A Humphreys' History

1996

The Beginning

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Family of four poses near a tractor. Mother in a suit, father in a jacket, and two children hold hands.

Phillip and Joyce Humphreys with their children Ginger and Brian

Phillip and Joyce Humphreys moved to Greencastle Indiana in February of 1966 with their 3 year old daughter Ginger and their 2 year old son Brian. The previous summer, Phil had helped a Wheel Horse Lawn Tractor dealer at a county fair. Upon recognizing Phil's innate mechanical ability and ingenuity, the dealer graciously pointed out that there was an opportunity for a dealership similar to his in near by Greencastle. Phil and Joyce seized the opportunity, loaded up the kids and set off on their entrepreneurial journey. 

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Mini bikes in front of a building with a sign for

The original Humphreys' Wheel Horse circa 1966.

Phil and Joyce set up shop at 106 W Jacobs St in Greencastle. With a small shop located behind their house, Humphreys' Wheel Horse was born. Along with Wheel Horse, Phil sold Lawn Boy push mowers and Lombard chainsaws. 

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Exterior of a brick building with signs for car repair and a sign swinging above the entrance. Two lawnmowers are visible.

The store front at Humphreys' Wheel Horse Circa 1966

Fun Fact: the year Humphreys' Wheel Horse launched, there was a terrible drought (not good when you sell lawn mowers for living). Phil decided to pick up the Rupp Mini Bike line, a product that would during a drought. Phil attributes this product's success with getting him through his first year.


Fun Fact: Did you notice how the door is open? The latch on this door was broken. To lock the door Phil would push a wWheel Horse lawn mower up against the back of the door, then put the tractor in gear so that the mower wouldn't move and the door couldn't open. 

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Vintage pickup truck with trailer carrying a car in front of a house.
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Three men working on a racing vehicle inside a garage. One man kneels, two stand, all focused on the project.

Phil Humphreys, Woody Porter (seated) and George York working in the Humphreys' Wheel Horse show room on Phil's hobby at the time, Garden Tractor pulling. 

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Fun Fact: Using his mechanical knowledge, Phil, amassed quite a collection of garden tractor pulling awards (notice the parts counter and behind) and even won a state championship in his class. 

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Four men pose on a trailer. They are in front of a brick building.

Phil, young Brian, Woody Porter and George York made up the Humphreys' Wheel Horse pulling team. 

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Fun Fact: Woody Porter was a service technician for tractor specialties which was the main Ferguson distributor, selling Ferguson tractors straight out of England. After they went out of business he became a mailman. George York was a Schwerman driver, they hauled concrete all over the state. He worked as a part time mechanic at Humphreys, then after his retirement from Schwerman, drove the delivery truck for Humphreys. 

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Wheel Horse Paddock newsletter page with text and photos about tractor pulls and dealer success.

This was Humphreys' Wheel Horse featured article in Wheel Horse Paddock, the national Wheel Horse Dealer magazine at the time. 

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A group of men working on red tractors in a grassy outdoor setting, likely repairing them.

Phil helped promote Humphreys' Wheel Horse helping with a tractor pulls and with general repairs.

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Wheel Horse selected 10 dealer from across the U.S. to discuss product and corporate management. Humphreys' Wheel Horse was one of those 10, and stayed on the board until after Toro purchased Wheel Horse. 

1972

The BIG MOVE

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Family of four poses near a tractor. Mother in a suit, father in a jacket, and two children hold hands.

Humphreys' has always prided itself on keeping a large inventory on hand. Even as far back as 1972!

After 6 years of success in the business, Phil & Joyce found their shop cramped. It was at this time, in 1972, that they moved to 950 N Jackson St in Greencastle. 

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Vintage pickup truck with trailer carrying a car in front of a house.

Brian and Ginger Help Phil lay rock at the new shop circa 1972

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Fun Fact: While Phil payed to have the roof completed, most of the building was constructed by him and few friends. He laid all the rock himself. 

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Red Jeep next to a red and white truck. Jeep has a black top. Both vehicles are parked.

Growth meant adding on to the fleet. Here is the fleet after the move to the Jackson St location.

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Gold key award plaque for Reed Sales, Inc., Indianapolis, from Wheel Horse, 1962-1963.
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Kubota logo: Orange gear with white inner symbol, orange box, and text

In 1978 after moving to the larger location Humphreys' picked up the Kubota Tractor line. 

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This is an example of the early Kubota literature around the time Humphreys' added the product line.

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Orange tractor with front loader scoops hay into a feeding trough on a snowy day.

Rodney Humphreys, one of our early Kubota customers using his new Kubota.

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Inside a hardware store, various lawn care equipment is on display, including tractors and lawnmowers.

he showroom at 950 N Jackson St in Greencastle. 

