Background
Stephens was born on a farm near Prattsville, Arkansas, the youngest of 6 children. And grew up during the Depression.
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Jackson Stephens
Edit ProfileChief Executive Officer of Little Rock
Education
Stephens attended the United States Naval Academy, where he met and became friends with a midshipman from Georgia named Jimmy Carter.
Career
Forged out of a bible, belt buckle, and bond business, by 1994 Stephens Incorporated. was listed as one of the biggest institutional shareholders in 30 large multinationals including the Arkansas based firms Tyson Foods, Wal-Mart and Alltel. Stephens is the father of Jackson Stephens, Junior. and Warren Stephens. Later became the club"s chairman from 1991-1998.
1968 – the Stephenses launch Systematics, Incorporated, a data processing company.
In 1990, Systematics was sold to Alltel and became Alltel Information Services (which in turn would be sold to Fidelity Information Systems)
1970 – underwrote the initial public offering for Wal-Mart Stores
1976 – forms Stephens Finance Limited. in Hong Kong with Mochtar Riady. Some of us call it tough love." Stephens and his company donated $100,000 to the national Republican Party both in 1988 and 1991.
Stephens gave $48 million to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to establish the Jackson T. Stephens Spine and Neurosciences Institute. Stephens gave more than $30 million toward to Little Rock"s Episcopal Collegiate School endowment in 2004.
Stephens gave $20.4 million to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for a special-events center and a basketball arena that would later be named Jack Stephens Center.
The football field at the United States Naval Academy is named Jack Stephens Field to honor Stephens and his gift of funds for its renovation. Stephens gave some $3 million to construct the Prattsville Community Center in his hometown of Prattsville, Arkansas. Arkansas Aviation Historical Society inducted Stephens into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1994.
Politics
Stephens and his wife Mary Anne were such outspoken backers of Republican causes, and in particular of President Ronald Reagan that the early 1980s they were known as "Mr. and Mistress Republican of Arkansas." In a rare interview in the early 80"s, Jackson declared that Reagan was giving the country "exactly what we need.
Membership
1962 – became a member of the Augusta National Golf Club, the host of the annual Masters tournament.
