In Memoriam: Bill Hurt, Jr.
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Bill Hurt, Jr. who passed away peacefully on September 30, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, generosity, and unwavering dedication to his family and friends.
Throughout the course of his life, Bill founded numerous business ventures that would shape the economic landscape of northeast Arkansas.
In 1964, Bill, along with his father Bill Hurt Sr., started Southern Marketing Affiliates, today known as SMA. Over the intervening 66 years, SMA. has grown to be one of North America’s largest distributors of after-market parts used in agriculture. Bill served as chairman of the board of SMA from 1997.
In 1966, he launched Stor-All Tool Box, which manufactured tool boxes of the type that fit on the back of pick-up trucks. His success with Stor-All spawned another area-based tool-box manufacturing company, Delta, which he eventually owned via a merger of the two companies. Bill sold Delta in 1987, yet the company still carries on today as Delta/Apex Tool Group.
In 1979, Bill and his brother Porter Hurt co-founded Sun Industries, which grew to become a leading manufacturer of tanning beds in North America. Despite initial skepticism from his peers as to the viability of such a venture, Bill saw potential in the tanning industry and, over two decades, nurtured Sun Industries into a thriving business.
Bill Hurt, Jr. had a gift for putting things in motion and then enlisting others to join him in taking those things to unforeseen heights. His restless personality and boundary-pushing nature made him a formidable presence in any situation, but he also knew when to step back and let others shine.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at Emerson Memorial Chapel, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be observed prior to the service at 9:00 a.m. Following the service, a buffet luncheon will be provided at 501 Steakhouse.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, reflecting Bill’s love of duck hunting and respect for nature: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205
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