History

The trip is a short one, probably no more then 2 miles from the current location of Wilcox RV Center, Inc. to the site of a late 1940's dream now occupied by a mortuary, a bank and a 40 unit manufactured home community with streets named Wilcox Ct. A short trip indeed, spanning 3 generations and 53 years.
In the late 1940's Max Wilcox returned from WWII and a short stint in California to settle and found a company in his home town of Topeka. Advised by an officer at the Merchants National Bank to stay away from the "Trailer Business." Max remained true to his vision and constructed a "Trailer Park" on some land purchased under contract from his father Ed. The official opening was 1949 for the trailer park, but soon Max was selling "Trailers" under an arrangement with Robert Keatley of St.Joe, Mo. RK Trailer Sales was born, drowned in the flood of 1951 and re-established later in the same location at 1946 N. Central.
By 1953 Max was established and his young enterprise drew the attention of a national publication and was featured in an article in Sept. 1953.
1954 saw the addition of 40 new spaces in his mobile home community. The die was cast...Sell a quality product... Give quality service after the sale and re-invest in a business you believe in with integrity in all you do.
Wilcox Trailer Sales was incorporated in 1957, Robert Keatley share was bought out and "Travel Trailers" were added to the growing business. Larger facilities were needed in the mid 1950's, and the sales department was moved to a location on Topeka Blvd.
The 1960's were truely a time of rapid growth. larger facilities were again needed and the company was moved to 1946 N. Topeka Blvd. A lifelong dedication to association work began as Max helped co-found the Kansas Manufactured Housing Association. Max served as president of the KMHA in 1961.
Unable to manage his ever expanding business single handedly, Max added Jim Dougherty, a friend since childhood, as sales manager and later General Manager to the staff in 1964.
Don Christman, Max's son-in-law and current owner, was recruited to go to work in 1967 while still attending college.
In 1969 a partnership was formed that lasted over 30 years between Don, Ken Murrow and Harry Corby that produced 3 more mobile home communities, containing over 300 homesites. The communities were constructed between 1969 and 1973.
Once again Wilcox Trailer Sales out grew its facilities and in 1974 the business was moved to its current location at 835 NE Hwy. 24 in Topeka Ks. Neither Opec, gas shortages nor replacement of underground gas lines could deter this talented group of individuals from conducting business, surviving and thriving in the 1970's.
In 1979 Wilcox Homes and RV Center was incorporated to deal with Don's need for ownership and growing restlessness and Max's need to plan for a successor in the business.
Max continued to serve as president of the new corporation until his retirement in 1985 after 36 years of service to home, community and his "traveling" customers from NE Kansas.
In retirement Max continues to be interested in the new developments in the RV industry and when he is not traveling himself, can frequently be seen in the store, giving the employees a hard time (much to their delight), visiting and reminiscing with old friends and customers, or simply "hanging around" just to see what has been going on.........
Short Trip Indeed........................