Nebraska Business Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Announced
A distinguished group of business leaders and entrepreneurs are being inducted into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame, according to Barry Kennedy, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The inductions take place Thursday, February 1 at The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln as part of the Nebraska Chamber’s Annual Meeting and evening banquet.
Established in 1992 by the State Chamber and the University of Nebraska College of Business Administration, the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame recognizes the state’s most accomplished business leaders and their contributions to our free enterprise system. Candidates are nominated by individuals from the business community, business associations and academia.
The 2018 Nebraska Business Hall of Fame class members are:
THOMAS C. SMITH – D.A. Davidson & Co., Lincoln
Tom Smith started his career in the financial services industry in 1968. He and partner Tom Hayes started Smith Hayes Financial Services in 1985. Starting with just three employees, they grew to over 100 staff with offices in Lincoln, Omaha and Columbus. They became involved in public finance and started their own mutual fund.
In 2016, the business merged with D.A. Davidson & Co. and manages more than $40 billion in investments, including about $10 billion from the Nebraska offices. Tom was appointed vice chairman of the Davidson Wealth Management Division and serves on the board of directors of Davidson Companies.
JOE RICKETTS – TD Ameritrade, Omaha
Joe Ricketts spent more than 35 years helping build and run the company that has evolved into TD Ameritrade, the world’s largest online brokerage and a recognized leader in securities trading and clearing. In 1975, Ricketts co-founded First Omaha Securities, among the first companies in the world to recognize the potential of the discount securities market.
Under his leadership, the company grew quickly and evolved into TD Ameritrade, which has pioneered technology to revolutionize the financial services sector – today managing hundreds of billions of dollars in client assets. Ricketts is currently focusing on a variety of entrepreneurial and philanthropic ventures.
JOHN L. HUGHES – Hughes Brothers, Inc., Seward
John Hughes is president of Hughes Brothers, Inc., a leader in the electric transmission and distribution industry. Formed in 1921, the business has earned a reputation for quality products that last. The company’s early production was primarily wood products for the electric utility industry. By the early 1940s, pole line hardware and custom manufactured metal fittings and parts were added. During World War II, the federal government commandeered Hughes Brothers to make products for the war effort.
Today, the factory houses a complete wood, metal and fiberglass manufacturing operation as the Seward-based company does business throughout the world.
J. PAUL MCINTOSH (deceased) – Entrepreneur, Norfolk
Paul McIntosh started teaching in the early 1940s and became a vocational agriculture instructor in 1950. Along with his teaching duties, he was also starting a commercial painting company and several ag-related enterprises focused on livestock and fertilizer. In 1952, Paul entered the farm management, apartment and land development business, all of which continue to this day.
McIntosh developed numerous housing developments while growing his agricultural business interests in Nebraska and several other states. He served on many local, state and national boards and received the Norfolk Betterment Award from the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce in 1993.