W.W. Estes
Born: 1897 Died: 1971President and Founder 1931–1971
Farmers were some of the hardest-hit victims of the Great Depression. Though farming was his first love, W.W. Estes found another way to make a living in 1931—trucking. He bought a used Chevy truck and began hauling farm products to the cities and supplies back to farming communities all over southwestern Virginia.
By 1937, W.W. had built a company that was enjoying growing prosperity with the rest of the nation. In 1946, he moved the headquarters from his small hometown of Chase City, Virginia, to the state capital of Richmond to handle the post-WW II economic boom.
That same year, his son Robey joined the company and began to learn the business. W.W turned over active management of the company to Robey in 1953, but he stayed involved for some time. W.W.'s health declined in 1970, and in 1971, the company lost its beloved founder.