names in its operating region, which includes Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and portions of Illinois.

Southwestern Bell continued to grow in size when it absorbed several smaller telephone companies.

In 1953, it absorbed the Ozark Central Telephone Company Southwestern Bell also provides service to Kaskaskia and McClure, Illinois.

He later became the Vice-Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Financial Officer of SBC while remaining the President and CEO of the several subsidiaries including Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.

Southwestern Bell Telephone underwent a branding overhaul and adopted the slogan, "Your friendly neighborhood global telecommunications company."

On December 30, 2001, the original Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, incorporated in Missouri, ceased to exist when it was merged into Southwestern Bell Texas, Inc., a separate operating company incorporated in Texas.

[6] This company ceased to exist on June 29, 2007, when it was merged into SWBT Inc., incorporated in Missouri,[7] which was founded just 8 days prior.

As a result, officially, Southwestern Bell began conducting business under the following names: AT&T Arkansas, AT&T Kansas, AT&T Missouri, AT&T Oklahoma, and AT&T Texas.