Founder, Floyd Burcham
From the dust of Eram, Oklahoma to the sands of Normandy, an American Hero became a Bakersfield Success Story.
With “California or Bust” and “Going to California” written across his Model T, our founder, Floyd Burcham, with a couple of friends headed west to seek their fortune in California. That was in 1935. After driving for 10 days, they broke down in Barstow. They managed to sell the broken down car for $5 and hopped a slow moving freight train that was headed for Bakersfield. In those days, if you got caught riding the rails you were arrested, so as the train came to a stop on the east side of town, they jumped and ran as fast as they could. That was how Floyd landed in Bakersfield.
After serving under General Patton in World War II, Floyd returned to Bakersfield to continue his dream. He met up with his old friend Pat Savage who was then operating a war surplus store. The enterprising Burcham could see opportunity in piles of boxes in all shapes and sizes. He then took his Army savings, teamed up with Savage and bought three war surplus stores in Porterville, Tulare and Dinuba.
As the years went by life was good to Floyd. He built a strong business. He declared the secret to his success was a lot of hard work and a little bit of common sense. He managed to build his legacy with General Merchandise Stores, Floyd’s Block-Long Emporium, a Canvas Shop and an Office Furniture Store.
Floyd was involved in sports as a participant and a sponsor for minor league baseball farm teams and community youth sports programs. He was a founding Director of American National Bank and supported many organizations such as the Elks, Eagles, Kiwanis and many more.
As Floyd moved past retirement age he sold the general merchandise stores but retained ownership of Floyd’s Office Furniture Store, now known as Floyd’s Office Solutions. We continue to be locally owned and operated by Floyd’s daughter, Joanna McCune, and his grand daughters, Shawna McCune and Tonya Nixon.
Today it is our profound pleasure and honor to have taken the reins from such a leader. While the baton has been passed, we remain grounded in our appreciation of our founder and his foundation of business principles.
