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Submitted: 8/27/23 • Approved: 8/27/23 • Last Updated: 8/30/23 • R1498290-G1498289-S3
George
November 20, 1902 - February 13, 2000
George T. Hernreich, 97, of Fort Smith died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, in Fort Smith.
He was the owner and operator of Esquire Jewelers. He was a member of United Hebrew Congregation, Diamond Dealers Club, American Gem Trade Association, National Association of Broadcasters and the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers-Senior Member. He was also a member of Broadcast Pioneers.
Hernreich opened a restaurant and sold hamburgers to pay his medical expenses. When America entered World War II, he sold gold wristwatches to thousands of GIs at Fort Chaffee. That launched his jewelry business.
With money from the watch sales, he bought KFPW radio, which is still a Hernreich property. He started Fort Smith's first television station, what is now Channel 5, then sold it to then-Times Record publisher Donald W. Reynolds. Later, he started the television station in Jonesboro and developed TV channels 40/29 in Fort Smith and northwest Arkansas. He also owned and operated radio stations in Hot Springs.
Hernreich donated the land on which the Sebastian County jail now sits.
Unknown to recipients of his generosity, he supplied Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to between 100 and 150 local families annually.
He was the widower of Mary Jane Hernreich.
Memorial service was at Christ the King Catholic Church in Fort Smith. A private burial was held at Roselawn Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Johnnie; one daughter, Cindy Beller of Mountainburg; one son, Bob of Vail, Colo.; two sisters, Esther Yurman of Sacramento, Calif., and Celia Goodman of Los Angeles; and five grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Corbin Green, Charles Ledbetter, Ed Hickman, Bruce and Allen Yurman, Gordon Brown, Jack Freeze, Steve Wilson and Ted Skokos.
Honorary pallbearers were Norris Taylor, Joe Smreker, John A. Griffin, Ray Baker, Judge Bernice Kizer, Dr. Tom Williams, Dr. James Buie, Dr. Paul Pradel and Dr. John Olson.
Johnnie
May 8, 1923 - November 17, 2002
She was the wife of George Hernreich and they operated radio stations KFPW (Fort Smith, Arkansas) and KZNG (Hot Springs, Arkansas) and television stations KAIT TV (Jonesboro, Arkansas) and Channel 40 (Fort Smith, Arkansas). In addition, she was president and financial officer of Esquire Jewelers, Inc., having been in that business for 50 years.
Photo courtesy of Frances Allen Titsworth
Contributed on 8/27/23 by Billsully060
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Record #: 1498290