About Us In 1963, a young Joplin Missouri couple, that had been married for a little more than a year, made the decision to open a business. Beginning with a small bank loan and additional financial support from a "grandma" loan, Hugh and Lee Anne Howsmon purchased the already existing Spurgen book store, which they later named Howsmon's. Prior to the inception of Howsmon's Hugh Howsmon worked at a company called Rocketdyne located in Neosho, Missouri. Hugh continued his employment at Rocketdyne while Lee Anne ran and operated the bookstore for the first few years the company was in business. This arrangement continued until the company profits allowed Hugh to leave his other employment and join Lee Anne full-time at the bookstore. In 1965, the Howsmon's received advice that the addition of office supplies to their store would be a profitable move. By 1973, the office supply business was so successful that they began phasing out the book department. Their assets expanded to include 610 Main Street and 914 Kentucky. An extensive conveyor system was also installed to help expedite the packaging and delivery process of filling and shipping orders. The year 1974 brought the purchase of the building at 531 Main Street, as well as 527 and 529 Main. In 1976, the downtown area of Joplin flooded on the fourth of July. Without flood insurance, the Howsmon's managed to survive and business began booming again. By 1977, the building at 530 Virginia was acquired and the Howsmon conglomerate grew to later incorporate 501 Main Street as their corporate office in the early 1980's. Over the years many things have changed but the primary mission of Howsmon's remains the same, CUSTOMER SERVICE!