History

In the early 1940's the Willocks Coal Co. was founded by Leland Willocks. This business consisted of a couple of trucks hauling coal to local customers.

In 1945 several of the Willocks brothers (T.L., Willard, Bill and Fred) went into a venture along with Less Brinkley to purchase a block machine and begin manufacturing block in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. This company moved to 1018 East Broadway in Maryville, Tennessee in the late 1940's. By this time, Leland had also joined the company. Over the years, the original investors were bought out, and by 1959 the company was owned by Leland Willocks and T.L. "The Judge" Willocks. Throughout the 1950's, the two entrepreneurs dabbled in other businesses including Oliver Tractors Sales and Service, appliance sales including some of the area's first television sets, and Blount Outboard and Marine featuring Johns outboards. T.L. Willocks was also a lawyer and served as County Judge (now called County Executive) in Jefferson County for several years.

By 1964 the Willocks' focus was concentrated on the block business and the existing nine acre location on Foch Street was purchased. In the same era other improvements were being made. In fact, only two years earlier in 1962 the company purchased its first boom truck operated by Sam Jackson. Prior to this purchase, all block had to be unloaded by hand. The story goes that Sam was so unaccustomed to the new invention that he actually continued unloading by hand for several weeks until his confidence with the boom grew.

Phil Willocks began working with the company at an early age. In 1956, at the age of 14, Phil could be found doing what ever was necessary to kept the business moving including unloading block racks by hand. His starting pay was 50 cents an hour. Phil left the company for a few years to serve in the Army. He was a member of the 2nd Armored Division Tank Battalion based out of Fort Hood Texas until returning to Willocks Bros. in 1970.

In 1978 there was more expansion and the 3 block line was converted to a 5 block line. The year 1979 saw the purchase of the Lovell Road sales yard from Colie Johnson and a new office later erected on the property.

The company operated for many years with Leland as the Vice President and T.L. as the president. In 1990, Leland passed away and Phil became the Vice President. When T.L. passed on in 1996, Phil became President and T.L. son "Benny Willocks" became Vice President. Phil's son, "Shawn Willocks" came on board in 1993 and currently serves as the company's outside sales representative and general manager. This group has overseen many important changes for the company including the addition of the three block line in 1996.

Over the years, many process and improvements have been made. From the basic blocks manufactured on the primitive machinery in Strawberry Plains and delivered by hand, the company has frown into implementation of computerized weighing systems, mist curing of block, lightweight aggregates recipes, and now delivers block with a very capable fleet of trucks and delivery buggies.

The company remains poised for growth. Using an additional two and a half acres purchased in the late 1990's from the Farr family, the company is currently planning a new business office to replace the original office erected in the early 70's.