Donald Caine founded Camco Manufacturing at age 26, naming the company with his and his boss’ initials.
After graduating from High Point College, now High Point University, in 1950, Caine started at Atlantic Mobile Home Suppliers Corp., a distributor that now sells Camco’s products. When his boss Wade Meyers had a heart attack, Caine stepped in to help run Atlantic. His boss came back to work four months later and, Caine said, trusted him completely.
Caine knew he wanted to start his own business when he left Atlantic. Born and raised on a 120-acre tobacco and dairy farm in Greensboro, North Carolina, Caine learned farm work and how to run a business from his mother, who handled the family’s finances. Caine approached Meyers about naming his company C and M Products, for Caine and Meyers. In 1968, they shortened the name to Camco.
Camco’s first product was antifreeze, which Caine saw a need for in the mobile home market while handling purchasing at Atlantic. The company’s second product was a water heater element, before Camco expanded into the RV and residential hardware markets.
In 1976, Camco moved into its first plant, more than doubling the building’s area to 11,000 square feet. Five years later, Camco started construction on a new lot, which they continue expanding on today.
In 2021, Caine passed at age 81 in Greensboro, North Carolina. His 1981 factory now assembles more than 5,000 different products. Caine’s daughter Lisa Cooke became company CEO in 2008.
