Polaris Employees Celebrate the Life and Accomplishments of David Johnson, One of the Company’s Three Co-Founders
David
Johnson. He passed away yesterday in
“David Johnson embodied the Polaris culture and work ethic, and his positive impact on the company continues to inspire us today,” said Polaris Chairman and CEO
Scott Wine. “David valued hard work, passion for the riding experience, and an unwavering spirit of innovation. He set a tremendous example with his dedication and commitment to the company and employees. We are saddened by his passing and offer our sincere condolences to Eleanor and David’s family and friends.”
After working together for a few years, David and his two cousins,
Edgar and Allan Hetteen, officially founded Polaris in 1954. Polaris produced a variety of products, including several agricultural products such as straw cutter attachments for combines. But
David Johnson and several
co-workers who were avid outdoorsmen envisioned a vehicle – a snow
machine – they could use in winter to reach their remote hunting shacks.
In late 1955, David and his cohorts created the first Polaris
snowmobile, a machine that made its first run across a snowy
Polaris began producing snowmobiles and helped create the global market for the versatile winter machines. David later said that while Polaris did not invent the snow machine, the company was the first to successfully market snowmobiles. With David in production roles such as Vice President of Manufacturing, Polaris became the snowmobile industry’s long-time market share leader, the dominant brand in snowmobile racing, and the brand known for delivering the best ride and handling. By the time David retired in 1988, the company had begun to diversify and was also producing and marketing off-road vehicles.
David was inducted into the
David Johnson is survived by his wife of 68 years, Eleanor, and their children, Rodney, Mary, Mitchell, and Aaron. Information about funeral services is forthcoming. All Polaris employees are honorary pallbearers for the service.
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