Hornibrook Co. has been part of the St. Cloud business community for
over ninety years. The company founder, Willard Hornibrook, started
Hornibrook Co. in 1921 opening a
Hudson Motors
dealership in downtown St. Cloud. Selling cars to people who didn't
really have any place in particular to drive to, Willard organized tours
and picnics for his customers, the original Sunday drivers. As cars
became more popular and affordable, the dealership expanded, adding the
Kaiser-Frazer
and
Willys
lines. Hornibrook Motors, Inc. was formed by son Jim in 1955 when he
took over the dealership from Willard. If you associate Hornibrook
Motors in St. Cloud with the Rambler nameplate, it is because by the
time Jim had taken over the dealership, Hudson had merged with
Nash-Kelvinator
, the maker of
Rambler
automobiles, forming
American Motors Corporation (AMC).
At that same time (1955), the other two sons, Howard and Harold (the twins)
opend the first of their businesses under the Hornibrook Co. banner,
Skelgas Home Heating. After building up that business, they sold out
to Minnesota Valley Gas Company and started Tomahawk Trailer Park.
Hornibrook Co. remained in the mobile home business until selling out
its interest in the trailer park in 1973. The Hornibrook Co. moniker next
hung over an outlet for
Morey's Fish Market
and Prestige Merchandise, a purveyor of fine jewelry and exotic gifts.
Throughout those years (1955-1976) Hornibrook Co. also developed the
first go-kart track in St. Cloud, Hornibrook (Travel) Trailer Sales,
The Corral Bar
(now Shooters Saloon)
and Warehouse Appliance Sales, a wholesaler of refrigerators and
freezers built by the former Franklin Manufacturing of St. Cloud.
After the loss of his brother, Howard, Harold returned Hornibrook Co. back to its roots once again. Cars, cars and more cars. A used car lot and junk yard was a life-long dream for Harold, and here he was living the dream. As far as being your typical used car salesman, well, let's just say that wasn't him. His motto was, "I don't SELL cars, people BUY them from me!" If you asked him to show you a car, he tossed you the keys and said, "There, go look for yourself." If you asked how it ran, he'd shoot back, "How the @#$% should I know?" If you wanted to see a car that was covered with snow, he'd point to the broom in the corner and say, "There's the broom!" To be fair, though, his cars and his "clientele" were typically very well suited to one another. And even though he had a rough exterior, he was a softie inside. He never let anyone go away without a car if they were really in need. Harold officially retired in 2005 which shut the the doors on Hornibrook Co., until now.
Hornibrook Company Computing is the latest manifestation of
Hornibrook Co. It has been born of the same entrepreneurial spirit
that kept Hornibrook Co. in business for so many years before.
It's often said that if you love your work, you'll never have to work
a day in your life. After more than forty years in the world of IT,
I personally find that to be an understatement. Every day there are new
technologies to explore and new ways to utilize those that have been
around for years.
So please give me a call or drop me a line.
I would love to hear from you.
-- Gary Hornibrook