Philanthropist William Jennings Bryan Osborne Jr. died Wednesday from complications from heart surgery, according to his friend and attorney, Bud Whetstone.
Osborne, 67, had been in the hospital since an April 18th heart surgery. The Associated Press reported that Osborne died at 3:30 p.m. at a Little Rock hospital. Little Rock ABC affiliate KATV-TV, Channel 7, aired a story this week on Osborne’s declining health.
A funeral is planned for Monday, with more details pending.
Whetstone said Osborne had been suffering complications from his surgery, including high blood pressure and kidney problems. He said the family had called him to the hospital last night knowing that Osborne’s health was worsening.
"Jennings, of course, was a one of a kind," Whetstone said.
In a statement, Osborne’s daughter, Allison "Breezy" Osborne-Wingfield, thanked the state and others for their prayers while Osborne was in the hospital.
"My father was an amazing man who all my life showed what a big heart he had for everyone, young and old and regardless of background or wealth," she said. "Sadly my father’s big heart finally gave out. But knowing my ‘Dadoo,’ there will be fireworks at the gates of Heaven.
"We want to thank everyone from Arkansas and across the country for all their well wishes and prayers. It meant so much to my dad, me and my mom."
"I am deeply saddened by the news of my friend Jennings Osborne’s passing," Former President and Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton said in a statement. "Jennings had a big heart and gave so much to so many people throughout his extraordinary life. From personally providing holiday cheer through his light shows to helping families get back on their feet after natural disasters, Jennings’ capacity to give was truly awe-inspiring. He even took time to personally serve the hungry his signature BBQ, feeding thousands of Arkansans throughout the years.
"Like those he lifted up, I consider myself fortunate to have known such a uniquely compassionate man. My family and I are grateful for his friendship and our thoughts and prayers are with Mitzi and Breezy."
(More: Read more about Osborne’s political connections.)
"With the passing of Jennings Osborne, Arkansas has lost one of our highest-profile philanthropists," Governor Mike Beebe said in a prepared statement. "He brought comfort and entertainment to countless people, whether feeding disaster victims, donating fireworks, throwing unparalleled tailgate parties or lighting up Disney World.
"While a larger-than-life public figure, Jennings was also a kind and soft-spoken man, who always shared his financial success with others."
‘Sensitive Guy’
Osborne made his fortune in medical research, but was more famous for his Christmas light displays and his massive barbeques, where he often fed hundreds of people at a time.
Whetstone said he witnessed Osborne’s generosity over and over.
"He’s just a very sensitive guy," Whetstone said. "Jennings was extremely hard to know because he wouldn’t let people get close to him. But you didn’t have to be around him long to know what a great person he was."
Whetstone said that for all that people know about Osborne’s generosity, there’s many more of Osborne helping strangers — stories that never made news.
"I’d been all over the United States traveling with Jennings, and he’d hand out hundred-dollar bills like you wouldn’t believe — [to] somebody in a wheelchair or in a bad situation," Whetstone said.
Osborne’s generosity was matched by habit of doing things in a big way, at times to the consternation of others.
He constructed elaborate holiday light displays at his Little Rock home, drawing sightseers from miles around while alienating his neighbors, who sued him. The case went to the Arkansas Supreme Court in 1994, and Osborne had to take down his lights.
Osborne went on to place his lights at the downtown River Market and arranged to provide holiday lights at Disney World and Graceland.
He also provided tremendous pork dinners to fans before Arkansas Razorback football games and counted former Gov. Mike Huckabee among his friends. In 2009, one of Osborne’s dinners was featured on an episode of the Travel Channel cable network’s "Man Vs. Food."
Osborne is survived by his wife, Mitzi and his daughter.
New Business
In the last year, Osborne has been getting his new business, Osborne Research Center, in order. The company opened last year.
"It gives me a reason to get up in the morning and go to work," Osborne told Arkansas Business last year. "I did it my whole life. I never, ever dreaded going to work."
In 2004, Osborne sold his previous company, Arkansas Research Medical Testing LLC of Little Rock, for $20.3 million to a company owned by Little Rock financier Warren Stephens.
Osborne later sued Stephens’ related entities after he grew frustrated with how the business was run, winning a $3 million judgment in 2009. But the state Supreme Court reversed that ruling in April.
Osborne’s non-compete agreement ended in 2009, allowing him to jump back into the medical testing business. He said he had missed the work.
"I love for a drug company to give me a hard study and then I’m able to pull it off," he said. "It’s just a simple high for me."
Whetstone said Osborne had been happy with how the business was progressing. He said that, before going into the hospital earlier this year, the business had signed new contracts. Whetstone said Osborne was irritated about going into the hospital because he was enjoying his work.
"He was going to work every day before this came up," he said.
More
Click to read Little Rock Soirée magazine’s December 2003 interview with Jennings Osborne.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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