W.S. Darley & Company Wins Family Business of the Year Award

W.S. Darley & Company was selected as The Family Business Winner of the Annual Illinois Family Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Loyola University Chicago Family Business Center.
 
This award program recognizes exceptional Illinois-based family businesses that dedicate a strong commitment to business development, family, and the greater Illinois community. This year’s award had nearly 200 nominations in three business size categories and the winners we chosen based on positive family/business linkage, multi-generational family business involvement, contributions to industry and community, and innovative business practices and strategies. Darley won the Medium Size business category.
 
Over 40 members of the Darley Family attended the award ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago held on November 30, 2010.
 
Paul Darley, President and CEO, accepted the award on behalf of the Darley family and recognized the Darley employees, customers, key strategic partners, and previous generations.  “The second generation instilled strong values in the 3rd generation that is currently running the business. These values include Integrity, Service to humanity, Family Unity and Stewardship. These values are all in play every day at Darley. We all truly view ourselves as stewards of this business. It is our sincere hope to pass the company on to the fourth generation – there are currently 32 and a number are here tonight….Family businesses can be best of business or worst of business. Thanks to all of you, in our case, it’s clearly the best.” 
 
Since 1908, Darley has been dedicated to serving the world’s Fire and Emergency Services. Darley’s corporate headquarters are located in Itasca, Illinois, and our manufacturing, engineering and research and development operations are in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and Toledo, Oregon. The Ohler Pump Division in Janesville, Iowa was acquired by Darley in 2007. Ohler manufactures fuel and water pumps and has several military contracts. Darley remains a family owned and operated business. The entire Darley company is committed to customer satisfaction. Darley is dedicated to excellence and offers a diverse line of quality products and services through progressive design, manufacturing and distribution.