An 11 December historical note from the files of The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis recalls Lilly Co delivering its first order for a Yale forklift 58 years ago.

"I was a freshman or sophomore in high school," says Joe Clark, Lilly Co president and chief executive officer and a grandson of Thomas Lilly, who founded the business in 1919, initially as a linseed and castor oil brokerage house.

Among those in the photo were Owen Lilly, a nephew of Thomas Lilly, and Thomas J Clark, who was Joe Clark's father. "We do not wear hats any more," Joe Clark notes.

Lilly Co delivered the forklift to Pidgeon-Thomas Iron Co in its capacity as the Memphis and mid-south distributor for Yale & Towne Manufacturing Co.

Now, Lilly Co employs 175 and has 10 locations in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas. Lilly Co represents Toyota in six sites, and the Clark, Doosan and Linde lines in four markets.

Joe Clark's twin sons represent the family's fourth generation in the business. Wade Clark is vice president of operations working closely with chief operating officer Eric Wisher, and Frank Clark is sales manager for the Memphis area.

As for the economy, Joe Clark says: "We are on hold now. It picked up in the last week in March and stayed at that level. We have to get some things from Congress" to stimulate the business environment.