Stephens is the son of Elton B. Stephens Sr., who started the conglomerate EBSCO Industries. The Stephens fortune was amassed under the leadership of Elton Bryson Stephens, Sr., who in 1944 famously spent just $5,000 to embark on a business venture that would eventually become the massively successful company EBSCO Industries, which reportedly now does $2.4 billion in sales and employs nearly 6,000 people. Lurleen Burns Wallace (born Lurleen Brigham Burns; September 19, 1926 - May 7, 1968) was the 46th governor of Alabama for 15 months from January 1967 until her death. After more than 80 years of business and financial endeavors, Elton says working is still his favorite hobby. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Wadesboro Mr. Elton L. "Tebo" Stephens, 89, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 3, 2019. Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama 35201. That meant I didnt have to work as much during the school year, so I could study more. Study and concentrate on his college romance with Alys Varian Robinson, whom he dated for seven years before the two married. He enjoyed fishing, camping, woodworkingand tinkering. Burke replied, Forever or just for today?, At one point, records state, Burke asked Stephens, How much life do you think you have left? Stephens replied, 10 years., Burke then said, I think you got 20 more, I think you do. Later questioned by authorities as to how she came up with that amount, Hodges replied, it sounded like a big number.. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Enter Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. According to law enforcement, Burke and Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 22, broke into a house Stephens was staying at in Jefferson County as he slept on September . Hodges told investigators Stephens had given the items to them willingly, but court records stated that they said they would kill him if he called anyone. Money said it was discovered around 3:30 p.m. Monday that Burke should have been held for transfer to federal prison, where he was to serve an already imposed sentence. The building where the orchestra performs the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center is named in honor of Eltons beloved bride. 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. Elton B Stephens Elton Stephens (1911 - 2005) Jump to: Biography Memories . In addition to a lifetime of business and financial endeavors, Elton has committed his life to enrich the world around him. [4] It later became known as EBSCO Industries, a diversified company in "information services, publishing and digital media, outdoor products, real estate, manufacturing and general services. 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 . Dr. Sarah B. Kalish officiating. After hearing that Peary had beaten him to the North Pole, Amundsen decided to tackle the South Pole. Fred Senter officiating. Her co-defendant 35-year-old Matthew Amos Burk was sentenced last month to 17 years. EBSCO's history reaches back to the first summer of the Great Depression when 19-year-old Clio, Alabama, native Elton B. Stephens sold magazine subscriptions door to door to earn money for college. Vernon where he lived until moving to Tarrytown in 1989. Dr. Sarah B. Kalish officiating. They had two sons, Elton B. Stephens Jr. and James T. Stephens, and two daughters, Jane S. Comer and Dell S. Brooke. "EBSCO and the members of the family have been integral to the growth of the museum.". 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. A small-town boy, 11 Elton quickly learned the value of money. Survivors include his wife, Kathy Stephens of Tarrytown; two sisters, Claudette Stephens Drury and husband Kenneth of Fernandina Beach, Florida, and Jessie Stephens Cook and husband Kenneth of Kilgore, Texas; one brother, William Stephens of Gwinnett County; and several nieces and nephews. [2] Additionally, he donated $1 million to the United Way of Central Alabama in 1997, joining their Million Dollar Roundtable. Just coming off another divorce I think. At one point, earlier testimony showed, Burke told Stephens if he did anything to make Hodges feel uncomfortable, it wont end well for you.. Share. Stephens was born on August 4, 1911, in Clio, Alabama. 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. [1] His son James serves as the chairman of EBSCO Industries. 