LION Connects Blog

Celebrating LION’s Roots and Ohio’s Legacy

Posted by: Corporate Marketing | November 14th, 2024

A HISTORIC BEGINNING IN OHIO November 15, 2024 | CORPORATE MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS In early November, the nation celebrated #NationalOhioDay, a time to recognize the significant contributions and unique history of the Buckeye State. For LION, this celebration holds particular importance, as Ohio is where our journey began over 125 years ago. In 1898, LION was founded by William Lapedes, who started his business by selling dry goods from a horse-drawn wagon. Based in the Dayton area, William traveled to rural families, providing them with essential products until he was able to establish a permanent storefront in downtown Dayton in 1911. Since then, LION has remained rooted in Ohio, making it an integral part of our company’s legacy. Today, LION’s headquarters and manufacturing operations are still firmly based in Dayton, Ohio, where we proudly carry forward the tradition of excellence and innovation. Our Dayton headquarters serve as the heart of LION’s shared services, while the Dayton Manufacturing Plant stands as a critical hub of production, serving military and fire service clients around the world.