UA Presents Chancellors Medal to Johnelle Hunt, William Dillard II

University of Arkansas alums Johnelle DeBusk Hunt of Rogers and William T. Dillard II of Little Rock were recognized April 10 as Chancellor’s Medal recipients. They were honored at an event on the UA campus, along with other financial backers whose cumulative giving or commitment to the university has reached or exceeded $100,000.

Hunt, a Heber Springs native, founded J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. of Lowell in 1962 with her late husband Johnnie Bryan Hunt.

She was recognized, according to a UA news release, because of her extraordinary achievements in the business world, her philanthropic leadership at the UA and her outstanding support of the Northwest Arkansas region and the state.

In 2005, Hunt and her husband made a $5 million pledge that helped the UA meet and surpass its $900 million campaign goal, which ultimately prompted the university to raise the goal to $1 billion.

That same year, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. made a gift of $10 million for the construction of the J.B. Hunt Transport Services Center for Academic Excellence, a technology-oriented, multi-use building.

“For me it’s an easy choice to support the University of Arkansas with time and resources as the University has been such a valuable part of the community and state since its inception,” Hunt said in an emailed statement. “From a business standpoint, I’m so appreciative to the university for teaching and training a number of J.B. Hunt Transport employees over the years. It’s a privilege for me personally to have the means to help the University of Arkansas offer a life-changing educational opportunity to so many others in the future.”

Dillard was honored for his notable business accomplishments through Dillard’s Inc. as well as his service to the UA and the state. 

A longtime supporter of Razorback athletics, Dillard has been involved with the Razorback Foundation Inc. for more than 50 years.