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). your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Roughly two hours of the abduction were recorded on Stephens sleep apnea app. As listed in Whos Who, they encompass both the capitalistic and altruistic aspects of his personality: Invest/reinvest earnings to create employment/profits for growth/expansion. Updated: November 9, 2011 . Once the money was deposited, the suspects drove Stephens back to his rental house. It was Eltons frustration with borrowing money early in his business career that led him in 1981, at the age of 70, to begin a second career as a financier. Did Elton finish grade school, get a GED, go to high school, get a college degree or masters? To cover the rest of his costs, the enterprising young man worked full-time as a salesman in a local dry goods store. Born in Barbour County, Alabama in 1911, Elton B. Stephens was instrumental in the rebirth of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, pleaded guilty . That went so well he branched out to other military bases and was able to save to start his own business. We have no idea how Forbes could have so wrongly made this estimate. to the family or plant a tree Read more about the life story of Elton and share your memory. Once the money was deposited, the suspects drove Stephens back to his rental house. Tabatha Nicole Hodges, 33, was sentenced Thursday to . Spina said he is confident Marshals or other law enforcement agencies will apprehend Burke if he does not surrender. The binding plea agreement calls for Burke to be sentenced to 17 years in federal prison. Elton has been found in 13 states including Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Utah. Arrangements in Whiteville are being handled by McKenzie Mortuary. Elton Stephens's passing at the age of 71 on Thursday, January 21, 2021 has been publicly announced by Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home in Vidalia, GA .Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share mem NEW! He was the son of James Nelson and Clara Stuckey Stephens. He was released only after he wired $250,000 to a bank account of the alleged kidnappers. See What AncientFaces Does to discover more about the community. In 1995, he was approached by board members and asked to help re-establish the bankrupt ASO. The deadliest incident of domestic terrorism ever, Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, and Michael Fortier were convicted of the bombing. These philosophies built a company I started in 1943 with capital of $5,000 and sales under $1,000,000, and fewer than 20 employees to annual sales of more than $1 billion on June 30, 1997; over 4,000 employees and 100 profit centers operating worldwide with adequate capital to continue growth. Elton R Stephens Elton Stephens (1933 - 2006) Jump to: . Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home 801 Northwest 108th Street, Kansas City (816) 734-5500 Alexander - White - Mullen Funeral Home 11101 Saint Charles Rock Road, St. Ann (314) 739-1133 Debo Funeral Home 833 Court Street, Fulton (573) 642-2211 Nunnelee Funeral Chapel 205 North Stoddard, Sikeston (573) 471-2242 Birmingham and Mountain Brook police, as well as the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, responded. Driven by his love of a challenge and his passion for classical music, Matthew Burke and Tabatha Hodges pleaded guilty on federal charges in the abduction of Elton B. Stephens, Jr. Burke and Hodges admit to kidnapping Stephens from his home last year and attempting to get a ransom of $250,000. He enjoyed fishing, camping, woodworkingand tinkering. Liberty County. The active involvement of the Stephens' family has contributed to the growth of EBSCO. Hodges two children ages 11 and 13 were with Hodges and Burke throughout the entire ordeal. 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. He taught Mathematics at Walter L. Cohen and Booker T. Washington High Schools. [1][2] Stephens graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1932. Who are the richest Alabamians now that billionaire Marguerite Harbert has passed? He's currently 80 years old and is the richest man in Alabama. From The Tribune staff reports. He is currently safe, and two suspects are in custody. Born . Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Elton Stephens. As EBSCO grew into a worldwide empire, Elton was very clear about his goals. Obituary. This section is to introduce Elton Stephens with highlights of his life and how he is remembered. [2] They also paid $15 million for the construction of the Elton B. Stephens Science Center on the campus of BirminghamSouthern College. Outstanding Student in Funeral Services Education - Emily Kline Walker; Outstanding Student in Manufacturing Technology - Lensey King Jr. At one point, earlier testimony showed, Burke told Stephens if he did anything to make Hodges feel uncomfortable, it wont end well for you.. To the present, it is the symbol of the City that is known throughout the world. Texas. Elton Stephens died at age 70 years old on January 8, 1997. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Burke and Hodges also are charged in state court, where their cases are awaiting grand jury action. After graduating from law school . Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) of Phoenix, Maryland, USA (acting as Explosives Subcontractor to Main Demolition Contractor, Lindamood Demolition of Irving. BIRMINGHAM, AlabamaForbes may have singled out Birmingham's Stephens family as the state's richest clan with an estimated net worth of $4 billion, but those who live in the Magic City likely know Stephenses better for the things they've done with that wealth. Investigators were able to track down the suspects by obtaining GPS location information that was on Stephens phone. That led them to the location where Stephens had been taken. That led them to the location where Stephens had been taken. Link to family and friends whose lives he impacted. Where we share as we remember & make discoveries and connect with others to help answer questions. All rights reserved. Another potential candidate for the title of richest Alabama resident is Garry Neil Drummond, one of seven original heirs to the Drummond Co. fortune left behind by Heman Drummond when he died in 1956. All rights reserved (About Us). Burke and his girlfriend, Tabatha Hodges, both pleaded guilty to federal charges of kidnapping and bank fraud. ( al.com) Citing a "veiled threat" from a "white conservative group . Stephens was married to Alys Robinson. Good healthy years, being successful in whatever it is you may choose to do, after this, as long as you do it right.. 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). The family, which inherited Stephens's wealth after his death in 2005, has never before discussed its finances with the media. ELTON STEPHENS OBITUARY. Son, Elton B. Stephens Jr., headed EBSCO Realty, responsible for eco-friendly, sustainable development approaches such asMt Laurel in Shelby County andAlys Beach on the Florida Gulf Coast. He was a native of Montgomery County, growing up in Mt. The city and state honored Stephens' support of civic projects by renaming the Red Mountain Expressway the "Elton B. Stephens Expressway. [2], With his son James, Stephens donated $2.5 million to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Elton was a truck driver and worked with Southeastern Paper in Vidalia until his recent retirement. Elton R Stephens was born on October 8, 1933. Because private wealth is not a matter of public record, there's no telling if a sleeper billionaire is holed up somewhere in a rural Alabama cabin, or perhaps even sitting at the helm of one of the state's other successful companies. Hodges two children ages 11 and 13 were with Hodges and Burke throughout the entire ordeal. In 1924, at the age of just 13 years old, Elton was alive when J. Edgar Hoover, at the age of 29, was appointed the sixth director of the Bureau of Investigation by Calvin Coolidge (which later became the Federal Bureau of Investigation). He served four years in the U.S. Army and returned to Mt. [2] For charitable contributions to the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Stephens Family Gallery is named in his family's honor. Built with retained earnings and borrowed money.. Burke went on to say, according to testimony, that he had bought the house two weeks before which was not true. 21 death records. Elton Stephens (1892 - 1976) Add photo. The Birmingham Police Department is investigating the accident. Eventually the group left the house with Stephens in a vehicle with Burke, and Hodges following in another vehicle with her two kids. In fact, there are several potential billionaire Alabama residents, and because details about their private finances are not publicly available, it is next to impossible to verify just how much money they have. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Hodges told investigators Stephens had given the items to them willingly, but court records stated that they said they would kill him if he called anyone. At one point, earlier testimony showed, Burke told Stephens if he did anything to make Hodges feel uncomfortable, it wont end well for you.. Vernon, and was a 1968 graduate of Montgomery County High School. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Two people are behind bars after allegedly kidnapping Birmingham businessman and philanthropist Elton B. Stephens Jr. and forcing him to wire hundreds of thousands of dollars to them after stealing his vehicle, multiple guns, and jewelry last week. 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 . Soon after, along came an EBSCO publishing and bindery company to help keep the racks full of reading matter, and later a printing plant. Stephens, and his son-in-law, F. Dixon Brooke, married to Stephens' daughter, Dell, both went on to lead EBSCO and have followed him in philanthropy through scholarships, charitable campaigns and support of the arts. Elton Stephens of Cleveland, Blount County, Alabama was born on July 5, 1913, and died at age 71 years old in October 1984. When I was four, I had pneumonia, and I remember my father often standing over my crib and entertaining me, Elton once recalled fondly. On December 14th, he succeeded. 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