Lone Star :

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Lone Star - History Welcome to the Lone Star Section. The available brochures we have from this manufacturer are located at the left on the little notepad thingy. More will come as it's uncovered by FiberGlassics. So many companies got their start just after the end of WWII and Lone Star Boat Manufacturing is one of them. Founded in Grand Prairie Texas in 1945 by brothers Lamar and William Moody, Lone Star Boats is a company that didn't stay with its founders very long. In fact, the very next year, 1946, the company was purchased by R. W. McDonnel. With humble beginnings in a 30'x100' building, an impressive 6 models were produced. They were from 12 to 14 ft. in length and 550 units were produced by 30 employees. In 1948 a new plant was opened at 1930 E. Main Street. Many of the metal buildings still stand today as part of Fleming and Sons metal manufacturers. Also in 1948, semi-V bottom models were introduced and the employee count grew to 200. In 1949 a large warehouse was added. 1950: Mr. E.M. Bishop became a 30% partner with McDonnel. 1951 saw 16 models offered. The first aluminum sport runabout was introduced. The first aluminum cruiser was developed. The first boat trailers were developed. In 1952 a fiberglass facility was added and the first fiberglass model, a fishing boat, was added to the lineup to make 18 models offered. Bob Hammond, founder of Glastron Boats was head designer of the fiberglass division. Lone Star ran the first 2 and 4 color ads ever in a national magazine by an outboard boat manufacturer. In 1953 Lone Star appeared in the Chicago Boat Show for the first time. 1954: The fiberglass plant was enlarged. 31 models were offered to the public. Bremen Indiana plant was aquired and the first inboard was developed. 1955: McDonnels 70% interest was sold to Continental Insurance Company of Alabama. 1956: Lone Star was purchased by Standard Steel Works Inc. 1957: Tallahassee Florida plant was aquired. 17,249 units sold. Production of inboards was discontinued. Wild new Meteor model, designed by Bob Hammond, caused sensation at New York and Chicago shows. 35 models offered. 1958: 22,000 units sold. 1959: McAdoo Pa. site aquired. Plano Texas site aquired. 21,855 units sold. 1960: Plano plant starts operation. Lots of personnel changes took place. Manufacturing discontinued at Grand Prairie,Bremen and Tallahassee. Grand Prairie plant was vacated and Bremen and Tallahassee converted for mostly distribution. 1962: Production down to 16,769 units. Foam-Pac construction introduced. 1963: Model year eliminated from products. 16,474 units sold. 1964: Bremen plant sold. McAdoo plant sold. Tallahassee plant sold. Grand Prairie plant sold. First sailboat introduced. 1965: Chrysler Boat Corporation formed in May, 1965 with the purchase of Lone Star Boats. The Lone Star name is gone, but Chrysler does an admirable job with the boats and has much success on into the late '70s. Marine Division is discontinued in 1979 and outboard division sold to OMC. If you have any information to add to this area, please contact us by CLICKING HERE