How did R.J. Thomas come up with the brand name, “Pilot Rock” for his grills and tables?
Geography had much to do with it. Across the highway from where Thomas built his fi rst factory is a huge glacial rock the size of several houses. Whether traveling by river or over land, the native Indians and pioneers used the rock as a landmark to navigate by, so it became known as “Pilot Rock.” It is still a landmark today.
Incorporated on May 1, 1959, R.J. Thomas Mfg. Company was the result of R.J. Thomas’ lifelong vision. As a child, he was fascinated by anything mechanical and dismantled old Maytag washing machines. He worked with his peers in high school to build a glider. As a student at Iowa State College, R.J. discovered the discipline of engineering and knew where he belonged. After marrying Doris Morrill in 1939, R.J. worked in the Methods (Design) Department of John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa, designing tractors before he returned to his hometown of Cherokee, Iowa, where he worked as shop superintendent for Caswell Manufacturing. It was there that he made the fi rst hydraulic loader, a labor-saving device
Since 1980 the physical plant has been expanded nine times. Still building on the original location, the factory now includes buildings on both sides of Highway 59 in Cherokee, Iowa. Additional expansions are planned for 2010.
for farmers losing their helpers to WWII. After serving in the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion as Machinist’s Mate, First Class, in the South Pacifi c, R.J. continued as shop superintendent at Caswell’s until 1959 when he followed his dream to own his own business and manufacture his own designs.
Built in June 1959, the fi rst building was manufacturing R.J.’s innovative invention— the Pulver Rooter with counter-rotating knives, which simultaneously cultivated and plowed corn and cotton fi elds. Later he developed an insecticide bander, which proved very popular.
Custom design work eventually led Thomas Mfg. into the park equipment business.
In the early 1960s, John Gilchrist of the Cherokee County Conservation Board approached Thomas about designing and building grills for the newly developed Martin’s Access County Park. The pair worked together to evolve a satisfactory grill design, which proved to be durable, useful and popular with picnickers and campers. If a park wanted a grill, then of course, it also needed a picnic table, maybe even a bench, Thomas realized. And so the product line began to expand from customer demand.
Doris Thomas took to the road as the company’s fi rst sales rep, traveling the Midwest calling on park departments.
By the mid 1970s, R.J. Thomas Mfg. Company made the decision to make park equipment its predominant product line and agriculture products were discontinued. Today, the company is nationally and internationally recognized for its Pilot Rock brand park, streetscape and camp-site products.
The Pilot Rock line includes seven basic product categories—charcoal grills, campfi re rings, picnic tables, benches, trash and recycling receptacles, bike racks and site amenities. Since 1995, their 36-page catalog has exploded into a 100-page product index with more than a dozen new products introduced in 2009 and more in 2010. The company also holds eight patents on its products and designs.
In 2008, R.J. Thomas Mfg. Company came full circle when the Thomas family—on behalf of the business and its employees—made a large fi nancial contribution to the Cherokee County Conservation Board so it could complete the acquisition of land to expand the Martin’s Access County Park area. Almost 50 years later, the park and R.J. Thomas Mfg. Company continue to meet the demand together for quality recreation facilities.
Doris Thomas (left) became the fi rst traveling sales rep in the early 1970s. At that time it was unique for a woman to be traveling the Midwest calling on commercial and government clients. Her confi dent and friendly manner convinced customers to buy and sales grew. Here Doris is pictured exhibiting at an early trade show discussing the features of a Pilot Rock grill with an unidentifi ed customer.
• Web Site:
www.pilotrock.com • • E-Mail:
pilotrock@rjthomas.com •
PARK • STREET • CAMP SITE PRODUCTS
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R.J. Thomas Mfg. Company
, Inc. Celebrating 50 Years In Business
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