History

Howard Eakes

Howard Eakes (standing, left) would have been the first to say that he lived the American dream. The success story began in 1945 at the porcelain kitchen table where Howard Eakes repaired office machines. Ron and Dan Eakes, sons of Howard, currently serve on our board of directors with Dan as the corporation's Secretary-Treasurer.

Company Timeline

1937      
Howard began working for Remington Rand as an apprentice mechanic repairing typewriters and adding machines.

1938
Howard moved to Grand Island and assumed the responsibility of providing repair service in Central and Western Nebraska for Remington Rand.

1941-42
Howard was the smallest service department in the country for Remington Rand and received special recognition for outstanding performance.

1945
After the World War II, Howard started his own business and hired his first employee. The first business location consisted of a two-room, 85 square foot office located upstairs at 303½ West Third, Grand Island, NE.

1949
Howard moved to his first store location at 112 West 2nd Street, Grand Island, NE.

1952
Eakes, then known as Office Equipment Co., expanded product offerings to include a full line of office supplies and furniture.

1958
After remodeling, Eakes had their first Grand Opening Celebration. Dignitaries and manufacturers representatives from across the nation were present for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

1961
Eakes remodeled and moved into a new location at 114 West Third, Grand Island, NE.

1969
In 1969, the business was incorporated and renamed Eakes Office Equipment Co.

1973
Eakes Office Equipment Co. moved into a newly built structure at 617 West Third, Grand Island, NE. The new facility provided 15,000 square feet of retail and warehouse space and employed 14 people.

1974
A second Eakes location was opened at 2115 Avenue A in Kearney.

1978
The Hastings Eakes location opened. There were now over 50 employees company-wide.

1980
A Photo Copier sales and service office was opened in North Platte expanding the staff to 72 Eakes employees.

1982
This year saw many changes beginning with the company name to Eakes Office Products Center, Inc. The Grand Island location underwent construction and nearly doubled in size.  The company, now employing 81 people, joined the computer age with the addition of a Computer Department.

1983-84
The Hastings location was expanded and remodeled, the Kearney location moved into its new building at 2401 Avenue A and a small office in Columbus was opened.

1985
The Hastings location moved into a newly remodeled 25,000 square foot building. A building was purchased and remodeled for the North Platte location to expand our services to the western part of the state.

1986
The Grand Opening of a new location in York was celebrated.

1988
The Columbus location was expanded and remodeled. Employment grew to 143.

1990
The Grand Opening of a new location in McCook was celebrated.

1997
The Grand Opening of a new location in Beatrice was celebrated.

2001
Howard Eakes dies at the age of 86.

2005
A new sales office/warehouse was opened and expansion began into the Lincoln market.

2006
A new sales office/warehouse was opened in Fremont.

2007
Eakes acquires a 48,000 Distribution Center to better serve its customers.

2009
Eakes partners with Norfolk Office Equipment to open its 11th location.

2011
Eakes becomes an Authorized Steelcase Dealer in Sioux City, Iowa.