Don Wahlin, the founder of Stoughton Trailers, has been recognised as a champion of industry.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) – the combined state chamber and manufacturers’ association – recently named Don Wahlin as the 80th inductee to the Wisconsin Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
Wahlin, a Wisconsin native, purchased the remaining assets of a small, bankrupt business in 1961 and founded Stoughton Trailers. Over four decades, Wahlin’s visionary leadership, business acumen and patient wisdom built the company into one of North America’s largest trailer manufacturers.
WMC’s predecessor organisation, Wisconsin Manufacturers’ Association, started the then-called Industrial Hall of Fame in the 1950s ‘to honour those individuals who made significant contributions to the state’s industrial history’.
In 1970, the Hall of Fame was discontinued. However, in 2024, WMC, in partnership with First Business Bank, made the decision to reconstitute the program in order to showcase Wisconsin’s growing manufacturing legacy and celebrate the innovators and entrepreneurs who have contributed to the state.
“The Wisconsin Manufacturing Hall of Fame distinguishes and honours the legacy of the leaders who have built Wisconsin,” said WMC President & CEO Kurt R. Bauer. “We are lucky to have a rich heritage of manufacturers who have impacted our economy and expertly lead companies, all while investing in their communities through philanthropy and civic engagement.”
In addition to his industry leadership, Wahlin served as a pilot in the Air National Guard for 23 years and raised eight children with his wife, Carol. Together, they also founded The Wahlin Foundation to invest in local communities. The foundation has contributed to projects such as the Stoughton Youth Center, the VFW Memorial Park, the Evansville Aquatic Center, the Stoughton Hospital and the Stoughton Library.
“Don Wahlin was an obvious addition to the Hall of Fame,” said Bauer.
“He is a champion of industry, leadership and philanthropy, and a great servant to our country and his family.
“His legacy will undoubtedly endure for generations to come.”
Wahlin said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be inducted into the Wisconsin Manufacturing Hall of Fame. None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our talented team of employees, and the support and continued leadership of my family. It’s a true privilege to join these Wisconsin icons as an inductee.”
The induction ceremony was held 20 February 2025 at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee as part of the annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year (MOTY) awards.
Earlier this year, Stoughton Rental and Lease Company announced the opening of its new site.
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