Automobile and Tractor Executive. A grandson of John Deere, he was elected vice president of Deere & Company in 1908. When the corporation formed an executive committee in 1911, Willard Velie was the first chairman. He also founded the Velie Engineering Company at the same time. In 1916, he merged this company with the Velie Carriage Company of Moline, which he had founded with his brother Stephen in 1907. He resigned his executive committee postions at Deere & Company in 1918 due to disagreements with CEO William Butterworth, and then resigned as director of the company in 1921, ending his relationship with Deere & Company. From 1908 until 1928, the Velie Motors Corporation manufactured between 250,000 and 300,000 automobiles, of which just over 200 are still in existance today. In 1911, a Velie automobile finished 17th in the first Indianapolis 500. After his son, Willard, Jr., was named a company vice president in 1927, the Velie Motor Company bought an interest in Central States Aircraft Corporation of Davenport, Iowa. Through this partnership, the Velies designed and manufactured the Velie Monocoupe airplane, which received the US Departmen of Commerce's highest rating for an aircraft. Willard died shortly thereafter.
Automobile and Tractor Executive. A grandson of John Deere, he was elected vice president of Deere & Company in 1908. When the corporation formed an executive committee in 1911, Willard Velie was the first chairman. He also founded the Velie Engineering Company at the same time. In 1916, he merged this company with the Velie Carriage Company of Moline, which he had founded with his brother Stephen in 1907. He resigned his executive committee postions at Deere & Company in 1918 due to disagreements with CEO William Butterworth, and then resigned as director of the company in 1921, ending his relationship with Deere & Company. From 1908 until 1928, the Velie Motors Corporation manufactured between 250,000 and 300,000 automobiles, of which just over 200 are still in existance today. In 1911, a Velie automobile finished 17th in the first Indianapolis 500. After his son, Willard, Jr., was named a company vice president in 1927, the Velie Motor Company bought an interest in Central States Aircraft Corporation of Davenport, Iowa. Through this partnership, the Velies designed and manufactured the Velie Monocoupe airplane, which received the US Departmen of Commerce's highest rating for an aircraft. Willard died shortly thereafter.
Bio by: pammy
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