James T. Stephens
James T. Stephens | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 14, 1939 |
| Alma mater | Yale University Harvard University (MBA) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Chairman of EBSCO Industries |
| Spouse | Julie Stephens |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent | Elton Bryson Stephens, Sr. |
James T. Stephens (born April 14, 1939) is an American businessman and philanthropist from Alabama.
Early life
James T. Stephens was born on April 14, 1939, in Birmingham, Alabama.[1] His father, Elton Bryson Stephens, Sr., founded EBSCO Industries in 1944.[2][3][4] His mother was the former Alys Robinson.[2]
He graduated from Yale University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1961.[1] He earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1964.[1]
Career
Stephens served as a lieutenant in the United States Army.[2] He joined the family business, EBSCO Industries, where he served as president from 1970 to 2005.[1] He served as its chairman from 2002 to 2017.[2][3]
He was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Alabama Academy of Honor in 2012.[1]
Philanthropy
Stephens previously served as the chairman of the boards of trustees of the Highlands School in Mountain Brook, Alabama, the Altamont School, and Birmingham-Southern College.[1] Additionally, he served as the chairman of the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts of America.[1]
He donated US$2 million to the United Way of Central Alabama.[1] He has endowed scholarships at Jefferson State Community College, Troy University, and Birmingham-Southern College.[1] He has also made charitable contributions to the God's Outreach Center in Harpersville, Alabama as well as UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders.[1]
With his father, Stephens donated US$2.5 million to the University of Alabama at Birmingham.[4] They also donated US$15 million for the construction of the Elton B. Stephens Science Center on the campus of Birmingham–Southern College.[4]
Personal life
He is married to Julie Stephens.[1] They have four children.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Alabama Academy of Honor: James T. Stephens". www.archives.alabama.gov. Archived from the original on February 23, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 America's Richest Families: Stephens family, Forbes
- 1 2 Connor Sheets, Who are the richest Alabamians now that billionaire Marguerite Harbert has passed?, The Birmingham News, March 23, 2015
- 1 2 3 Michael Tomberlin, Stephens family may be better known in Birmingham for generosity than $4 billion wealth, The Birmingham News, July 10, 2014