Westlawn Gardens in Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

American Mutual Company

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 21, 2025

1. American Mutual Company Marker

Inscription. A pioneer of the warehouse club retail industry, AMC was established by the Homsey brothers and operated on this site from 1961 until 1987. The Homseys fought in court to give business owners the right to set their own prices without interference by producers, won in the Oklahoma Supreme Court on April 18, 1961, and thus changed Oklahoma's retail environment.

Erected by Oklahoma Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Oklahoma Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1961.

Location. 35° 28.714′ N, 97° 32.922′ W. Marker is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in Oklahoma County. It is in Westlawn Gardens. It is at the intersection of Northwest 10th Street and North Pennsylvania Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Northwest 10th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1001 N Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City OK 73107, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma — Frontier Country.

It is also

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in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chickasaw Nation Garden (approx. 1.2 miles away); Site of Historic Frederickson Field House (approx. 1.2 miles away); Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center (approx. 1.2 miles away); Weather Service Building (approx. 1.2 miles away); Oklahoma United Methodist Hall (approx. 1.2 miles away); Nellie Melton Panhellenic Quadrangle (approx. 1.2 miles away); Aduddell Fitness Center (approx. 1.2 miles away); Gristmill Bed Stone (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oklahoma City.

Regarding American Mutual Company. The 1961 court case centered on a provision in the Oklahoma state constitution that allowed manufacturers to set minimum retail prices for their products. American Home Products

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 21, 2025

2. American Mutual Company Marker

and Revlon sued American Mutual in 1960, saying the store was illegally discounting their products. A district judge ruled the provision was an unfair restraint on free trade. The manufacturers appealed but the Oklahoma Supreme Court also found the provision as unconstitutional. It was part of a spate of similar decisions in other states that opened the door to the discount retailers and wholesale clubs of today.

Also see . . . Four Homsey Brothers Plan to Retire City's AMC Discount Store to Close Its Doors. AMC, nicknamed "the house of name brands," was founded in 1945 as the American Candy & Tobacco Co. at 629 W Reno. (Lou Anne Wolfe, The Oklahoman, March 11, 1987) (Submitted on July 31, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

American Mutual Co. Groundbreaking image. Click for full size.

Bob Albright, Daily Oklahoman; OK Historical Society via The Gateway to OK History (Fair use), April 5, 1961

3. American Mutual Co. Groundbreaking

The five Homsey brothers – (left to right) Paul, Harry, Benny, Joe and Sam – review plans at the construction site for their A.M.C. discount store. A forerunner of today's Costco, BJ's Wholesale and Sam's Club, the 116,000-square-foot A.M.C. store sold a wide variety of goods including groceries, jewelry, guns and beauty products.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 287 times since then and 86 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 31, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.