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Submitted: 1/22/11 • Approved: 6/4/12 • Last Updated: 7/30/12 • R451739-G0-S3
July 26, 1905 - Jan 15, 1967
Founder and chairman of the board of directors of Tyson Foods Inc., in Springdale, Washington County, Arkansas.
Mr. Tyson was born July 26, 1905 at Mound City, Holt County, Missouri, the son of Isaac and Anna Skelly Tyson. His grandparents were John and Matilda Tyson, and William and Jane Skelly. He was a member of the First Methodist Church of Springdale, the Masonic Lodge, the Shrine Club, the State Racing Commission, and was vice president of the Springdale Savings and Loan Association. He was past chairman of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and was past president of the Springdale Benevolent Association.
In his early years, John lived in Missouri; Fergus County, Montana; and Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas, with his parents. In 1930, he was noted as partner with his father, breeding hogs. John was married to Mildred about 1929 and they had a son, Donald in 1930. John married Helen Knoll on May 4, 1941 in Washington County, AR, and they had a son, Randal in 1952.
In 1935 he began selling chickens in Springdale, and trucking and delivering to cities, such as Chicago, until he was not able to get enough chicken and decided to raise his own. In 1947 he became involved in the growing process and incorporated Tyson Feed & Hatchery. In 1957 the company's first processing plant opened in Springdale. "John Tyson had established the foundation for what would become the world’s largest protein business."
On January 15, 1967, while driving home, John and his wife, Helen Knoll Tyson, were killed instantly when their car was struck by a train from the St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) Railroad, at a crossing on Hwy. 264 about three miles north of Springdale. They were survived by two sons, Donald John Tyson, and a minor, Randal William Tyson, three grandchildren, and John's mother.
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Department of Poultry Science & The Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, dedicated a building to John W. Tyson. The John W. Tyson Building, a 112,000-square-foot building was dedicated at a ceremony for the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science on September 10, 1995.
Bio by Mary Hunter
Sources [Accessed June 2012]:
Northwest Arkansas Times, January 16, 1967, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Censuses: 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 & 1930
TysonFoods.com - History
http://poultryscience.uark.edu/4534.php
www.ancestry.com
Contributed on 1/22/11 by nailgal123
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Record #: 451739