Thomas E. Wilson
Encyclopedia
Thomas E. Wilson was the founder of Wilson Sporting Goods
and the Wilson and Company meatpacking company.
In 1917, he was hired to take over the management of a failing meat packing company in Chicago, which was subsequently named after him, making Wilson & Company the 3rd largest meat packing company in the country. In 1926, he created one of the most recognizable brand names in the world, known as Wilson Sporting Goods
. He served as President and Chairman of the Board of Wilson & Co for 35 years.
, Canada, on July 11, 1868. He went to the United States as a young man, working as a railroad car checker in the bustling stockyards
of Chicago. He spent over 25 years working his way up the ranks of Morris & Co, becoming Vice President of the packing house in 1906, and president in 1913 following the death of its founder, Edwin Morris. In 1916, bankers succeeded in luring Wilson away from Morris & Company
, in order to run a failing New York-based meat packing company called Saltzberger & Sons (S&S). The company's name changed to Wilson & Co., and its headquarters moved to Chicago's Union Stock Yard. It soon joined Armour and Swift at the top of the American meat industry.
While at Saltzberger he ran the Ashland Manufacturing Company which used animal by-products
to create tennis racket strings. He renamed the company the Thomas E. Wilson Company and aggressively increased the sports line. The company is now Wilson Sporting Goods
.
Thomas Wilson built the company rapidly into one of 50 largest industrial corporations in America by the end of 1917. Wilson was an important influence on the branding of processed meat products, having developed many of today's popular value added beef and pork products. Wilson & Company was responsible for introducing numerous well-known brands, such as Wilson Certified Hams, Wilson's Continental Deli and Wilson's Corn King. He was an important figure in both the American Meat Institute and in the sporting goods industry.
He died in 1958.
Wilson Sporting Goods
The Wilson Sporting Goods Company is a sports equipment manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois, and currently is a foreign subsidiary of the Finnish company Amer Sports....
and the Wilson and Company meatpacking company.
In 1917, he was hired to take over the management of a failing meat packing company in Chicago, which was subsequently named after him, making Wilson & Company the 3rd largest meat packing company in the country. In 1926, he created one of the most recognizable brand names in the world, known as Wilson Sporting Goods
Wilson Sporting Goods
The Wilson Sporting Goods Company is a sports equipment manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois, and currently is a foreign subsidiary of the Finnish company Amer Sports....
. He served as President and Chairman of the Board of Wilson & Co for 35 years.
Early life
Wilson was born on a farm near London, OntarioLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada, on July 11, 1868. He went to the United States as a young man, working as a railroad car checker in the bustling stockyards
Feedlot
A feedlot or feedyard is a type of animal feeding operation which is used in factory farming for finishing livestock, notably beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens or ducks, prior to slaughter. Large beef feedlots are called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations . They...
of Chicago. He spent over 25 years working his way up the ranks of Morris & Co, becoming Vice President of the packing house in 1906, and president in 1913 following the death of its founder, Edwin Morris. In 1916, bankers succeeded in luring Wilson away from Morris & Company
Morris & Company
Morris and Company, whose president was Edward Morris, was one of several meatpacking companies in Chicago, Illinois, and in South Omaha, Nebraska....
, in order to run a failing New York-based meat packing company called Saltzberger & Sons (S&S). The company's name changed to Wilson & Co., and its headquarters moved to Chicago's Union Stock Yard. It soon joined Armour and Swift at the top of the American meat industry.
While at Saltzberger he ran the Ashland Manufacturing Company which used animal by-products
Animal by-products
Animal by-products are biodegradable wastes consisting of animal carcases, parts of animal carcases, products of animal origin which are not intended for human consumption, includes catering waste ....
to create tennis racket strings. He renamed the company the Thomas E. Wilson Company and aggressively increased the sports line. The company is now Wilson Sporting Goods
Wilson Sporting Goods
The Wilson Sporting Goods Company is a sports equipment manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois, and currently is a foreign subsidiary of the Finnish company Amer Sports....
.
Thomas Wilson built the company rapidly into one of 50 largest industrial corporations in America by the end of 1917. Wilson was an important influence on the branding of processed meat products, having developed many of today's popular value added beef and pork products. Wilson & Company was responsible for introducing numerous well-known brands, such as Wilson Certified Hams, Wilson's Continental Deli and Wilson's Corn King. He was an important figure in both the American Meat Institute and in the sporting goods industry.
He died in 1958.