With remarkable sales skills and a keen ability to fix ailing companies, John Willys (1873-1935) was instrumental in the development of the budding automotive industry. After his death, the Willys-Overland company pioneered the manufacture and use of Jeeps in World War II, in essence creating the off-road (sport-utility vehicle) market.

John Willys saw his first automobile in downtown Cleveland in 1899 and quickly realized the vehicle's future importance. Within a decade, Willys had purchased several automobile manufacturing companies and began production from his base in Toledo, Ohio. In the pre-World War I days of the automobile industry, Willys ranked second to Ford in output and remained a leader until the Great Depression. His company faltered during the nationwide financial crisis and Willys served as a diplomat after selling his stock in the company. He returned to the Willys-Overland in the early 1930s, but could not restore the company to...