
The family owns any string regarding California auto dealerships, selling seven different brands
involving luxury cars along with numerous Harley Davidson dealerships in three states.
CHARLES D. MORGAN
2000 Estimated Wealth: $116 million, Small Rock
CHARLES MORGAN'S MECHANICAL ENGIneering studies in the College regarding Arkansas
weren't precisely geared towards global data integration.
Instead, his studies had been geared towards gears.
"I desired to cope with cars and gears and stuff mechanical," said the company leader of Acxiom
Corp. "We didn't have just about any computers, and also I didn't just take any kind of personal
computer courses throughout college."
Morgan fed his enjoy pertaining to speed through racing motorcycles after which worked his
approach approximately sports cars -- a passion he now shares along along with his son, Rob. As
Well As that has blossomed in for you to the racing-related marketing opportunity RM promotions.
The younger Morgan features put the Morgan-Dollar Motorsports team among the nearly all notable
20 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
At 57, the particular older Morgan chased his dream around the track within the Watkins Glen 700
once again last month. He qualified 23rd in a field involving 38 inside a high-speed pickup along
with finished 18th.
"I needed to get throughout shape, along with I do just the little practice," Morgan said.
Morgan in addition recently provides guided Acxiom, certainly 1 of the particular world's leaders
inside data integration, management and also delivery, via choppy waters that included your layoff
of 5 percent involving its workforce final year.
On June 26, the company reported annual net income regarding $90.4 million upon revenues of
$964.5 million -- up 28 percent from fiscal 1999.
He credits the good results to Acxiom's introduction associated with AbiliTec, any real-time
marketing application with regard to viewing client personal computer information inside depth.
"The answer is definitely driven from the desire to boost outcomes using alternative strategies," he
said.
Morgan joined several UA Engineering school buddies with IBM right after graduating within
Fayetteville along with became the vice president of Acxiom, then referred to end up being able to
as Demographics, in 1972. He became chairman inside 1975 and took the business via two title
changes to become able to introduce Acxiom in 1988.
Morgan, which furthermore is chairman in the boards regarding Hendrix University and also the
Immediate Marketing Along With Advertising Association, went through a bitter divorce which
substantially reduced his Acxiom holdings in the 1990s. (His ex-wife, Jane Dills Morgan, ranks 60th
upon this list.)
By this summer, Charles Morgan had increased his own Acxiom holdings for you to practically $113
million -- primarily through an equity-forward place he took on an further million shares involving
the business as a swap with regard to $19 million within debt. He holds 3,878,745 -- as well as 4.4
percent -- regarding Acxiom's outstanding shares.
Acxiom directors elevated Morgan's base pay by 23 % this year for you to $595,000. Apart from his
minority interest in RM Promotions, pertaining to which usually Acxiom is really a corporate
sponsor, also, he is actually a pilot along with controls MorAir Inc. Your company leases aircraft for
you to Acxiom with regard to $80,000 a month.
His wife, Susie P. Morgan, owns the actual Small Rock franchise involving Norrell Staffing Services
Inc., which provides Acxiom using temporary staffing for an estimated $250,000 a new year.
ROSS WHIPPLE FAMILY
2000 Estimated Wealth: $110 million, Arkadelphia
ROSS WHIPPLE'S BANKING ODYSSEY BEGAN throughout 1989 when he quickly started working at
Merchants as well as Planters Bank, by which his cousin, Jane Ross, had controlling interest.
Whipple acquired the majority of the hank's holding organization from Ross throughout 1991. He
consolidated banks in Malvern, Arkadelphia, Hot Springs along with Sheridan in to become able to a
single charter as Horizon Bancorp Inc. throughout 1995.
To become successful in his company dealings, Whipple mentioned he's relied upon passion
pertaining to his function and compassion for others. "If you take individuals two qualities, you're
going a long, way."
Whipple went a long way within February 1998, when St. Louis-based Mercantile Bancorporation
Inc. bought Horizon inside a $120 million stock swap. Mercantile received Horizon's $551 million in
assets and also offices within Arkadelphia, Sheridan, Malvern as well as Hot Springs.
Whipple stated he wasn't looking to offer Horizon, but Mercantile's offer ended up being one thing
he knew should consider towards the shareholders.
Whipple wasn't via with banking. He retained Horizon's young Magnolia operation, which usually
state law prevented him from selling. Following a new no-compete clause using Mercantile expired
inside February regarding this year, Whipple moved the lender to Arkadelphia and renamed it
Summit Bancorp. It has been the initial bank of a new system, which in turn then had about $75
million within total assets.
Other branches adopted (Summit's Hot Springs as well as Malvern branches opened around the
exact same day, March 13), as Summit -- with former Horizon executives aboard -- re-entered
familiar markets. Now Whipple is rapidly rebuilding any neighborhood bank system which by June
boasted $128 million inside assets. He expects to be successful in $150 million by the end regarding
2000.
