Dallas / Texas / United States
History of Becknell Becknell Wholesale Company is a family owned and operated wholesale company with headquarters in Lubbock, Texas. Founded by E. W. Becknell in 1951, the business was run by him until his death in 1971. Eugene Becknell, son of the founder, took over as president at that time and continues to oversee operations today. In 1939 E.W. Becknell started as a territory salesman for Southern Supply Company, a wholesale hardware company in Dallas, Texas. He traveled to Houston area until 1941, then moved to Quanah, Texas, to work the Oklahoma territory until 1943. He moved to Idalou, Texas, to work the High Plains and South Plains of Texas until 1945 when he and W. D. Wilkins formed a partnership named Becknell-Wilkins Wholesale Hardware Company. Becknell-Wilkins was a full line hardware company distributing housewares, appliances, sporting goods, builders hardware and a limited line of farm hardware. Becknell Wilkins sold out to West Texas Wholesale Company of Abilene, Texas, in 1951. That same year E. W Becknell started Becknell Wholesale Company, a new company with an emphasis on farm hardware and Jacuzzi irrigation pumps. With a staff of four, E. W. opened his new business at 702 23rd Street in Lubbock, Texas, in a 10, 000 sq. ft. triple Quonset hut building that had previously been used for storage of government-owned black-eyed peas. E. W. Becknell continued to run and expand the business until his death. He died in 1971 after a struggle with paralysis resulting from a car accident in 1969. His son, Eugene Becknell, took over operations of the business in 1969 and continues to run it today. In 1972, Becknell Wholesale bought the old Economy Supply Co. warehouse that adjoined its property to the north. A new 14, 000 sq. ft. building was erected in 1978 on the properties between the original building and the Economy Supply building. Becknell Wholesale opened a new branch operation in 1988 in Dallas, with warehouse and office space totaling 24, 000 sq. ft.
