Golden Eagle Celebrates Our 60th Anniversary.

2006 marked the 60th anniversary for Golden Eagle Distributing Corporation. It all began in 1946 with a 1,200 square foot building and a philosophy that quality products and honest service would make for good business. The company that was started by Ralph and Jean Sheppard in Eureka, California as Western Chain Saw has seen many changes over the years, but the focus on the customer has never changed.

The Sheppard’s had the vision in 1946 to see the future of the logging industry. They began distributing Mall Chain Saws at a time when the drag saw was still the standard for the industry. As the business grew, they relocated five times to expand the warehouse facilities. The buildings grew in size from the original 1,200 sq. ft. to over 90,000 sq. ft. and relocated five times, moving from Eureka, CA to Sacramento, and finally to our facility in Rocklin, CA.  With the move to Sacramento, the company also changed its name to Golden Eagle Distributing to better reflect the wide array of commercial products that they now carried.

The business evolved with the addition of key products to the mix. Western Chain Saw was the first distributor for Oregon Saw Chain in 1947. Working with Joe Cox, the inventor of Oregon saw chain, they helped to develop the chain into a premier brand.

In 1973, GE became the California distributor for Echo Outdoor Power Equipment.  With Echo on board, the business grew at an even faster speed.  GE’s territory grew to include Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Rim.

We appreciate our loyal customers who have allowed Golden Eagle to be at the forefront of the outdoor equipment distribution industry. Our commitment to dealers is the same now as it was when we started: We want to help you grow your business!

Golden Eagle’s territory has expanded with the addition of the Charlestown Power Equipment warehouse facility in Illinois. We are servicing the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri, and Kansas with Echo, Bearcat, and Billy Goat products.

We look forward to seeing where the next 60 years takes us.