Here's a comprehensive summary of the U-Haul Wikipedia article:
U-Haul Holding Company, founded in 1945 by Leonard Shoen and Anna Mary Carty in Ridgefield, Washington, began by franchising rental trailers through gas stations, quickly establishing itself as a national brand. Now operating across all 50 U.S. states and 10 Canadian provinces, U-Haul is widely recognized for its distinctive orange-striped trucks and offers a comprehensive range of services, including self-storage, moving supplies, and propane refueling. The company is part of AMERCO, a publicly traded holding company that also encompasses real estate and insurance ventures, with the Shoen family currently owning about 55% of its shares.
U-Haul's history is notably marked by significant family drama, including a contentious 1986 takeover by Leonard's sons, Edward and Mark, a $461 million legal judgment, and the tragic death of Leonard Shoen in 1999, which was ruled a suicide. Despite AMERCO's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2003, which did not affect U-Haul's operations, the company remains a ubiquitous moving service, so much so that its name is sometimes used as a generic trademark.
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