Jack Wells is casting for more than just fish
Most who know Jack Wells know him primarily as the president and owner of B and M Poles, a pristine warehouse tucked away in West Point's industrial park.
The company itself was founded in the 1940s and has been in its current location since 1980. Wells and his wife purchased part of the company from John Baron in the early 2000s, and when Mrs. Wells' stepfather, Buck Simmons, passed, the couple inherited the rest of the company.
Born in Tupelo, MS, Jack Wells has lived all over the country in his years. He was never sure if he would make it back to Mississippi, but when the opportunity came available to be part of something so intrinsic to his family, he knew what he had to do. He relocated back to Tupelo with his wife and four children.
“I may live in Tupelo, but really my civic life is here,” Wells said about West Point.
While he may be the owner of a very successful national company, he's also somebody who takes pride in his community, and seeks opportunities to invest in it at every turn.
“There's good people everywhere you go, but the people here have something so resilient about them,” said Wells. “They're hard workers.”
In celebrating the company's 100 year anniversary in 2023, Wells saw this chance to celebrate and give back to the community that has long uplifted and supported him. Together with Team Smile–a charitable organization based in Kansas–Wells and his company were able to sponsor a city wide event and organized a dental care drive. With the help of the University of Mississippi dental program, Team Smile's resources, and Wells' willingness, over two hundred local children were able to receive free dental care.
“That's something I would not have been able to do without my community and connections. It was actually a personal friend and avid fisher that helped get things rolling. He works for the program.”
He goes on to detail how even the mayor and the rotary board got involved providing a no-cost bus service to shuttle kids to the program and then back home again. His connections go beyond Mississippi.
“I just got back from a trip myself. I went fishing in Louisiana with a couple of the Duck Dynasty crew.”
Several of the cast and their family members know Wells, and support his product as well as his mission.
“We want to make quality products at a reasonable price,” said Wells, “and I want to be able to give back to this community. To the people of West Point, thank you for your continued support. I look forward to supporting each other as we go forward.”