Innovator John K. Hanson: Iowa Time Machine June 22, 1913

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On June 22, 1913, Iowa innovator and founder of Winnebago Industries, John K. Hanson, was born in Thor. Hanson would set the standard in the RV business while building an iconic American company in Forest City.

After graduating from Waldorf College and going on to become the youngest Iowan ever to obtain a mortician’s license, Hanson took over his family’s funeral home and furniture store in Forest City. He was once featured in Time Magazine for a promotion he ran, which allowed customers to exchange livestock on the hoof for home appliances.

Hanson’s path into the RV business began in 1957, when he became a travel trailer dealer, and then pressed a California company, Modernistic Industries, to open a plant in Forest City, Iowa. The company that grew from that effort later became Winnebago Industries, a name adopted in 1960 and tied to the region around Forest City. Hanson pushed the business beyond selling trailers by improving design, streamlining production, and helping develop the motorhome as a practical consumer product.

Winnebago became a nationally recognized brand, and Hanson’s emphasis on mass production, in-house components, and upgraded comfort helped define what many Americans expect from a motorhome today. He also helped provide for the Forest City community through the Hanson Foundation, which still helps support many local projects. #Iowa #OTD #History #Innovation #RV