Jim Hensley

James Willis Hensley
Born	(1920-04-12) 12 April 1920 San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Died	21 June 2000(2000-06-21) (aged 80) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, beer distributor
Known for	Founder of Hensley & Co., major Anheuser-Busch distributor
Notable work	Hensley & Co.

James Willis Hensley (April 12, 1920 – June 21, 2000) was a prominent American entrepreneur in the beer distribution sector.

Originally from Texas and raised in Arizona, Hensley served as a bombardier aboard B-17 Flying Fortress bombers during World War II, where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Following the war, he encountered legal troubles involving unauthorized liquor distribution and was connected to an inquiry related to a racetrack.

In 1955, he established Hensley & Co., based in Phoenix, which grew to become one of the nation’s leading Anheuser-Busch beer distributors. At the time of his passing, he ranked among Arizona’s wealthiest citizens and was the father of Cindy Hensley McCain as well as father-in-law to Senator and presidential contender John McCain.

Early life, military service and family

Born in San Antonio on April 12, 1920, to Jessie and James L. Hensley, he relocated with his family to Arizona during childhood and completed his education at Phoenix Union High School in 1936. Around 1937, he married Mary Jeanne Parks, initially working as a newspaper salesman.

Prior to the outbreak of World War II, Hensley and his brother Eugene entered the liquor distribution business under Kemper Marley, Sr., founding United Liquor Co. in Phoenix and United Distribution Co. in Tucson.

During the war, Hensley served three years as an officer and B-17 bombadier in the US Army Air Forces. His aircraft was downed multiple times over the English Channel, earning him the Distinguished Flying Cross. While deployed overseas, his daughter Kathleen Ann Hensley was born in 1943.

After sustaining injuries, he recuperated at a facility in West Virginia where he met Marguerite "Smitty" Johnson. Following a divorce from his first wife, he wed Marguerite in 1945 during military leave. The couple had one daughter, Cindy Lou Hensley, born in 1954. His eldest daughter primarily resided with her mother, though he maintained some relationship with her.

Early business career, legal issues

Upon his discharge in 1945, Hensley and his brother resumed employment under Marley at United Sales Company (Phoenix) and United Distributors (Tucson). In 1948, both were federally charged and convicted for falsifying liquor records to hide illicit whiskey distribution amidst post-war rationing restrictions. Jim Hensley received a six-month prison term (which was upheld but later suspended), while Eugene served a year; both faced fines. In 1953, Jim Hensley and Marley faced similar accusations but were acquitted with legal defense led by future Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist.

In December 1952, the Hensley brothers invested in New Mexico’s Ruidoso Downs racetrack; Eugene took on management duties while Jim returned to Phoenix. At a 1953 hearing before the New Mexico State Racing Commission, they failed to disclose an equal partner—Clarence "Teak" Baldwin—who was barred due to illegal bookmaking activities. A state police investigation that same year connected Marley to bookmakers and organized crime-related gambling operations—a conclusion later corroborated by investigative journalism. Despite prior felony convictions, the brothers secured their racetrack license since no statute prohibited ownership; however, Governor John F. Simms criticized the approval granted by the previous administration. Former Governor Edwin L. Mechem defended the licensing decision, emphasizing adherence to existing laws under close monitoring. Jim Hensley divested his interest in Ruidoso Downs to Eugene in 1955; Eugene subsequently sold it to a Marley-affiliated entity in 1969.

Hensley & Co.

Jim Hensley established the beer distribution company that carried his name in 1955, securing a $10,000 loan to purchase a small existing distributor. Despite having a felony on his record, he successfully obtained a state liquor license. The enterprise began with a workforce of 15 employees and achieved annual sales of 73,000 cases, capturing a 6% share of the market. Hensley soon concentrated solely on distributing Anheuser-Busch products. Operating under various titles such as Hensley & Company Distributors and Hensley & Company Wholesale, the business steadily expanded, benefiting from Phoenix’s rapid growth and retaining exclusive rights to distribute Anheuser-Busch beer within the area. The company’s success was driven by Jim Hensley’s assertive sales tactics combined with employee benefits. By 1980, he had become a multimillionaire through this venture.

In 1981, Hensley appointed his son-in-law John McCain as Vice President of Public Relations; however, McCain departed shortly thereafter to pursue a career in Congress. During McCain's 1986 Senate bid, opponents emphasized Hensley’s prior legal troubles and associations with Marley, yet McCain secured a decisive victory.

Hensley emerged as one of Arizona’s wealthiest individuals, holding majority ownership in Hensley & Co., which by the year 2000 employed around 500 staff members and produced roughly $220 million in annual revenue from selling 20 million cases. It ranked as the second-largest distributor for Anheuser-Busch nationwide, the fifth-largest beer distribution company overall in the United States, and the twelfth largest privately owned firm in Arizona. Additionally, Hensley was a prominent philanthropist in Phoenix through the Hensley Family Foundation and contributed support to events such as NASCAR and Gilbert Rodeo Days.

Jim Hensley passed away in Phoenix on June 21, 2000. His will bequeathed his entire estate to Cindy Hensley McCain, who assumed the roles of controlling shareholder and chairperson of the board. His other daughter, Kathleen, received significant gifts during his lifetime but was left only a modest sum from the estate itself.