today. In 1939 E.W. Becknell started as a territory salesman for The Southern Supply Company, a wholesale hardware company in Dallas, Texas. He traveled to Houston area until 1941.... Wilkins formed a partnership named Becknell-Wilkins Wholesale Hardware Company. Becknell-Wilkins was a full line hardware company distributing housewares, appliances, sporting... goods, builders' hardware and a limited line of farm hardware. Becknell Wilkins sold out to West Texas Wholesale Company of Abilene, Texas, in 1951. That same year E. W Becknell...