Randy Eskelson and John Soules Sr. pose for a photo.

From Staff Reports

Junior Achievement of the Greater Tyler Area revealed its 2024 Business Hall of Fame Laureate at a press conference earlier this month.

John Soules Sr., founder and chairman of the board John Soules Foods, was named as the recipient. He accepted his induction Dec. 11.

A Hall of Fame Laureate is chosen yearly and is a business, family or individual that has dedicated their time volunteering or has continuously shown support through donations to Junior Achievement. It is the highest honor given by the organization.

The award will be presented to Soules at a reception set for 6:30 p.m. April 18 at Willow Brook Country Club.

Upon accepting the recognition, John Soules Sr. made comments about the value of JA and encouraged others to support the organization. JA representatives then spoke about the importance of the organization and purpose of the Hall of Fame event.

“The HOF is our signature fundraising event that provides JA to over 6,400 students free of charge to any of the schools that we serve,” JA Regional Executive Director John McDougald said.

Randy Eskelson spoke about John Soules Foods and its legacy in Tyler. The business was established in 1975.

“John Soules Foods is in its second generation of family leadership with John Soules, Jr. and Mark Soules serving as Co-CEOs, while founder John Sr. serves as chair of the board,” Eskelson said. “The company had humble beginnings selling raw ground beef patties direct to customers in East Texas. Now, nearly 50 years later, John Soules Foods has grown into one of the largest national producers of ready-to-eat chicken and beef, including being the No. 1 producer of chicken and beef fajitas in the U.S.”

Since 1919, Junior Achievement’s purpose has been to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise and understand business and economics to improve the quality of their lives. JA is the world’s largest and fastest-growing nonprofit economic education organization.

“We teach financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship,” McDougald said. “ JA’s core purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.”

This year, more than 250 business professionals, parents, retirees and high school students will enter Tyler-area schools to teach Junior Achievement programs. Through the help of these volunteers and funders, JA of Tyler anticipates reaching more than 6,400 local students during the 2023-24 school year. JA of Tyler has served over 128,000 students since its inception in 1988.

JA Board Chair Melissa Shanhouse said JA’S elementary school programs are designed to instruct students about their individual economic roles as decision-makers, workers, and consumers. Middle school and high school programs delve deeper into the financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship that JA teaches.

Local business and community volunteers come into the classroom to deliver the programs, according to Shanhouse. These programs are age-appropriate and interactive.

“JA’s business/education partnerships provide positive role models and demonstrate how education promotes success,” she said. “Hands-on activities and discussions provide specific opportunities for the students to learn by doing. The programs also encourage confidence and motivate young people to set and achieve their personal, educational, and career goals.”

Shanhouse also thanked the 23 active board members and 250-plus volunteers who serve JA.

JA began in 1919, and through the efforts of a group of Tyler business leaders, came to Tyler in 1988. The organization has served over 128,000 students since its inception, instructing students K-12.