He personally estimates his prosperity at only $85 million.
Whipple even now turns to be able to his life-long philosophy of compassion pertaining to various
other and also enjoy of his work. but he's careful not permit one overtake the particular other.
"I use a real passion for what I do. Yet I feel I have some sort of a compassion pertaining to people,"
he said. "Now also, should you let each one outweigh the other the entire lot, you receive throughout
trouble, in places you walk' in people as well as that they walk on you. Consequently it will be a
fairly fine balance."
WALTER COLEMAN JR. FAMILY
2000 Estimated Wealth: $50 million, Small Rock
COLEMAN DAIRY SOLD TO TURNER HOLDINGS LLC inside 1998, ending 136 many many years of
loved ones ownership, nevertheless the loved ones is still active in the day-to-day operations.
"We're just about all nevertheless here," Buddy Coleman said.
Coleman attributed the particular company's lengthy success, going again to 1862, for you to "the
great individuals who have labored together with as well as for us over your years. We have plenty of
folks that's been together with us 30 to 40 years. A Person can't appreciate that will type regarding
dedication and also service enough."
Dedication along with support exacted a heavy toll about organization founder Eleither Coleman
each occasion a delivery horse killed him having a kick for the head in the corner associated with
Seventh as well as Scott streets, Fred B. Coleman began your reigns as well as steered the company
onward and upward.
And Buddy Coleman stated he in no way actually considered whatever else for a living.
"When I got my diploma from LSU I has been thinking about pro baseball -- nevertheless it didn't
just take me lengthy for you to realize there wasn't anything there," he said. "Then I got a new
commission inside the U.S. Air Force. Then my late brother, Boots, convinced me to have out in the
Air Force right after 26 months. It turned out in which I was supposed to end up being able to ship
out for you to Korea. Consequently my brother's was sage advice."
More crucial as compared to any organization accomplishment, Coleman said, can be his family.
"I guess I'd need to say having 4 sons that have grown up into fine fantastic men [is my greatest
accomplishment]," Coleman said. "Walt is the NFL referee along with plant manager regarding
Goldstar, Bob is in cost regarding sales at Coleman, Charles is definitely an attorney with Wright
Lindsey Jennings, as well as Cherb runs our operations along with processing fleet."
And in a enterprise globe which preaches to anticipate the actual unexpected, Buddy Coleman will
be firmly grounded.
"I know it was the real shock for me personally -- I officiated Southwest Conference football
regarding 26 a long time -- I got back again from the bowl game throughout Japan and found out my
wife was actually poor ill," he said of his late wife, Robbye, that died of cancer within 1984. "It would
become a extremely brief illness. That had been something that just sort of developed actually fast
as well as just before the girl got remedy she had been gone. everything in the enterprise world sort
of pales throughout comparison."
But Coleman serendipitously noticed a divorce discover within the paper filed with a high school
sweetheart, Carolyn, and determined to obtain his feet wet again.
"I read within the paper that she filed with regard to divorce through Dr. Travis Crusie," Coleman
said. "So I referred in order to as your ex and shared along with her which a while when it was
convenient on her I'd such as to consider the woman's out to dinner."
"How with regards to tonight?" your woman said.
The couple get eight youngsters along with 11 grandchildren among them.
JOHN TROUTT JR. FAMILY
2000 Estimated Wealth: $62 million, Jonesboro
SOME WERE SURPRISED IN JUNE WHEN JOHN Troutt Jr. announced upon the leading page he
may well sell his 100-year-old newspaper, the Jonesboro Sun.
No one yet the Troutt has created editorials for the paper within 97 years. Troutt's grandfather,
W.O. Troutt, purchased your newspaper from your Cone estate inside 1901.
W.O. Troutt as well as later his sons, John and Fred, ran the Sun being an afternoon paper. John
Troutt died in 1948, Fred inside 1980. John Troutt Jr. created your Sun the morning paper inside
1982.
"When I began carrying papers throughout 1939, this was a tiny town, probably 10,000 people
maybe, and also there was the fighting paper here then -- it went out in 1943 -- circulation was ready
3,500," John Troutt Jr. Said. "Now it's more than 30,000."
John Troutt Jr. may be operating the newspaper with his sons, assistant publishers Bob and Ed. Your
brothers are usually involved in property development within Florida and in Jonesboro, exactly
where they've developed Sage Meadows golf Course, a new residential neighborhood on a semi-
private golf course.
John Troutt Jr., 70, cited his sons' business pursuits away from newspaper, the expense of
maintaining up with fast-changing technologies and also "punishing estate as well as inheritance
taxes" as good reasons to explore alternatives for the paper's future, which usually include offering
it by the fourth quarter.
Experts possess stated the actual newspaper could fetch between $50 million as well as $75 million.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Journal Publishing, Inc.
No part informed may be reproduced with out your express created permission in the copyright
holder.
Copyright 2000 Gale, Cengage Learning. Almost All legal rights reserved.

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