Joe A. Stovall was born in Chicago in 1964. His family moved to Champaign when he was around a young child; he grew up at the corner of First and Church. He was one of the original members of the Boys Club. He graduated from Central High School in 1982, attended Quincy College and transferred to Illinois State University in Normal, where he received a B.S. in Chemistry in 1988. After graduation, he worked for Dow Chemical. Later he became an employee with State Farm Insurance. He currently runs his own agency in Champaign. Heavily involved in the community, he has been President of the Urban Business Network, Board President of the Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club, and an avid supporter of the Urban League of Champaign County. He was a sponsor, coach and volunteer for 1st String, Inc., Instructor for the Junior Achievement program, and Mentors through the Talks mentoring program. He currently hosts Talkinʹ Sportz Fridays on WBCP with Sam Britton. He is married to Elizabeth Stovall, with whom he has two sons.

Joe was featured in Difference Makers 2010: An eBlack Champaign-Urbana Publication.