Leland Edward Tollett was born in Nashville, Howard County, Arkansas, on January 21, 1937.
Tollett received a two-year degree from Southern State College before earning B.S. and M.S. degrees in poultry science and nutrition from the University of Arkansas.
Tollett began working in research for Tyson Feed and Hatchery in 1959 and remained there through their expansion into Tyson Foods, Inc., rising to president and CEO before retiring in 1998. He was asked to return to Tyson Foods as interim president and CEO in 2009 to guide the company through an industry-wide downturn. He has served on the board of the National Chicken Council and as board director of Worthen Banking Corp. and J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Leland Tollett and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Leland Tollett's parents, Gladys Virginia and Virgil Elisha Tollett
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Leland Tollett with his mother, Gladys Virginia Tollett
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Leland Tollett as an infant, 1937
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Leland Tollett as an infant, 1937
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Leland Tollett (left) with his brother, James, 1937
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: Leland Tollett's school picture, Nashville, Arkansas, 1945
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#8: Leland Tollett's school picture, Nashville, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Lelend Tollett as a child
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Leland Tollett as a child
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Leland Tollett's school picture, Nashville, Arkansas, 1948-49
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: Leland Tollett (center), Houston Fat Stock Show & Livestock Exposition; Houston, Texas, 1956
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#13: Leland Tollett's student portrait, University of Arkansas, 1958
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: Leland Tollett in Air Force uniform; San Antonio, Texas, 1960
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Leland Tollet's fiance, Betty Ruth Blew, in her engagement photo, 1961
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Leland Tollet's wife, Betty Tollett, in her wedding dress, June 1961
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#17: Betty and Leland Tollett on their wedding day, June 2, 1961
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Leland Tollett's wife, Betty Tollett
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#19: Leland Tollett at Tyson Foods
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#20: Leland Tollett's daughter, Terri, and his son, Gary, 1967
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#21: Leland Tollett (2nd from right) on American Spotlight
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#22: Leland Tollett (center front), Beijing, China
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#23: Leland Tollett at the Great Wall of China
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#24: Leland Tollett with his grandson, 1993
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#25: Leland Tollett in front of photo of John Tyson; ca. 1990s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#26: Leland and Betty Tollett on their anniversary
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#27: Leland and Betty Tollett, August 1996
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#28: Leland Tollett, University of Arkansas Distinguished Alumnus
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#29: Leland Tollett portrait
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#30: Leland Tollett portrait, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#31: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Leland Tollett; Rogers, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#32: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Leland Tollett; Rogers, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#33: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Leland Tollett; Rogers Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
