Description
The roots of Invacare Corporation stretch almost as far back as the history of the modern-day wheelchair itself to the Fay Manufacturing Company, maker of tricycles, in 1885. Nearly a century and several ownership and name changes later, Invacare’s 1971 precursor, Mobilaid, would be merged with Rolls Equipment and Invalex Company by then owner Boston Capital Corporation (BCC) to form Invacare Corporation. When purchased by A. Malachi Mixon III and a team of investors for nearly $8 million in 1979, the Elyria, Ohio-based company was a neglected subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson that sold wheelchairs and little else. But Mixon, a sharp salesman and keen investor, envisioned a full-service home health care company dedicated to making a difference. Through a string of shrewd acquisitions, he has led the company to worldwide leadership in the home health care market.
