Wilmar History

Wilmar Leasing, Inc. was incorporated on January 31, 1980 by founder and owner Bill Crawford.

Bill began his leasing career in 1969 shortly after completing four years in the US Navy as an officer, at Hill Truck Rentals, Inc. in Orlando, Florida.  Hill Truck Rentals (HTR) was a full service truck leasing company.

Because of his success as a salesman, in 1973 Bill was asked to move to Charlotte, NC and open Hill’s first branch operation.  Bill acted as branch manager and salesman at this new facility.

In 1975, Bill left HTR and joined Leasing Consultants of Charlotte, a finance leasing company, where he learned the particulars of this different industry.

After five years as a very successful salesman, Bill left LCC and started Wilmar with $700 in savings bonds.  Wilmar is an acronym for William and Bill’s wife Marilyn (Wil – Mar)

In 1990 and 1991, Bill was joined in the business by his two sons, Scott and David.  In 1999, Elizabeth, his daughter, joined the company.

On September 1, 2004, Wilmar Leasing changed it's name to Wilmar Inc.  In part this was a result of Wilmar’s growth that encompasses more than just leasing.  Wilmar Inc. is still a private, family owned business.

Wilmar Leasing, Inc. grew from a one man operation out of a bedroom doing business only in Charlotte, N.C. to Wilmar, Inc., the largest independent leasing company in the Southeast.