amarillo chamber of commerce - HPN Books

operation, sold the retail business, andbought a building at 105 Polk Street. The 100block of Polk Street is still home to thecompany today. Hare had a knack for liningup suppliers; they were very happy with hissuperior ability to sell their products.Throughout the 1950s and into the 1970s,the company had great success with wholesaledistribution of electrical supplies, in RCA’sconsumer electronics products line, andWhirlpool major appliances. The companyalso distributed Litton microwaves and rangesas well as Imperial and Corning cookingsystems and Soundesign audio products.Carl Hare, Jr., began working at NunnElectric part-time as a high school student in1947 and joined the company full time afterhis graduation from college at the University ofOklahoma and a stint as a pilot in the UnitedStates Air Force. From learning by starting inthe appliance division sales training program tooverseeing the entire appliance division, Hare,Jr., was ready to step in when his father becameill in 1965. The city of Amarillo and businessessuffered during the 1960s after the AmarilloAir Force Base closed, Nunn Electric perseveredand survived. Hare, Jr., revamped thecompany’s management methods in the 1970s,streamlined operations, and restructured themanagement team. As a result, the companygrew and sales increased dramatically;other supply businesseswere purchased aroundthe region and added to thecompany. By 1970, NunnElectric Supply Corporationserved as wholesale distributorof major brand appliances fora 90,000 square mile area andhad over 750,000 square feetof warehouse, office, and displayspace in four major citiesin Central and West Texas.The mid 1970s brought 30 million dollarsof sales to the company from thousands ofcustomers and the company was a major forcein the appliance market. The excellent successof the appliance division was because of thecompany’s network of superb dealers and thelong-standing relationship the company hadwith its suppliers. Televisions were introducedin the mid 1950s, and in the 1960s and1970s became a major component in thecompany’s distribution product lines. Theaward winning electrical supply divisionremained successful over the years due toexcellent staff, a diverse inventory, and exceptionalcustomer service. Robert E. Stanfordwas a driving force in the electrical supplydivision. R. L. (Bob) Burdette, the company’sAbove and left: Located at 425 Polk Streetin 1929, Nunn Electric sold lighting, smallappliances, Victrolas, and records.Below: Nunn Electric survived the GreatDepression and became a Zenith dealer in1937. This photograph was taken in 1939.THE MARKETPLACE227