Wes Stowers... Leadership in Action
walk through the buildings known
as Stowers Machinery Corporation
shows the growth, the hard work
done daily and the future, which is a
constant of innovation. Most notable is that
Wes Stowers is speaking to each employee,
by name and that is the definition of this
man. The humble and gracious President of
Stowers Machinery Corporation guides the
company as a family, it’s a team of which each
member has significant value.
The Stowers family opened the company
doors in 1960, Harry Stowers and his two
older brothers, Eugene (Bud) and Dick
purchased the R.L. Harris Caterpillar
dealership that had been in business since
the early 30's. The winter of that first year was
tough, they were rebuilding the dealership
and establishing relationships with both
the customers and employees. The Interstate
Highway Program got started in East
Tennessee. The Stowers team worked hard to
build a reputation of excellent product support
to stand out from the competition already
known to the contractors working the highway
program. Most of those contractors were not from
East Tennessee and the Stowers brothers knew
their success depended on offering more than
just equipment.
The Interstate Highway Program would
complete in the mid 70’s and Stowers
innovation in service and forward thinking
placed the company in a great position as
the Arab Oil Embargo made the energy
source of coal reserves in East Tennessee
very valuable. Stowers Machinery was able
to serve the exacting demands of the coal
industry, doubling the size of its Knoxville
facility, providing 24 hour service and machine
component exchanges. This time of growth
was followed by the recession of the 80’s
causing the coal industry to collapse, it was a
period of transition.
The innovation of Stowers Machinery
Corporation in the middle 1960’s would
again positively impact as they met the needs
of the industrial firms of Alcoa, Bowater,
Oak Ridge National Lab, the forestry and
trucking industries. Readied involvement in
the changing markets would become the
signature company model.
It was also at the close of the 80’s that
Wes Stowers, son of Harry, would become
company President. Wes joined the company
following a 12-year career in the Air Force.
Wes actually began working for the company
part time on Saturdays and full time in the
summer, in the warehouse and shop at the
young age of 16. His childhood goal was
to become a fighter pilot. A dream realized
after graduating from the Air Force Academy,
serving as a fighter pilot in the Air Force with
stationing around the globe including Spain
and Germany.
by CeCe Owens
A
Wes Stowers, Air Force Pilot
Bud & Harry Stowers, 1960’s