General Telephone & Electronics Corporation, one of the world’s largest businesses and a leader in telecommunications, was born in Richland Center though headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. It was officially founded in 1918 when John F. O’Connell and Sigurd L. Odegard purchased the Richland Center Telephone Company. The firm grew rapidly and has telephone operations in 31 states. It was designated Commonwealth Telephone in 1920, Associated Telephone Utilities in 1926, and General Telephone Corporation in 1935. In 1958, it adopted the name General Telephone & Electronics to more accurately reflect corporate diversification.