Wally Byam. Who is he? Wally is Airstream: how did this industrialist develop the iconic, legendary Silver Bullet trailer?
His approach to ownership, as an entrepreneur and leader, differed from others who sought wealth above all else.
In 1916, the same year that Wally graduated from Jefferson High School in Portland, Oregon, he wrote down his affirmations, life goals, and his inner view of who he was. The following thought was his life's fuel, which propelled him forward.
"I am a man of extremes - either I will be a big boss, a rousing success, or a blank failure. In my heart, I know I'll be a great big glorious success, and my name will go down in history."
There's no doubt that, almost 100 years later, Wally Byam has made history.
Wally believed that owning a business represented an opportunity to employ others, to produce the finest product that could possibly be manufactured, to create a network of dealers who could make a proud living, to connect a community of customers traveling together with smiles and enjoyment in their Airstreams.
Like the proverbial rancher or farmer, he was dirt poor. His true wealth was the ownership he took in Airstream. He needed money only for travel, which Airstream happily provided. His home life was a simple one.
Airstream's doors were padlocked three times, probably because of unpaid taxes. Keeping the company going required a man not only with vision, but with stick-to-it-iveness, realizing he had the skills and the passion to power through these financial obstacles.
Wally achieved success in hiring people who were qualified to grow not only as professionals but as individuals.
There are simple words to describe him: intuitive, driven, intelligent, sentimental, thrifty, and ethical come to mind. He was a sheep herder, a sailor, an inventor, a mentor, an industrialist, an engineer, a writer, a trend-setter, an entrepreneur, and a friend.
Yes, I knew Wally. He was my cousin, mentor, friend, and employer, a person who presented me with a loving, strict, informative life, and wisdom through his knowledge and experiences.
He had to make tough business decisions to continue to move the company forward. In 1951, he led his first Airstream Wally Byam Caravan to Mexico and Central America. The Caravans returned many times: to Mexico and Central America, then to Canada, Cuba, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Airstream became recognized worldwide.
The small downtown Los Angeles factory couldn’t supply the demand for Airstreams. In 1952, Wally opened a second factory in Jackson Center, Ohio. The combined sales and profits allowed Airstream to move away from downtown L.A. to their new Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs plant.
In 1955, Airstream owners tugged on Wally’s shirt sleeves to start an official community for owners. On the Eastern Canadian Caravan that summer, the Wally Byam Caravan Club was formed. Led by Airstream owners, but financed by Airstream, Wally put his full vote of confidence behind the club. The club was governed by owners, organized by an owners' constitution, and incorporated as an entity.
There's a very interesting passage from Wally's last book, Trailer Travel at Home and Abroad.
"The real measure of living in in seeking out and meeting challenges. What point is there, really, in always doing what is easiest? There is no substitute for experiencing a thing firsthand. You have to feel the pains to enjoy the delights. You have to feel your own back aching, your own arms turning to lead, the rough calluses on your fingers. If you don't, you can never appreciate the view from the mountaintop.
Mountaintops, it seems to me, don't just come naturally. You've got to climb your own, see for yourself. After everything is said and done, that's what caravanning is all about...we know that what is worthwhile doesn't come easily. Part of the joy of triumph is the earning of it. If everyone could learn this little lesson, it would be a happier and wiser world."
Wally’s satisfaction in life was never money. He came from modest means and lived a modest life. His achievements and successes were measured by providing employment for his workers; by creation of Airstream, the best product on the market; by establishing a dealer network that could make a profit with pride in the product they were selling; and by creating memories for customers who traveled in comfort with reliability, eager to see where the highway led going over the next hill.
He lives on through Airstream today, a legendary icon made possible by Wally's blood, sweat, and tears.
Dale “Pee Wee” Schwamborn has silver in his blood. Each week, Pee Wee shares one of his many stories, including his experiences on the iconic Airstream Caravans, his time spent working in the Airstream factory, and the many Airstreamers he’s befriended, far and wide.
