Douglas trucking legacy born out of determination and hard work

Casablanca, Bambi and Pride of the Yankees were released. Bing Crosby took Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” to No. 1 on the charts on its way to becoming one of the top-selling singles of all time. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Yankees in five games to win the World Series.

The Douglas family boasts 14 truck drivers with a combined 304 years of trucking experience. Shown here are: (back row) Janna McGlamory, Jeffery Douglas, John Reed McGlamory Billy Douglas Sr., Toni Douglas, Mary Clyde Douglas, Bobby Douglas, Billy Douglas Jr., Billie Douglas and Brayton Douglas, (front row) Natalie McGlamory, Mallory McGlamory, Briley Douglas, Brenden Douglas and Mitch McGlamory.

The year was 1942. The United States had entered World War II in late 1941 and was still suffering from the economic problems of the Great Depression. But the renewed sense of patriotism following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the quick mobilization at home to support the war effort gave rise to an entrepreneurial spirit for many Americans.

Two such individuals were Alfred and Mary Clyde Douglas. Alfred, who had dabbled in trucking since 1938 and had recently received an honorable discharge from the Navy, moved his young wife from the Pleasant Home community outside of Andalusia, Ala., to the Deland, Fla., area. It was there in 1942 that they started Alfred Douglas Trucking — the backbone of this family’s legacy.

“My grandfather was never scared to take a chance,” says 39-year-old Billy Douglas Jr. “Today, it seems like we are less likely to take a risk, but not back then. People like my grandfather would take chances and work hard and hope that things would turn out well. He and my dad [Billy Douglas Sr.] are two of the hardest working people I’ve ever known.”

Mary Clyde Douglas relaxes against the truck in which she hauled fruit around the DeLand, Fla., area in 1942. The matriarch of the family is now 86.

Today, with more than 300 years of combined trucking experience from drivers past and present, the Douglases are Truckers News’ 2010 Great American Trucking Family. Representatives of the magazine will present the award, which is sponsored by Rand McNally Intelliroute TND, to family members at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas on Friday, Aug. 27, prior to the Randy Houser concert.