I found a reference to him from 2000 on this thread:
Preparing for the Terrorist Threat
Alex Jones just said on his radio program, that in Austin, Texas (where he lives) several "prominent businessmen" are selling everything they own and leaving the United States.
Posted by someone now banned (ratcat)
He posted under the name "infowars", I believe.
And there were a whole flock of people passing through who were either Alex Jones, people assisting Alex Jones, or people who wanted to be Alex Jones. Each and every one of them refined their website talking points by posting their wild-ass theories here first and letting them get shot full of holes. Then they'd rework, repost, and watch what happened. Then adjust again. And again.
It was like we were a focus group or something.
Still are, I guess.