History
The Thacker Story is a truly American success story. Thacker’s meteoric rise from humble beginnings in a declining Washington, DC neighborhood to become America’s fourth largest casket provider is a saga of a company that beat the odds. In the face of withering competition and in a significantly overproduced market, the Thacker Family employed a strong work ethic, ingenuity, and a genuine concern for their customers to achieve unprecedented growth. While tumultuous change in funeral service over the last decade forced many established funeral supply companies to merge or simply go out of business, Thacker Caskets, Inc. has thrived. This, then, is their inspiring story.
Founded in 1939 by Carl C. Thacker on North Capitol Street in Washington, DC, Thacker Caskets, Inc. began as a relatively small and local funeral supply jobber serving customers in the greater Washington, DC market. Originally called Old Dominion Casket Company, the name was changed to Thacker Caskets in the early 1970s. Thacker ingenuity was evident from the start as Carl pioneered a number of advertising and promotional strategies. He was the first to photograph his product line and transfer the photos to slides. In this way he was able to display his caskets via projector in a vibrant slide show format. A set of Carl’s innovative slides remain as part of the company’s historical archives.
Many recall Carl’s brother, Joe, who developed the industry’s first truly affordable hearse. Thacker Coach Company’s station wagon conversions became an industry standard. Ingenuity runs in the family!
Following Carl Thacker’s untimely death, in 1981 his wife Audrey and son Carl J. (“CJ”) assumed leadership of the company. This was a daunting task. CJ was still in high school. Others might have been tempted to sell or close the business, but Audrey and CJ were committed to perpetuating Carl’s dream, and building upon his legacy. During this period they received invaluable support from long term Office Manager, Sandy Saucier. Lou Nell Badgett and licensed Funeral Director, Greg Brehm are also key members of the tenured Thacker Caskets, Inc. Customer Service Team.
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