During an interview with Hall of Fame inductee Rick Péwé, Lonnie said, “I thought I’d died and went to Heaven. I could crawl under a Jeep and lay on concrete. We even had electricity and lights. My sweet wife was our marketing agent, and I made parts. Those were good times.” In 1973, they opened their first brick-and-mortar storefront and created Skyjacker Suspensions. From these humble origins, the duo developed a company and brand name that became permanently embedded in the lexicon of the off-road industry.
Lonnie pioneered innovative industry firsts, including products for Fords, Chevys, mini truck conversions, Jeeps, and Scouts. Reflecting on those early days, he said, “Others said it was impossible, but impossible is what I enjoy. It’s what we do.” It was this ethos that ultimately led to building custom suspensions for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
From the beginning, Skyjacker gained a reputation for sponsoring and often competing in nearly every mud drag, four-wheel drive, and rock crawling event around the country. ORMHOF inductee Curt Leduc said, “Like so many founders of our sport, he saw a need for products that did not exist. With determination and the help of family and friends, he built a brand that still stands for quality and performance. He’s not the man with a wall of trophies, but with his support, he allowed many in our sport to fill rooms with trophies. A truer mentor I have never met.”
Walking through the Skyjacker lobby, you will find shelves of awards from SEMA, auto manufacturers, and publishing companies, and in 2004, Off-road Business Magazine named Lonnie one of its Top Five Most Influential People. Equally impressive are the accolades he has received for supporting various ministries, homeless shelters, and the Salvation Army.
In 2024, Skyjacker celebrated its 50th anniversary, and although it had expanded its shop several times, the cornerstones of that original store still lay beneath its current 80,000-square-foot facility. With three generations involved in managing the still-family-owned business, and a loyal staff of more than 50, Lonnie credits his success not only to his family, friends, and industry partners, but also to his faith in God.
