John "Jack" Henry, Founder Jack Henry & Assocs., Dies

By Maria Bruno-Britz

Jack Henry & Associates (Monett, Mo.) founder John W. "Jack" Henry passed away of natural causes this weekend at the age of 71."Jack," as he was known, was one of the early pioneers in community bank software. In 1976 after the bank in which he worked as the data processing manager was acquired and his position was eliminated, Jack, along with business partner Jerry Hall, started Jack Henry & Associates. Henry and Jerry ran the company from a space rented in a small engine repair shop in Purdy, Mo., and started with a handful of community banks as customers. Today, the company provides software and services to more than 8,700 financial institutions and employs more than 3,500 employees nationwide. Although he was no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of the company, Henry maintained an office on the Jack Henry & Associates corporate campus, and served was acting vice chairman and senior vice president. Jerry Hall, executive vice president and co-founder of Jack Henry & Associates, commented, "Jack leaves a strong legacy for the businesses and people he touched. He believed in bringing people together and forging lasting relationships. Those relationships and the impact he had survive him and are a testament to all that he has accomplished. He did something that few people could--brought together people who could step in behind him and carry his vision forward." Henry is survived by his wife Brenda; his daughter Vicki Jo Henry; his son Michael Henry; one stepson Gary Williams, four grandchildren and two step grandchildren.