Wilson built a legacy of trucking in South Dakota

William Wilson began a single-truck route in 1925 that grew to serve dozens of South Dakota towns and expanded into a multi-state carrier; the company later became All American Freight System, which filed for bankruptcy in 1988.

William Wilson (1887–1963) grew up on a farm in Broadland Township, Beadle County, and entered the trucking business in 1925 with one truck and a route to Brookings. The business expanded rapidly and added local depots and warehouses to move goods from rail lines to towns across the region. Over the following decades the firm consolidated operations, moved locations in Mitchell, and extended service into multiple states. By mid-century the company had grown substantially before changing its name and later encountering financial failure. Key points: - William Wilson was born in 1887 and died in 1963; he began the trucking business in South Dakota. - In 1925 Wilson started with one truck and a route to Brookings; within four years Wilson Transportation Co. served 35 towns in the state. - In 1931 a truck depot was built at 123 1/2 S. Lawler St. in Mitchell to move goods from the railroad to central and southeastern towns. - In 1940 the business consolidated with Wilson Forwarding Co. and expanded warehousing to include 118 S. Lawler St. - The company grew to about 500 pieces of equipment operating in six states. - Wilson Truck System became All American Freight System in 1965; American Freight System is recorded as filing for bankruptcy in 1988. Summary: Wilson's operations grew from a single-truck route into a multi-state carrier that supplied towns across South Dakota and beyond. The business later became All American Freight System and is recorded as filing for bankruptcy in 1988. Undetermined at this time.