6-4-1924 Happy Birthday Cecil

[953 nut 59,781]

                                   6-4-1924

             Cecil Elwood Pond was born

Cecil Pond was an American businessman, inventor, and entrepreneur. He was the founder of Wheel Horse Products Co. Inc., and was the primary inventor of the modern American Garden Tractor and riding mower.

Pond was born in South Bend, Indiana, to Elmer and Ann Marie Pond. He graduated from South Bend's former Washington-Clay High School, and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1946, Pond returned to South Bend and in June of that year, married Betty Alber Pond. Mr. & Ms. Pond were the parents of three children: son Gary Pond, and two daughters, Linda and Constance.

1946 saw the beginnings of Pond's manufacturing future. Pond joined his father Elmer, who at the time was building two-wheel lawn tractors (which the operator would walk behind) from angle iron, surplus motorcycle and automotive parts in his garage. At first, the Ponds' company was simply called Pond Tractor Company; however, they discovered another family member owned a similarly-named company. "Wheel Horse" was then chosen, and the name stayed with the company even after its acquisition by Toro.

In the late forties, military veterans returning from World War II began moving to the vast new suburbs then transforming the American landscape. Their suburban homes had larger lots that demanded more attention—and the Ponds' riding mower found many ready buyers as a result.

In 1954, Pond introduced his first 4-wheel lawn tractor, an event which altered substantially the lawn care manufacturing business. By 1957, his Wheel Horse Products Company recorded sales over $1 million (US$8,425,355 in 2016 dollars.) for the first time. Just two years later, the company's sales more than doubled, to $4.5 million (US$36,529,110 in 2016 dollars).

In 1975, Pond sold Wheel Horse Products to American Motors Corporation. At the time of the sale, Pond oversaw over 500 workers at his plant and over 3,000 dealers were selling the brand.

Cecil Pond passed away December 30, 2011.

[AMC RULES 37,196]

 Cecil...  

[Tankman 3,523]

Thanks for the post, nut.

 

Grandson has a B-Day today also. I'll have to tell him he shares the day with our very own Mr. Cecil Pond! 

[SylvanLakeWH 28,326]

I sometimes wonder if he realized the impact he and his father had on so many people...Think of the millions of lives impacted by WH tractors - employees, their families, anyone who ever used a WH (or continues to do so), the improvements to property / lives that people have accomplished using WH products, all the users of this forum, etc...

 

It is mind-boggling...

 

  

[AMC RULES 37,196]

Truly   

[russellmc301 600]

great story 

[KC9KAS 4,744]

Cecil!

[rjg854 12,156]

Well after they quit making them, people like me have gotten bit by the Wheel Horse bug.  Happy Birthday and thank you Cecil for making a product that is timeless.   They don't make a generation or a product like that any longer, our loss.

[JimD 3,347]

The best in the business, from the best in the business. Thank you and Happy Birthday Cecil.

[WheelHorse79 271]

In fond memory of a great American industrial pioneer in the Lawn and Garden industry.  He exemplified the American entrepreneurial spirit that made this country great. 

[neil 2,410]

My oh my , it only seemed like last year that we lost Cecil . Scary how time flys .

 

God Bless Cecil & Happy Birthday

[JC 1965 1,532]

 I second all the above.