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Eric G. Tangeman
150 N. Mosley
150 N. Mosley with multiple additions
John Tangeman
Current Warehouse After Completion
Current Building After Completed Construction
Current Warehouse After Completion |
Southwest Paper Company, Inc. was founded in 1938, in the state of Kansas, which is often referred to as the American’s “Heartland”. The company with a “heart” was founded by Eric G. Tangeman, Cash Miller, Monty McCormick, and Harold Yarnell. Eric G. Tangeman was elected president unanimously due to his experience in the paper business. Eric had worked for Graham Paper for many years and set up several locations for them, including Wichita. By the mid 1940′s, Southwest Paper Company, Inc. had reached one million dollars in sales. When Eric G. Tangeman passed away in 1950, his plans to add additional warehouse locations throughout the Southwest United States passed away with him. Monty McCormick was elected president and held that position until 1956. Cash Miller was then elected president and continued in that capacity until 1976. In 1957 Eric G. Tangeman’s son John began his career with Southwest Paper. After completing his B.S. in Business Administration at Kansas State University, he enjoyed a very successful city sales career. In 1976, John purchased virtually all of the outstanding company stock and succeeded Cash Miller as president. John guided the company’s growth for over twenty years, including the acquisition of the Wichita Division of Jim Walter Paper (formally Graham Paper) in 1987, which had been started by his father Eric G. over fifty years earlier. Southwest Paper outgrew its location at 150 N. Mosley, which was home for over 40 years, eventually growing to five warehouses. Construction of a new 80,000 square feet concrete distribution center, at 3930 N Bridgeport Circle, was completed and occupied by late 1992. The facility has overhead and in-rack sprinkler systems, 10 dock doors, and can easily be expanded to 120,000 square feet. The new building supports a staff of approximately 50 people: 16 sales representatives, a 3,000 square foot showroom, janitorial equipment service center with factory trained technicians, custom paper cutting, drilling, and padding, as well as a slitter for foam, bubble, and single-faced corrugated packaging material to provide quick turnaround for special widths. This custom built distribution facility will help Southwest Paper Company, Inc. remain an industry leader for many years to come. In 1975, at fifteen, John’s oldest son Eric D. Tangeman started working for the company, sweeping the warehouse and unloading freight from box cars and trucks. In 1983, after completing his B.S. in Business Administration at the University of Kansas, Eric D. started full-time in the family business. After spending 12 years working in all aspects of the company, Eric D. was elected President in 1995. In 1995, Eric began overseeing allcompany operations. “I have grown up with this company,” said Eric. “Much of our growth has come about because we are committed to providing products and services that exceed our customer’s expectations. We have the ability to react quickly to the ever changing marketplace. We are always looking at ways to invest in our future… through our employees, customers and suppliers.” Southwest Paper Company’s 1996 purchase of Miller-Norris Company, Inc. in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, provided a wide range of additional paper products for Miller Norris Co., while creating a strong distribution channel for paper and allied products in both Kansas and Oklahoma. Together the companies have over 159 years of distribution experience. The Miller-Norris name was changed to Southwest Paper in 1999 to provide customers one unified company in both Kansas and Oklahoma. The joining of these two companies is consistent with Southwest Paper’s plans to grow geographically into the surrounding states. John Tangeman passed away on November 19, 2000; and he had great joy in knowing that with his planning, Southwest Paper would continue for many decades to come. Southwest Paper provides over 4,500 products that includes national brands, chemicals, consumables, equipment and accessories. Our customers represent a diversified group such as healthcare, commercial, food service, military, contract cleaners, hospitality, education, industrial and retail. Currently, this third generation owned company has two distribution |
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