Bruce Oakley Was Born

El Paso, Arkansas

After leaving school in the 10th grade, he took his first job as a window washer. For several years after that, he drove a milk truck.

United States Navy

Bruce joined the United States Navy—where he began developing the entrepreneurial skills that would serve him so well in life.

Home Sweet Home

El Paso, Arkansas

Bruce returned to farming in El Paso, where he initially raised cows. When the price of grain increased, he sensed an opportunity: Although he and other area farmers had begun raising their own grain, there was a shortage of suppliers who could deliver and spread the lime they needed to fertilize their fields.

First Customer

Batesville, Arkansas

Bruce purchased a dump truck and began making the 75-mile trip to Batesville, Arkansas, where he bought the lime he then sold to, and spread for, his first customer.

Expansion Begins

Beebe, Arkansas

Demand for Bruce's services grew, and he began hiring workers. He built a fertilizer storage facility in El Paso, and established himself as a fertilizer dealer. He then built a second fertilizer facility, strategically located 12 miles down the road in Beebe, Arkansas, which gave him access to the railroad. By now, Bruce was buying his fertilizer by the railcar load. And since fertilizer was a seasonal market, Bruce entered the grain business.

Oakley Headquarters

North Little Rock, Arkansas

Oakley looked to the Arkansas river system to meet demand. He bought a 20-acre site, in North Little Rock beside the Arkansas River, where Oakley's headquarters is located today.

Second River Location

Morrilton, Arkansas

Gradually, the company’s barge business grew to the point that Oakley purchased half-a-dozen or more new barges—then established a second Arkansas River location at Morrilton, Arkansas.

Father and Son

Bruce Oakley’s son Dennis officially joined the family enterprise at the age of 18. Having worked all his life for his father, he already had first-hand experience with many of the company’s operations.

Dennis Oakley

Over the next decade, Dennis became increasingly involved in Oakley’s business administration—and in 1993, he succeeded his father as president of Bruce Oakley, Inc.

River Terminals

MO, AR, LA

Oakley added river terminals in Caruthersville, MO, Shreveport, LA, and Pendleton, AR to expand the geographic footprint of its distribution activities.

Justin Oakley

Bruce Oakley's grandson, Justin Oakley, officially joins the business.

Jantran

Mississippi

Oakley enters the marine towing business with its acquisition of Jantran.  Jantran operates vessels on the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers.

Johnston's Port 33

Catoosa, Oklahoma

In early 2014, Oakley acquired Johnston's Port 33 in Catoosa, Oklahoma. Port 33 is the largest private port on the Arkansas river.

Growth Continues

IL, OH

Oakley grows its river terminal and distribution network with the acquisition of Oxbow Fertilizer. This adds strategic locations at Ottawa and Seneca, IL, and Cincinnati, OH.

St Louis, MO

Missouri

Oakley grows its presence in the St Louis harbor with the acquisitions of the Lange-Stegmann terminal and a new high-speed grain facility in Cahokia, IL.