Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
WHALEN, Lyle
WHALEN, Lyle. (Cresco, IA, Sept. 28, 1941- ). Whalen began repairing friends' cars at the age of sixteen. He established Whalen Body Rebuilders when he was eighteen and kept the company until about 1980. (1)
In 1973 he purchased AIH. Whalen also owned The Bridge truck stop, WHALEN'S SELF SERVICE CAR WASH, RAY'S B-LINE auto alignment shop, and Iowa Bumper Rechroming-a Des Moines firm he merged with AIH. In 1990 AIH employed fifty people and served seven hundred customers within a 100-mile radius of Dubuque.
Seeing an opportunity in the time between afternoon and evening shows at the DUBUQUE GREYHOUND PARK AND CASINO he established the Island Princess for charter cruises and Pelican Pier bar and short-order restaurant. (2) It was enlarged in 1988 and live music was offered. He also purchased the former site of INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY near the JULIEN DUBUQUE BRIDGE for future development.
---
Source:
1. Gilson, Donna. "Dubuque's Whalen Finds, Fills Niches," Telegraph Herald, October 28, 1990, p. 10
2. Chanaud, Timothy, "Food, Gas, Lodging Industries Win Big," Telegraph Herald, March 31, 1988, p. 45