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Elton Bryson Stephens Sr. (1911–2005) was an American businessman from Alabama, who founded EBSCO Industries.
In Memoriam: Elton Bryson Stephens, 1911-2005
''Serial Reviews'', Volume 31, Issue 2, 2005, pp. 80-81Michael Tomberlin
''The Birmingham News'', July 10, 2014 Stephens graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1932.
''Forbes''Connor Sheets
''The Birmingham News'', March 23, 2015 The company sold magazine subscriptions to the United States Army. 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."
Early life
Stephens was born on August 4, 1911, in Clio, Alabama.Jim StephensIn Memoriam: Elton Bryson Stephens, 1911-2005
''Serial Reviews'', Volume 31, Issue 2, 2005, pp. 80-81Michael Tomberlin
''The Birmingham News'', July 10, 2014 Stephens graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1932.
Career
Stephens founded Military Service Co. in 1944, with US$5,000.America's Richest Families: Stephens family''Forbes''Connor Sheets
''The Birmingham News'', March 23, 2015 The company sold magazine subscriptions to the United States Army. 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."
Philanthropy
Stephens established the Metropolitan Arts Council of Birmingham in 1986. He donated $15 million to the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, where he was chairman of its board of trustees, and where theAlys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center
The Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center (ASC) is a performing arts facility located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham ( UAB). It hosts over 250,000 people for more than 300 diverse events annually. The ASC is th ...
was named after his late wife. Additionally, he donated $1 million to the United Way of Central Alabama in 1997, joining their Million Dollar Roundtable. For charitable contributions to the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Stephens Family Gallery is named in his family's honor. The Red Mountain Expressway was renamed the Elton B. Stephens Expressway
The Elton B. Stephens Expressway, more commonly referred to locally as the Red Mountain Expressway, is a limited-access freeway serving as a north–south Connector (road), connection between Homewood, Alabama, Homewood and Mountain Brook, Alaba ...
by the City of Birmingham on September 11, 1975.
With his son James, Stephens donated $2.5 million to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. They also paid $15 million for the construction of the Elton B. Stephens Science Center on the campus of Birmingham–Southern College.
Personal life
Stephens was married to Alys Robinson. They met as students at Birmingham-Southern College and graduated together in 1932. They had two sons, Elton B. Stephens Jr. and James T. Stephens, and two daughters, Jane S. Comer and Dell S. Brooke. His wife died in 1996.Death and legacy
Stephens died on February 5, 2005. His son James serves as the chairman of EBSCO Industries.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Elton Bryson Sr. 1911 births 2005 deaths People from Mountain Brook, Alabama People from Clio, Alabama American company founders Businesspeople from Birmingham, Alabama Philanthropists from Alabama Stephens family American billionaires 20th-century American philanthropists 20th-century American businesspeople