Collier Wenderoth Jr., the chairman of Fort Smith-based OK Industries and a legend in the Arkansas and national poultry industry, has passed away. He was 87. The regional poultry processing company was began by Wenderoth’s father, reports the Arkansas City Wire. He joined the small family operation selling feed for O.K. Feed Mills, and in 1955 became president of the company. Wenderoth added poultry processing and distribution and began a path of growth that would see the company post revenue of $928.3 million in 2010.
Today, OK Industries employs about 5,000 in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The company was one of the largest privately held operations based in Arkansas. The company operates large processing plants in Fort Smith and Heavener, Okla.