L & S Truck Center
The Stumpf family (L & S Truck Center's owner), has built its present public image over the past three-quarters of a century. Founded in 1921 by John H. Stumpf and John F. Harzheim, Stumpf Motor Company has a philosophy that the public is entitled to the best service possible in satisfying its transportation needs.
On December 13, 1921, Calumet Motor Company opened for business in Darboy. During that winter, customers hauled their "Horseless Carriages" into the repair shop with a team of horses. The following spring, the founding partners moved the business by horse and sleigh to Sherwood, where they started the auto sales and service business of Stumpf-Harzheim Company. The partners worked with car franchises including Chevrolet, Nash, Packard, Dodge and Plymouth.
The firm dissolved partnership on May 13, 1942, and John Stumpf continued the business. At the end of World War II, he built a new facility in Sherwood and took on the Ford franchise. His son, Les, took over management of the business in 1956. John Stumpf envisioned the dynamic growth and progress experienced by the Fox Valley. He was not only a business leader, but also worked hard at establishing High Cliff State Park and Calumet County Park. He retained an active interest in his family dealership and his community until his death in 1982 at the age of 92.
From Sherwood, Stumpf Ford moved first to a new facility in Kaukauna in 1969, and then to its present dealership in Appleton in 1972. The Company opened a second Ford dealership in Neenah in 1986, Neenah Menasha Ford. In 1997, that store was sold to an employee.
In 1989, L & S Truck Center was founded by co-owners Bob Leu and Les Stumpf in Appleton. Currently L & S is franchised for new Ford F250-F750 heavy duty trucks and the Sales Department stocks a large variety of used trucks. The extensive Parts Department employs parts specialists and the Service Department has master certified technicians.
In 1994 the size of the service repair facility was doubled to 20 drive-through bays and along with the expansion project was construction of additional parts warehousing space. In 2001, Bob Leu retired and sold his share of the business to Les Stumpf, making L & S Truck Center wholly owned by the Stumpf family.
Today, we are proud to begin our third generation with the automotive industry and our philosophy remains as it was originally founded. Les Stumpf as Chairman and Jon Stumpf as President still lead this company in providing total customer satisfaction through employees who provide reliable, courteous, and ethical service to our customers.
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