Don J. Locke (1923-2000), founder of Locke Supply Co., began work in the plumbing business in 1946 while attending the University of Oklahoma. He graduated in 1948 after serving 2½ years in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Locke Supply Co. started on a shoestring budget in 1955 when Don and Wanda Locke opened a Wholesale Plumbing Supply outlet in Bartlesville, OK. It was a Mom and Pop operation with no additional employees. In late 1956 and early 1957 the Locke's moved their company to Oklahoma City, OK. The marketing philosophy of taking the store to the customers began to develop when the second branch opened in 1958. His customers quickly proved they liked this way of doing business and today there are over 200 store locations in 6 states with a 45 acre distribution center to supply them all.