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OUR HISTORY
Tri-State Battery Supply was founded in the early 80’s by Randy Clark, but the Clark families
involvement in the battery industry actually began over two decades earlier in 1960 when
Randy’s mom, Lois Clark, first went to work for “Central Battery” in Jackson, MS.
As a bookkeeper, she managed to raise four children almost single-handedly.
In 1974, she transferred to the companies location in Shreveport, LA. It was here in
Shreveport that Randy first got involved in the business; working part-time after school
unloading and stacking junk batteries to try and help make ends meet. The company
(now Chloride Inc.) moved to Longview, TX in early 1976. After two years in college,
Randy moved to Longview and took a job with Chloride as shop foreman.
It was in this job with a major manufacturer/distributor, that Randy was able to gain
an extensive working knowledge of batteries, and invaluable management experience.
In the early 80’s, Randy decided that greater opportunities awaited him, and it was at
this time that he resigned from his job at Chloride, moved back to Shreveport, and began
selling batteries out the back of a truck.
In 1985 he opened his first retail/warehouse location in Bossier City, LA. Three years later,
he opened a second retail/warehouse location in Longview, TX to better serve the customer
base in East Texas.
It was at this time that both his mom, and his wife LaNita, became involved in the business
full-time. In 1991, construction was completed on the new corporate headquarters in Shreveport.
In 2000, a new ultra modern facility was built and opened in Longview, TX.
Our focus has never been to become the largest distributor by volume in our area, but
rather to be the best; to deliver high quality products at competitive prices, to do this at
an exceptional level of personal service, and to always conduct our business affairs
with the highest level of integrity.
We hope we have succeeded in this endeavor.
We continue to grow by keeping our focus on the things that we do best.
Thank you for your continued patronage, and feel free to offer suggestions as to how
we can better serve our customer base.
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