Johnelle Hunt

Mrs. Hunt was born in Heber Springs, Arkansas.  She attended the University of Central Arkansas in Conway where she majored in elementary education.  She met Johnnie Hunt when she was a junior in high school and four years later they were married.

In 1962, the J. B. Hunt Company, a rice hull packaging company, opened its doors in Stuttgart, Arkansas.  Mrs. Hunt worked part-time to help her husband get started in the business.  As the company grew, she found herself working more and more – helping with correspondence, financial statements and doing bookkeeping.  Before long she was working full time.  In 1969 the couple co-founded and built J.B. Hunt Transport from the ground up, and its success is a tribute to the Hunt’s entrepreneurial spirit and hard work.  J.B. Hunt Transport is one of the largest transportation logistics providers in North America and is the largest truckload, dry-van carrier in the United States.  Among Mrs. Hunt’s jobs was the position of credit manager, which she held until 1986 and the board position of Corporate Secretary which she held until 2008.  At her retirement from the Board of Directors of the company in 2008, Johnelle was recognized as being an active and important partner contributing to the company’s development and success.

She currently holds a seat on The Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute Advisory Board.  She is a member of the Advisory Council for the Ozark Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  Mrs. Hunt is the founding chairman of the United Way Alexis de Tocqueville Society for Washington County.  In May of 2000, she accepted the position of Campaign Treasurer for the University of Arkansas’ Leadership Team entitled Campaign for the 21st Century, a major fundraising drive that raised over one billion dollars.  Following the Campaign for the 21st Century, an Advisory Board was formed which Mrs. Hunt now serves on the Executive Committee.  In 2003 she accepted the invitation to serve on the Board of Directors for The Beau Foundation benefiting prenatal care in Northwest Arkansas.

In 1990, she and Mr. Hunt were chosen as the Arkansas Easter Seal Arkansans of the Year, the first couple to receive this award.  In 1992 she was one of four women to receive the Worthen Professional Women of Distinction Award and has been included in “The Top 100 Women” list for Arkansas from 1994-1998.  In 1996 the March of Dimes honored the Hunts as Citizens of the Year.  In 2001 she and Mr. Hunt were inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.

Since the passing of her husband in December of 2006, Mrs. Hunt has taken a very active roll in projects developed and managed by The Pinnacle Group.  The Pinnacle Group is an office and retail development partnership founded by Mr. Hunt in 2001.  The group is primarily responsible for the conception and development of the more than 600 acre project in western Rogers known as Pinnacle Hills.  Mrs. Hunt is also actively involved with many other ongoing projects and companies started by Mr. Hunt including The Central Group, Northwest Arkansas Quarries, Haskell (Oklahoma) Sand and Gravel, Central Mortar and Grout (Muskogee, Oklahoma), J.B. Hunt Gas and Oil Drilling and a new rock quarry project in Honduras, Central America.

Johnelle and J. B. were married over 54 years and have two children, Jane Hunt Hardin and Bryan Hunt, as well as seven grandchildren.