1980's

The Son Also Rises 

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By the time the 80s rolled around, Humphreys' Wheel Horse was an established part of the community. Wheel Horse continued to recognize Humphreys' with awards. It was also in this era that Brian decided to come into the family business. 

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Three people in suits holding a framed picture; awarded to a Wheel Horse dealer for 17 years.
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Two lawn tractors in front of a large mansion; framed photo in a wooden plaque.
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Two men examining a weed eater in a lawn equipment store.

In 1985 Brian decided to join the family business.

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Red Wheel Horse lawn tractor parked in front of a red building with the Wheel Horse logo.

In 1988 Humphreys' Wheel Horse was featured in Wheel Horses product guide as a prime example of what dealership should do and offer. 

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Wheel Horse Paddock newsletter page with text and photos about tractor pulls and dealer success.
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Two men in casual wear reviewing a document in a facility. One in red jacket, the other in a blue jacket.

1986

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Framed award plaque, President's Club Award, honoring

The Presidents Club award from Wheel Horse for outstanding achievement in sales and service. Humphreys' has won this award every year from 1985-1989

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Group of five people posing with a Wheel Horse lawn tractor inside a store.

Here pictured is the Humphreys' Wheel Horse team joining the Greencaslte Chamber of Commerce in 1986

1989

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Men stand near a donated tractor, a fundraiser for the volunteer fire department in Greencastle.
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Four people, two men and two women, pose with an award. One woman holds a rose. They are standing indoors.

Brian and Kandy Humphreys Accepting the Wheel Horse President's Club award in 1989.

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Man holding a baby near a Honda motorcycle. They are outdoors, possibly at an event.

Brian and son Camron in 1989 at the Putnam County Fair!

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Gold plaque: Kenney Machinery Corporation Partners in Excellence Award to Humphreys Sales & Service

Here pictured is the Humphreys' Wheel Horse team joining the Greencaslte Chamber of Commerce in 1986

1990's

What's in a name? 

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Humphreys Outdoor Power store in winter, sign with tractors, snowy exterior, cloudy sky.

In the early 90s, Humphreys' decided to change their name so they could focus on a more broad range of brands. Enter Humphreys' Outdoor Power.

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A cluttered auto repair shop with two people working on an engine and a raised vehicle.

In addition to changing their name, they increased the size of the shop, adding two more work bays. 

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Gold plaque: Kenney Machinery Corporation Partners in Excellence Award to Humphreys Sales & Service
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Three people standing with a lawnmower inside a building. Two men and one woman.
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People pose with lawnmower and YardCycler box in a store.

2001

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STIHL logo in white on orange background.

In 2001 Humphreys' picked up Stihl Outdoor Power Equipment.

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Black and white photo of Humphreys' Outdoor Power building expansion on US 231 N. Text:
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Newspaper article: Humphreys' Outdoor Power Grand Re-Opening, Cloverdale, Indiana, 2002.
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Men installing a large signpost in a parking lot. Brown sign, gray pavement, fall trees.

2005

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Magazine page: man in field with landscaping equipment; inset photo of man in suit.

In 2005 Kohler Engines featured Humphreys' Outdoor Power in their quarterly dealer periodical Engines in Action.

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Man stands by a red boat. Company profile article about him with text on white pages.

Their company profile included a feature on how Phil and Brian had signed up to take Phil's airboat to New Orleans immediately following Hurricane Katrina. They left with the Putnam County Sheriff's department to help rescue trapped residents. 

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Two men working on machinery, one wearing safety glasses. Shop setting.
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Article about Dixie Chopper and Hampton's, featuring people posing with lawnmowers outside a store.

In 2005 we started carrying the local brand of Dixie Chopper!

2006

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STIHL logo in white on orange background.

Humphreys' has won the Bryan Equipment Top Gun award every year since 2006! This is awarded for excellence in sales.

2008

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Couple posing at Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort sign. Man in yellow shirt, woman in white top.

In 2008 Phil retired handing ownership over to Brian. Joyce still continues to work at the shop although travels frequently with Phil as he pursues his Cushman Motor Scooter hobby. He now designs, manufactures and sells custom performance parts for Cushman engines.

2010

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2010 Dealer of the Year recognition. Humphreys' Outdoor Power staff holding awards and posing for photos.

In 2010 Humphreys was named Dealer of the Year by their Stihl Distributor Bryan Equipment.

2011

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In 2011 Yard and Garden named Humphreys' Dealer of the year!

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Three people standing with a lawnmower inside a building. Two men and one woman.
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People in a factory setting, with multiple red-colored machines, and text article on the right.
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Red plastic chairs stacked outdoors, possibly for sale or an event. Buildings in the background.

2013

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In 2013, Camron joined the Humphreys ranks. After Graduating from Indiana University and working for an Indianapolis Marketing firm, Camron decided to come back to his roots. 

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