Back Row Left To Right : Kenny Werdehausen , Anita Werdehausen , Julie Werdehausen , Bryan Werdehausen , Ambar Comer , Dennis Werdehausen
Front Row Left To Right : Travis Werdehausen , Nichole Werdehausen , Jennifer Werdehausen , Jeanie Werdehausen , Kayla Morlock , Jada Werdehausen , Ryan Werdehausen
There ’ s nothing wrong with businesses owned by large corporations , but there ’ s something truly special about the ones that are family owned and have been in business a long time . There aren ’ t too many of those left . Family owned businesses that have stood the test of time are truly special . Doolittle Trailer Manufacturing is still owned and operated by the same family that started the company 45 years ago . That ’ s a special distinction that not many companies can stake claim to … in any industry .
In 1978 , when the Werdehausen family started Doolittle Trailer Mfg ., the world was a different place . Jimmy Carter was president , The Bee Gees were still a hot commodity on the radio , and the Ford Fairmont and Chevy Caprice were best sellers for Detroit .
Back then , Doolittle Trailers was three brothers selling mobile homes in the small community of Doolittle , Missouri . One of the brothers decided to sell out his portion of the business leaving the remaining two to seize an opportunity to purchase a larger piece of land in Neosho , Missouri to continue their operation . After a few years , they relocated to Central Missouri , they added machinery repair to their list of services offered , but there seemed to be a need for a utility trailer that homeowners , farmers , and contractors could use to make their every day lives easier so that ’ s where the real story begins .
The business was relocated to its current location in Holts Summit , Missouri in 1983 , and that utility trailer became so popular so fast , that the need to offer different sizes and configurations led the brothers to switch over to trailer manufacturing full time . The demand for product continued to rise and in the late 80 ’ s , Fred Werdehausen assumed control as Doolittle ’ s sole remainder of the original trio of brothers .
42 NATDA Magazine www . natda . org