Dartmouth Team at Toro

Permitting no grass to grow under their feet—or anywhere else—three Dartmouth men have made a lawnmower famous.

Dave Lilly '39, Bob Gibson '39 and Whit Miller '40, who were close friends in college, found upon returning from war service that they were through with being ordered around—they wanted to do the bossing. With this thought in mind they shoppted about for a business venture, and in 1946 took over the Toro Manufacturing Corporation in Minneapolis, makers of lawn mowers. The business had a reputable name but because of deteriorations inevitable during the war, its plant was not in the best of shape. Tools were worn from grinding out parts; other equipment was antiquated with poor or no replacements; and the distribution organization inadequate. The best sales the company had achieved before the war totaled J 1,200,000. The new owners set their goal at $5,000,000. Although they knew little about individual lawnmowers, they knew where to start in improving them in the aggregate. Their first step was to bring in ten first-rate engineers. With their help the plant was rejuvenated, re-tooled, and the lawnmower restyled.

From the beginning of the venture it was agreed that the small, power-type lawnmower for home use was the coming thing, and all plans took this surmise into account. That it was justified has been proved by the fact that in chalking up almost $6,000,000 in sales last year, the company is selling the power mower against the hand mower at the rate of one for one and the prediction is that in 1950 it will increase.

As a result of long-range planning and expert execution, and a telling sales talk appealing to lawn-pride, the masculine interest in mechanical things, and the ease of the power motor, these three businessmen of Minneapolis have brought the Toro to the top ranks of the trade.

Dave Lilly holds the positions of vice president, general manager and treasurer. Whit Miller, former Dartmouth football captain, is vice president in charge of production. Bob Gibson, who was first-string center on the Big Green eleven while Miller held forth at end, is vice president in charge of sales. Together, this threesome makes about as good a Dartmouth team as some of those turned out by Earl Blaik when the budding tycoons were in college.

LEFT TO RIGHT, WHIT MILLER '40, BOB GIBSON '39 AND DAVE LILLY '39