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Thomas Transfer & Storage Co., Inc. was founded in 1945 by Joseph P. Thomas
and K.B. Thomas, father and son, at its present location, 906 East Sixth Avenue,
Emporia, Kansas, as a truck stop and local cartage company under the name of
Thomas Truck Terminal.
Later it was decided to diversify into the moving and storage business. Thus
the name was changed to Thomas Transfer & Storage Co., Inc. Several years
later, Thomas Transfer & Storage Co., Inc., joined United Van Lines as
moving agents.
In 1965, Kenneth B. Thomas became the firm's president, after the death of
his father, Joseph P. Thomas, and continued to run the business with the help
of his son, Jerry J. Thomas, who in 1975 became executive vice president and
general manager.
A new office, dock, and warehouse facility of approximately 7,000 square feet
were built directly behind the truck terminal. The following year an additional
7,000 square feet was added onto the warehouse, to accommodate commercial storage
needed by a local manufacturer, Didde-Glaser, Inc. (now Didde Web Corporation).
Thomas Transfer & Storage Co., Inc., has grown steadily for the over 50
years it has been in business and has seen substantial growth during recent
years. This is a result of increased business and improvements in equipment,
technology, and facilities.
In 1983 Thomas Transfer & Storage Co., Inc. added a second full-service
United Van Lines agency in Wichita, KS, located at 7701 East Osie. This second
agency's continued growth has strengthened the company. Because of the intensive
coverage this agency offers central, southeast, southwest, northwest, and western
Kansas, Thomas Transfer & Storage Co., Inc., is the only United agency
in the Wichita area.
Again in 1993 Thomas Transfer expanded, this time to Houston, Texas, with
offices located at 1255 West Loop North, near the Galleria. In the same year
Kenneth B. Thomas assumed the role of Chairman of the Board, and Jerry J. Thomas
became the company's third-generation family president. Just as Kenneth B.
and the late Della L. Thomas actively participated in the support and development
of the company until her death in 1993, Jerry J. Thomas and his wife, Nancy,
continue family leadership for the success of the business.
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