elton b stephens obituary
Elton B. Stephens, Jr., the retired CEO of EBSCO Industries, was reportedly kidnapped from his bed last Friday and held for ransom. In 1995, by the time he was 84 years old, on May 19th, the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil - before 9/11 - took place in Oklahoma City. The suspect asked Stephens, What are you doing my house? which startled and confused Stephens. The building where the orchestra performs the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center is named in honor of Eltons beloved bride. Matthew Amos Burke (Jefferson County Jail). In fact, one five-member clan has been identified as wealthy enough that any one -- or all -- of them could be in possession of significantly more than $600 million each. In 1937 he obtained a franchise with Keystone Readers Service, a middleman between subscribers and publishers of such magazines as the Saturday Evening Post and Ladies Home Journal. The family, which inherited Stephens's wealth after his death in 2005, has never before discussed its finances with the media. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He was a native of Montgomery County, growing up in Mt. But Stephens's son, current EBSCO board chairman James T. Stephens, told AL.com in an email statement Friday that the Forbes figure was "grossly overstated," though Forbes has not amended or withdrawn its report. He chose the magazine route and kept selling and hiring others to sell. USA. The man convicted federally of kidnapping Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens was released from the Jefferson County Jail because his state charges had been dismissed and jail officials had no paperwork indicating he was to remain held on a federal conviction, sheriffs officials said Tuesday. Good healthy years, being successful in whatever it is you may choose to do, after this, as long as you do it right.. Elton "Sonny" Meiring, age 88 of Celina, Ohio, formerly of Minster, died at 7:29 PM on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys, Ohio. All rights reserved. Mr. Elton Stephens, age 71, of Tarrytown, died Thursday, January 21, 2021, in Meadows Health in Vidalia after an briefillness. He enjoyed fishing, camping, woodworkingand tinkering. Previous state court testimony indicated Stephens whose family was ranked by Forbes magazine in 2014 as the 66th wealthiest in America - did not know his abductors. Summers were spent working for Butterick, selling subscriptions to that once-famous dress pattern makers magazine, and in 1930 Elton and five friends hitchhiked north to Michigan to sell subscriptions door-to-door all day. Link to family and friends whose lives he impacted. At one point, Stephens tried to jump out of the vehicle, but Burke pulled him back in by his shirt. View Elton L. Tebo Stephens's obituary, send flowers and find service dates or sign the guestbook. Joni Money said sheriffs officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding Burkes release but said they did not have any documentation that Burke was to remain in custody. One of the vehicles belonged to Stephens but the detective said the suspects made him sign a $10 bill of sale for his truck. Recommend Elton's obituary to your friends. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. If the Stephens name rings a bell for many Birmingham residents, it's probably due to the visible results of the philanthropic work the family has done over the decades. Founder and chairman of the board of EBSCO Industries, Inc., Elton Bryson Stephens was born August 4, 1911, to parents Clara Stuckey and James Nelson Stephens in Clio, Alabama. November 13, 1892 . When we share what we know, together we discover more. Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Elton's lifetime. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Elton Stephens. your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Baker McCullough Funeral Home Danyse G. Edel Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Elton Stephens died at age 70 years old on January 8, 1997. For the Stephens family, it all traces back to patriarch, the late Elton B. Stephens, and a $5,000 investment he made to start a business in 1944 along with his wife, Alys Robinson Stephens. Williams, 34, was hit at about 2:28 a.m. after exiting her disabled vehicle on the Elton B. Stephens Expressway. That first year, I saved $500 and thats like several thousand today, he remembers. memorial page for John Thomas Elton Stephens (26 Jun 1912-24 Nov 1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 141627531, citing Worthy Cemetery, . He is approximately 5'7 tall, 170 lbs. He has been involved with the Southern Research Institute, Waste Water Facilities Development Committee, Y.M.C.A., American Council of the Arts, United Arts Fund, Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Methodist Hospitals, American Cancer Society, Alabama Development Office, and most especially the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Stephens chaired the Alabama Symphonic Association at the time, but it was his $15 million contribution to revive theAlabama Symphony Orchestra that gave it new life with an initial $5 million startup operating fund and a $10 million endowment that ensured its survival. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current. Though the Stephens family's denying the $4 billion figure leaves major questions unanswered, the Stephenses are clearly some of the wealthiest people in the state, and they should be on any shortlist of potential heirs to Harbert's title. In 1998, Barber sold the dairy company--which had sales of more than $200 million per year at the time--to Dean Foods Company, and he has since turned his focustothe motorcycle museum and other pursuits. