Jockey International Inc. is marking 150 years of history, marked by innovation, growth and ties to the Kenosha community.
S.T Cooper & Sons was founded in St. Joseph, Michigan, by the Rev. Samuel T. Cooper and his sons, who set out with a passion for crafting high-quality wool socks and hosiery in 1876. The company has become a manufacturer and retailer of underwear, sleepwear, and sportswear headquartered in Kenosha.
The company’s presence can be felt throughout Kenosha, where it has thrived since relocating here in 1892. From the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Auditorium at the Rhode Center for the Arts, the Coopers Uptown store and others in Kenosha and Pleasant Prairie, the company has been sewn into the fabric of the community.
“We’ve been able to make decisions that are generational in nature and decisions that aren’t about unhealthy growth or partnerships, but rather decisions that are driven by our long-term values like innovation, quality and integrity,” he said.
Fedyk said, at its core, Jockey was founded on family values and that emphasis has remained true throughout the company’s 150 years.
“Our anniversary really is a celebration of our legacy, but it’s also the opportunity to share our story with a lot of people,” he said. “For us it’s about honoring the people and communities that brought us here.”
Ties to history
The Jockey headquarters building on 60th Street was constructed by Samuel T. Cooper’s sons Willis and Charles in 1902 as the White Cat Mill.
Across from the 60th Street headquarters is Coopers Uptown, a cafe and gift shop that is also owned by the company. The business opened its doors in October 2022 and is named after the founder of the company, Samuel T. Cooper and the Uptown neighborhood.
Jockey’s current chief executive officer and chairman is Debra S. Waller, who is related to two of the companies’ previous leaders. Her mother, Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt, was the first female chairman and CEO of Jockey in 1978.
She is the daughter of Harry Wolf Sr., one of “Four Horsemen of Underwear,” four men who helped Coopers get through the Great Depression. The other three were Ralph Cooper, Gilbert S. Lance and Arthur Kneibler. Harry Wolf Sr. eventually became president and chairman in 1960 and purchased the company from the Coopers in 1971.
Jockey now has a store at the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets. A Downtown location opened in 2011 when Kenosha Area Business Alliance moved its office to Sixth Avenue, with Jockey becoming one of its tenants.
Jockey previously had an outlet store that opened in 1978 on 39th Avenue. For more information about Jockey visit https://tinyurl.com/Jockey150.
Read more at the Kenosha News.