Great Dane honors 125-year history in the Hostess City

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -We’re honoring 125 years of Great Dane, right alongside the company.

What started as the Savannah Blowpipe Company back in 1900 has stretched across America, and they’ve been pioneering ever since.

“To be honored by your home city, where we started 125 years ago, is really a great honor,” said Rick Mullinix, Great Dane’s President and COO.

A company that helped shape the transportation industry with trailers... Flatbeds, refrigerated, or dry freight, what was originally a blowpipe company-- turned to a steel products company.

Naming the business Great Dane represented strength and stamina to the company’s original owners.

Since then, the company’s been expanding past its hostess city roots, to 11 different plants across America-- employing 4,000 people.

In the 1940’s the company revolutionized food distribution by circulating air over ice blocks to keep things fresh.

“We actually invented refrigerated transportation with the first, what you call, an ice bunker and blower trailer, in the 1940s. From there, we’ve grown, and we build dry vans, flatbeds, refrigerated trailers, truck bodies all across the United States after being founded as this little company in Savannah, Georgia,” said Chris Hammond, Great Dane’s Executive VP of Sales.

In World War 2, the company was honored with the Army-Navy Excellence Award for making military-grade trailers to support troops in Europe.

1958 is when the iconic red was brought out in the logo. The same year, the company was officially renamed to Great Dane Trailers.

9 years ago, a state-of-the-art research and development lab opened for the company in the Hostess city.

“The world’s changing faster than ever. We have a history of adapting, as you heard us talk about, and we want to continue to adapt,” said Rick Mullinix, Great Dane, President and C.O.O.

The most trusted too, in 2020, Great Dane trailers were trusted to transport the first critical shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine.

On December 1st, Savannah’s Mayor, Van Johnson, issued a proclamation commemorating the company’s 125th anniversary year.

“Join us in celebrating this extraordinary company, whose legacy of innovation, endurance, and excellence continues to shape the world of transportation and inspire future generations,” said Mayor Van Johnson, City of Savannah.

Held at Johnson Square, the Savannah community honored Great Dane’s deep roots in the Hostess City. Along with their innovation, progress, and industry, they have shaped work over the last 125 years.

“When we see our trailers and truck buddies on the road, we see more than a box on wheels. We don’t think about the ice cream or appliances, or medicine that may be inside the box. Instead, we see our contribution to delivering life’s moments. A birthday party, moving into your first home, recovering from illness,” said Hammond.