Elton Bryson Stephens Sr. (1911–2005) was an American businessman from

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

, who founded

EBSCO Industries EBSCO Industries is an American company founded in 1944 by Elton Bryson Stephens Sr. and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The "EBSCO" acronym is based on Elton Bryson Stephens Company. EBSCO Industries is a diverse company of over 40 bus ...

Early life

Stephens was born on August 4, 1911, in

Clio, Alabama Clio is a city
in Barbour County, Alabama, Barbour County, Alabama, United States. The population was 1,39 ...

.Jim Stephens
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.

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 The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

. 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 The Alabama Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra based in Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, Jefferson County. The po ...

, where he was chairman of its board of trustees, and where the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center was named after his late wife. Additionally, he donated $1 million to the

United Way United Way is an international network of over 1,800 local nonprofit organization, nonprofit fundraising affiliates. Prior to 2015, United Way was the largest nonprofit organization in the United States by donations from the public. Individual Un ...

of Central Alabama in 1997, joining their Million Dollar Roundtable. For charitable contributions to the

Birmingham Museum of Art The Birmingham Museum of Art is a museum in Birmingham, Alabama. Its collection includes more than 24,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and decorative arts representing various cultures, including Asian, European, United States, Amer ...

, 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, Ala ...

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 The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a public research university in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. Founded in 1969 and part of the University of Alabama System, UAB has grown to be the state's largest employer, with more than ...

. They also paid $15 million for the construction of the Elton B. Stephens Science Center on the campus of

Birmingham–Southern College Birmingham–Southern College (BSC) was a private liberal arts college in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1856, the college was affiliated with the United Methodist Church and was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SA ...

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