Elton Bryson Stephens Sr.

Elton Bryson Stephens Sr. (1911–2005) was an American businessman from Alabama, who founded EBSCO Industries.

Elton Bryson Stephens Sr.
Born(1911-08-04)August 4, 1911
DiedFebruary 5, 2005(2005-02-05) (aged 93)
OccupationBusiness executive
Known forFounder of EBSCO Industries
SpouseAlys Robinson
Children4, including James T. Stephens

Early life

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Stephens was born on August 4, 1911, in Clio, Alabama.[1][2] Stephens graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1932.[3]

Career

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Stephens founded Military Service Co. in 1944, with US$5,000.[2][4][5] The company sold magazine subscriptions to the United States Army.[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."[2]

Philanthropy

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Stephens established the Metropolitan Arts Council of Birmingham in 1986.[2] He donated $15 million to the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, where he was chairman of its board of trustees, and where the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center was named after his late wife.[2] Additionally, he donated $1 million to the United Way of Central Alabama in 1997, joining their Million Dollar Roundtable.[2] For charitable contributions to the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Stephens Family Gallery is named in his family's honor.[2] The Red Mountain Expressway was renamed the Elton B. Stephens Expressway by the City of Birmingham on September 11, 1975.[2]

With his son James, Stephens donated $2.5 million to the University of Alabama at Birmingham.[2] They also paid $15 million for the construction of the Elton B. Stephens Science Center on the campus of Birmingham–Southern College.[2][6]

 
The Elton B. Stephens Science Center on the campus of Birmingham–Southern College.

Personal life

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Stephens was married to Alys Robinson.[5] They met as students at Birmingham-Southern College and graduated together in 1932.[7] They had two sons, Elton B. Stephens Jr. and James T. Stephens, and two daughters, Jane S. Comer and Dell S. Brooke.[5] His wife died in 1996.[5]

Death and legacy

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Stephens died on February 5, 2005.[1] His son James serves as the chairman of EBSCO Industries.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Jim Stephens, In Memoriam: Elton Bryson Stephens, 1911–2005, Serial Reviews, Volume 31, Issue 2, 2005, pp. 80–81
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Michael Tomberlin, Stephens family may be better known in Birmingham for generosity than $4 billion wealth, The Birmingham News, July 10, 2014
  3. ^ "EBSCO: Building a Family Conglomerate on Values and Capital | The Family Business Consulting Group". The Family Business Consulting Group. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  4. ^ a b America's Richest Families: Stephens family, Forbes
  5. ^ a b c d e Connor Sheets, Who are the richest Alabamians now that billionaire Marguerite Harbert has passed?, The Birmingham News, March 23, 2015
  6. ^ "Birmingham-Southern College: Elton B. Stephens Science Center". bsc.edu. Archived from the original on 30 January 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Heart to Heart: Alumni Love Stories". www.bsc.edu. Retrieved 2019-06-19.