AUCTION FAMILY CELEBRATING 25 YEARS ON THE MICROPHONE
2009-06-10

New Harmony, Indiana- On June 14, 1984, Bill Wilson stood on the podium for the first time as an auctioneer for the company he founded at the age of 35. That company today carries his namesake as William Wilson Auction Realty and this year, the 25 year old regionally based family firm will conduct business in three states out of its multiple office locations.

Aaron and Andrew Wilson, both auctioneers in the family firm, remember growing up in the business. Aaron remembers running sheets between the Auctioneer and cashier before the company began conducting its auctions with computers, wireless radios, and modern day software. Andrew remembers waking up at 5 a.m. on cold and rainy auction days to set up the auctions.

Both remember the first day they each stepped to the microphone for the first time and called out their first bids. Aaron, the younger of the two Wilson brothers says, “Andrew was extremely nervous”, adding that his nerves were less than jittery on his first bid calling go-round.

 “Our family has experienced a tremendous amount of support from the local community in these 25 years of conducting our business,” said Bill Wilson.  “We are fortunate to be surrounded by good people. All of our team members share in this celebration, because it truly is a family environment.”

It was that auction for The Charles Ford Memorial Home in New Harmony that started it all. Since then, the Wilson company has grown to conduct thousands of real estate and personal property auctions across the tri state region, including charity and fundraising auctions across the state; not to mention the volume of appraisals and real estate transactions over the years.

This year, the Wilson company was nominated as an Indiana Company to Watch by the Indiana Small Business Development Center. And, just last month, both Aaron and Andrew Wilson were featured on the cover of The Auctioneer, a monthly magazine publication of the National Auctioneers Association. The cover story was titled, ‘The Next Generation of the Auction Industry’.

Bill believes that Aaron and Andrew are the next generation, and that they hold the key to their own success, saying “The auction business is about reputation. It is also about treating people right. Both Aaron and Andrew hold strongly to those values.” That is why it is plain to understand that all three Wilson’s realize that they are part of the progressing profession of Auction, while reflecting on what has driven them to this point.

“On this special day for our company, we want to also express our sincere appreciation to the host of clients, families, and our invaluable team members for their continuing support as partners in our growth. We are convinced that the next 25 years will be the best ever for our company.”