The man accused of kidnapping prominent Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens Jr. has pleaded guilty to federal charges in last years abduction. 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. 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. So now that Harbert has passed away, there is no clear heir to the title of wealthiest Alabama resident. And I found it odd that he has retained Spina, the criminal defense attorney quoted in . STEPHENS Lionel H. Stephens, a retired educator and computer analyst, died Friday, July 27, 2012 at the age of 76 in Baton Rouge, LA. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. As a youngster, he would rise early to milk the familys cows, then bottle and sell the milk before school. We have no idea how Forbes could have so wrongly made this estimate. Matthew Amos Burke, 35, pleaded guilty . Mr. Elton China, life journey began on Wednesday, October 7, 1942, born to the late Mr. James and Mrs. Carrie China to a large family of ten siblings. "Neither EBSCO or our family is worth anywhere near Forbes' estimate. With headquarters still in Birmingham, EBSCO sells its products throughout the United States and has operations in more than 30 states and almost 20 foreign countries, including Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, France, Greece, Canada, and Turkey. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Basing his operation in Birmingham, Alabama, Elton soon had salesmen hawking titles all over the Southeast, including as World War II began at nearby Fort McClellan. Vernon where he lived until . Elton B Stephens of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama was born on August 4, 1911, and died at age 93 years old on February 5, 2005. 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). Sentencing is set for Nov. 2 before U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon. Dr. Sarah B. Kalish officiating. On the way to Remlap, the group stopped at a Full Moon Bar-B-Que drive-thru to get lunch. Stephens told Burke he was scaring him and asked Burke how much money it would take to leave him alone. Hodges gave them consent to search the residence and thats when authorities found several guns, a Yeti cooler, a camera and cash that had been taken from Stephens home. Hodges was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Elton's lifetime. Photos, memories, family stories & discoveries are unique to you, and only you can control. "The Stephens family is so incredibly generous and supportive of the community in so many ways," Gail Andrews, the R. Hugh Daniel director of the Birmingham Museum of Art, said. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Elton Stephens of Cleveland, Blount County, Alabama was born on July 5, 1913, and died at age 71 years old in October 1984. His father Elton B. Stephens started the company . Burke and Hodges also are charged in state court, where their cases are awaiting grand jury action. can stop at any time. 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. [2] Additionally, he donated $1 million to the United Way of Central Alabama in 1997, joining their Million Dollar Roundtable. A nine-digit bank account would keep anyone sitting pretty for generations, but it doesn't automatically guarantee a claim to the title of richest Alabamian. Those who knew him believe his philanthropy was driven by his own struggles growing up in Clio in Barbour County and living through the Great Depression. He is currently safe, and two suspects are in custody. All rights reserved (About Us). On the way to Remlap, the group stopped at a Full Moon Bar-B-Que drive-thru to get lunch. the average Stephens family member He was a loving husband and a faithful friend. A small-town boy, 11 Elton quickly learned the value of money. Link to family and friends whose lives he impacted. The Stephens other daughter is Jane Comer, who was honored in 2002 for her own support of the arts. The binding plea agreement calls for Burke to be sentenced to 17 years in federal prison. was released from the Jefferson County Jail, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. November 13, 1892 . Elton Jr. has always been kind of the black sheep of the family and was not heavily involved in the family business. He was released only after he wired $250,000 to a bank account of the alleged kidnappers. Burke was sentenced to 17 years, and Hodges to 12 years, in the federal penitentiary system. Elton B Stephens lived [5] They met as students at Birmingham-Southern College and graduated together in 1932. They are also charged in state court and awaiting indictment consideration by a Jefferson County grand jury. State prosecutors said they spoke with the victim and other family members, and they were satisfied with the federal conviction and saw no need to proceed with the state charges. we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. After they left, he went to a friends home to call police. By 1936, at 25 years old, Elton had graduated from the University of Alabama Law School and was earning more money weekly managing sales people part-time than a starting . The Red Mountain Expressway, Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, and the 99,500-square-foot Elton B. Stephens Science Center at Birmingham-Southern College were all named in honor of the family's charitable work and donations. Mr. Elton L. "Tebo" Stephens, 89, of Wadesboro, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 3, 2019. We know that Elton R Stephens had been residing in Medford, Jackson County, Oregon 97504. Obituary. 21 death records. Stephens at some point asked kidnappers what it would take for them to leave him alone and Hodges replied, $400,000. In 1986 he bought Fort Deposit Bank in Fort Deposit, Alabama, for $3.6 million; then, with $4.2 million about two-thirds of which was from him and his family- he started Highland Bank in Birmingham in 1988. "The business is as much a part of the family as the family is part of the business," explains founder, 90-year-old Elton B. Stephens. Memorials. In 1974, when he was 63 years old, on July 30th, the House Judiciary Committee adopted three articles of impeachment against President Nixon. Stephens family member is 71. Who is Elton Stephens to you? Stephens was born on August 4, 1911, in Clio, Alabama. 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 . Good healthy years, being successful in whatever it is you may choose to do, after this, as long as you do it right.. They met as students at Birmingham-Southern College and graduated together in 1932. The museum has a Stephens Family Gallery. Stephens died on February 5, 2005. The family will greet friends prior to the service from 12:45 pm until 1:45 pm at the church. All rights reserved (About Us). Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho 83814 . 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Sadly, Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. Stephens was married to Alys Robinson. USA. After more than 80 years of business and financial endeavors, Elton says working is still his favorite hobby. A 2014 report on the world's super-rich by the wealth research firm Wealth-X listed her fortune at $1.8 billion. 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. After graduating from law school . Authorities went there on Saturday, Sept. 12, and both Burke and Hodges were there. BY ANCESTRY.COM. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. After waking Stephens, Burke asked the victim how much money he had and if he had any real estate holdings, according to the plea agreement. He was a loving husband and a faithful friend. When I was four, I had pneumonia, and I remember my father often standing over my crib and entertaining me, Elton once recalled fondly. Share highlights of Elton's life. We share yesterday, to build meaningful connections today, and preserve for tomorrow. 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. Before passing away at the age of 93 in 2005, Stephens and his wife, who preceded him in death in 1996, spent the last few decades of their lives donating millions to charity, educational institutions, the arts and various civic causes. Biography ID: 59996224 . It has a great diversity in businesses that include information services, publishing and digital media, outdoor products, real estate, manufacturing and general services. Elton B. Stephens 1911 - 2005 2020 Inductee. Burke went on to say, according to testimony, that he had bought the house two weeks before which was not true. Updated: November 4, 2011 . Vernon where he lived until moving to Tarrytown in 1989. James Stephens, Elton Stephens, Jane Comer, Dell S Brooke - $4 billion. Support worthwhile projects including but not limited to education, health, religion, needy, cultural arts, boys/girls clubs, law enforcement, conservation, nature, water resources. 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. Birmingham and Mountain Brook police, as well as the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, responded. The couple had four children: James T. Stephens, Jane Stephens Comer, Elton B. Stephens, Jr., and Dell Stephens Brooke. "[2], Stephens established the Metropolitan Arts Council of Birmingham in 1986. 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. 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 "EBSCO and the members of the family have been integral to the growth of the museum.". At one point, earlier testimony showed, Burke told Stephens if he did anything to make Hodges feel uncomfortable, it wont end well for you.. can stop at any time. 44 birth, 21 death, 3 marriage, 327 divorce, View 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. Authorities went there on Saturday, Sept. 12, and both Burke and Hodges were there. Who were the people in Elton's life? Elton has been found in 13 states including Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Utah. 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