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In 1939, as our nation struggled to pull itself from the Great Depression, three
men in Athens, Georgia put together enough capital to start a small paper distributorship.
Mr. Frank C. Thornton, along
with
his sons, Charles and James, began selling and delivering paper bags, rolled kraft and butcher paper, and various sundry
items primarily to local grocery stores.
Thornton Brothers Paper Co. steadily grew from these humble beginnings into the premier distributor of paper goods and
janitorial supplies and industrial packaging for northeast Georgia and the western Carolinas. The company's steady growth
for over 60 years is a result of solid relationships with its customers, built on trust and dependable service.
In the beginning, these relationships were built by the brothers themselves. James spent most of this time calling on
customers while Charles managed the office as well as establishing a route in the mountains of north Georgia and western
North Carolina.
In the mid-1940's, the volume of business had increased to the point that the company established a sales force. Mr. Ben
Eubank became Thornton Brothers' first commissioned sales representative. The sales force expanded quickly in the late 40's
and early 50's with the arrival of J. Lewis Smith, Lamar Downs, and A.P. Dickens, all of whom spent the remainder of their
careers with Thornton Brothers.
The success of Thornton Brothers became evident as the product line also expanded to meet the changing needs of its
clientele. The company began selling tissue and towels during the war years (1941-45) when these items were very scarce.
Demand grew rapidly as these products became more readily available and remain staple items for Thornton Brothers.
Janitorial supplies were added in the late fifties and represent one of the fastest growing product lines in our business
today.
The late fifties also brought James (Jimbo) Thornton, Jr. to work in the family business still under the firm control of his
father and uncle. Jimbo learned the business from the ground up for three years. He unloaded boxcars, loaded delivery
trucks, delivered merchandise and waited on customers while becoming very familiar with all aspects of the business and
company. In 1961, Jimbo hit the road as a salesman. He remained there until the passing of his father in 1975, at which time
he moved into the office.
The mid-sixties brought two major changes to Thornton Brothers. The growth of the company forced a move to a larger
warehouse. In 1964, TBPC moved from its original Foundry Street address, which it shared with the Georgia Freight Rail
Depot, to its current address on Fulton Street in the heart of downtown Athens. Around this same time, Al Chambers came to
work for Thornton Brothers. Mr. Chambers apprenticed much as Mr. Thornton had. After learning every possible detail of the
business, Al began to assume some of the duties previously performed by Mr. Charles. Mr. Chambers eventually became General
Manager and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1995.
Beginning in 1969 and continuing through the 1970s, the company added major players to the sales force. George Finger,
Arthur Steedman, Lamar Duncan, Perry Strickland and J. A. Peck came on board during this period. These five men are still
with Thornton Brothers giving the company valuable experience and expertise practically unmatched in our industry.
The company was faced with a changing of the guard in the late eighties with the passing of Mr. Charles, the last of the
company's founders. Fortunately, Jimbo Thornton stood ready to assume the reins as President. He, with able assistance from
Mr. Chambers, provided the necessary leadership to steer the company through this period and lead it dynamically into the
nineties.
July of 1995 marked the beginning of a new era in the long and colorful history of Thornton Brothers. Jimbo Thornton
remained as President, but his son-in-law, Clay Gilbert, burst on the scene as the new General Manager. Clay brought new
ideas and a fresh perspective to a company steeped in rich tradition. This combination of new and old, cutting edge
technology with old-fashioned values is proving to be a powerful combination as Thornton Brothers sales continue to set
records as we roar into the 21st Century.
Thornton Brothers Paper Co. has always been committed to our customers, sensitive to the needs of a constantly changing
market and delivering dependable products and services since 1939. We have withstood the test of time. As we begin our
journey into a new millennium, why don't you join our growing list of delighted customers? You know we are going to be there
for you!
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