Connor Co

E.J. Connor established Connor Co. in 1936, after moving from Omaha, Nebraska to Peoria, Illinois, and purchased Kinsey & Mahler, Co. (an existing local plumbing wholesaler established on April 29th, 1884). With roots in the industry from his work at A.Y. McDonald, located in Omaha and Dubuque, Iowa, E.J. turned Kinsey and Mahler, Co. into the wholesale distributor known as Connor Co. After struggling through the Depression and World War II, the company continued to prosper and open three more branches by 1952. Throughout the years, E.J. worked closely with his son-in-law Warren P. Collins, who married Susan Connor in 1948. After the passing of E.J. Connor in 1971, Warren became President of Connor Co, understanding the family mentality. He continued to expand and acquire other wholesalers, turning Connor Co. into a nineteen-branch company. The family tradition continued when Stan Collins, Warrens son, began to work in the warehouse part-time in 1984. After college, he started a f...