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Elton Stephens. EBSCO Industries is now so diverse it deals with everything from investments to library periodicals, plastic fishing lures to steel joists, indoor advertising to realty, with Eltons love of selling seemingly forever moving the company forward into new markets. Who were the people in Elton's life? (Click on the pins for more information.). Previous state court testimony indicated Stephens did not know his abductors. He is preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Alys Varian Robinson Stephens, who died on the same day, 1996, and by his five . Once at the suspects home, Stephens called his banker, a call which was recorded, and asked him to wire $250,000 to Hodges bank account. Named by Forbes as the 66th richest family in America, the Stephenses of Birmingham reportedly had a net worth of $4 billion as of last year. There is almost certainly more to this story. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. Burke and Hodges also are charged in state court, where their cases are awaiting grand jury action. Arrangements in Whiteville are being handled by McKenzie Mortuary. Support worthwhile projects including but not limited to education, health, religion, needy, cultural arts, boys/girls clubs, law enforcement, conservation, nature, water resources. And I found it odd that he has retained Spina, the criminal defense attorney quoted in . On December 14th, he succeeded. U.S. Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) of Phoenix, Maryland, USA (acting as Explosives Subcontractor to Main Demolition Contractor, Lindamood Demolition of Irving. Stephens, then 75, was abducted in the morning hours of Sept. 11, 2020, from a house he was renting from fellow businessman and philanthropist George Barber while he was waiting for his new house to be ready. and has brown hair and blue eyes. [5] They met as students at Birmingham-Southern College and graduated together in 1932. Looking for Elton Stephens online? The heiress of Birmingham-based Harbert Corporation magnate John Murdoch Harbert III, her husband of 43 years who died in 1995, Harbert left her brood a massive inheritance. The following summer, Elton B. Stephens assembled and coordinated a team of friends to assist him; and he learned that he was not only a good salesman, but also a good manager. The deadliest incident of domestic terrorism ever, Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, and Michael Fortier were convicted of the bombing. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). You can take any business, any product, anything and sell it, he says. We know that Elton R Stephens had been residing in Medford, Jackson County, Oregon 97504. They met as students at Birmingham-Southern College and graduated together in 1932. Matthew Amos Burke, 34, and Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 33, are charged with abducting Alabama businessman Elton B. Stephens Jr.whose family is 66th on Forbes' list of the richest clans, AL.com . All rights reserved (About Us). "EBSCO and the members of the family have been integral to the growth of the museum.". Enter On the way to Remlap, the group stopped at a Full Moon Bar-B-Que drive-thru to get lunch. 94, February 25, 2023, Baker McCullough Funeral Home. Where was Elton born and where did he live? Hodges was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He also sold an odd mix of newspapers, suits, sandwiches, and Cloverine Salve, thereby setting a pattern he would follow with EBSCO in the years to come; it would not seem odd to him that a company known for its printing and distribution capacities could also excel in the manufacture of fishing line. Just coming off another divorce I think. Matthew Amos Burke, 34, and Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 33, are charged with burglary, kidnapping an adult for ransom, extortion and theft of property. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, pleaded guilty . NEW! ELTON STEPHENS OBITUARY. Stephens gave $1 million to theUnited Way of Central Alabama in 1997, one of many large personal donations he made to the charitable group. Each summer, Elton would travel the country, enhancing his ability to sell and adding to his team. There is no early parole. His success and wealth drove him to want to contribute to Birmingham and Alabama in ways that he felt would better the state, family and friends toldThe Birmingham News in a story about Stephens after his death. Burkes co-defendant, Tabatha Nicole Hodges, is set to have a change of plea hearing on Aug. 31. Elton's Obituary . [5], Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, In Memoriam: Elton Bryson Stephens, 1911-2005, Stephens family may be better known in Birmingham for generosity than $4 billion wealth, "EBSCO: Building a Family Conglomerate on Values and Capital | The Family Business Consulting Group", America's Richest Families: Stephens family. A search is underway for the man convicted in the kidnapping of prominent Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens after he was accidentally released from jail. At one point, earlier testimony showed, Burke told Stephens if he did anything to make Hodges feel uncomfortable, it wont end well for you.. A graveside service will be at 11:00 am, Friday, March 8, 2019 at Hillcrest Cemetery, Lake Waccamaw, NC with Rev. John Thomas Elton Stephens. They were in the house for hours taking one of Stephens sports cars for a joy ride and making food in the kitchen before waking Stephens about 8:30 a.m. In Birmingham his name is perhaps most commonly associated with Barber Motor Sports Park and Museum, home to the world's largest collection of motorcycles, to which he has contributed tens of millions of dollars. According to previous testimony and court records, the suspects entered Stephens Crest Road rental home about 2 a.m. There will be a service to celebrate his life at 2:00 pm, Thursday, March 7, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro with the Rev. In 1995, he was approached by board members and asked to help re-establish the bankrupt ASO. Elton Stephens believes anyone can successfully sell anything. Two people are behind bars after prominent Birmingham businessman Elton B. 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