Claude Johnson, owner of East St Louis IL's Trans Supply Co, is retiring and selling the firm to Hedgewood International LLC.
Starting with Trans Supply as a part-time sales and delivery boy in April 1971, Johnson was promoted six months later to executive vice-president. Two years later, he bought Trans Supply and turned it into a successful trailer repair and freight trailer parts supply shop. Trans Supply proved profitable 80 percent of its years in operation.
Hedgewood plans to continue operating Trans Supply in East St Louis, along with a satellite office in Kansas City. Johnson's son, Allen Johnson, who has been involved in the business for more than 26 years, will serve as Trans Supply's new president.