The tale of Tri-States Automotive Warehouse, Incorporated, spans many generations and locations. In reality, it’s for many of the companies with the longest records in Marianna.
“It’s kinda funny, but I would wager that a 3rd of the town has worked for our corporation,” Kelly Connolly shared. “They are all part of our Tri-States circle of relatives.”
The Tri-States tale started with Fred and Mary Henson. Fred was a Marianna High School graduate. Mary Henson had a degree in Chemistry from the University of Alabama. “My grandmother discovered that, at that time, she could earn extra money running as a college instructor rather than as a DuPont chemist,” she explained. After the couple got married, they lived first in Anniston, Alabama, where Elizabeth (Libby) was born. They later moved to 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, where Fred changed into an outside salesman and Mary became a Home Economics instructor, who made home visits.
The couple decided to return to Fred’s place of birth, Marianna, and in 1946 opened the first impartial components keep in this region, in which Ume is located today. The space became named Marianna Auto Parts and Supply Company and shared low walls with different businesses. The construction confronted Lafayette Street, and customers had been able to park in front of the store. “My grandmother becomes an outstanding ‘Parts Counter Woman,’” Kelly delivered. The family tale passed down through the generations is that Mary took infant Libby with her to paintings and used paint containers behind the counter as a playpen.
A few years later, the business moved to where the Supervisor of Elections’ workplace is placed these days. There were stables situated behind the store that then burned. The fire spread to the building that housed Marianna Auto Parts and Supply Company. However, the Henson circle of relatives had moved once more to what is typically recognized today as the Marianna Appliance Store on Lafayette Street.
When their 2nd daughter, Cathie, became the handiest seven, Fred Henson turned into tragically killed with the aid of an under the influence of alcohol driving force at the same driver while on the job. Mary later married Jim Rule, a salesman from Tennessee, and had a son, Jimmy. Jim turned into an expert in income and shop enlargement, and at some stage in this time, the range of auto components stores owned by the family improved to four. By the late sixties, it became apparent that a warehouse was wanted for closer distribution of a circle of relatives-owned shops and probably other independent organizations. To this result, in 1970, the family hooked up with Tri-States Automotive Warehouse.
Over the next few years, the sister companies experienced a boom. Ronnie Stevens, Bill Stevens, and James Lash were with the corporations in the early days. Ronnie labored at Service Auto Parts on the counter, Bill worked for Mary, and James Lash became the chief salesman. “James might visit different component stores and convince the proprietors to provide Tri-States Automotive Warehouse with their 2nd name because no one believed the warehouse should deal with their elements’ needs,” Kelly continued. The business enterprise grew quickly from the 6,700 square foot single warehouse to a forty,000 rectangular foot structure built most effectively four years later.
