Thurston Warn is known as the creative innovator of numerous off-road products. His father, Arthur Warn founded Warn Industries in 1948 in Seattle, Washington. The company produced locking hubs for World War II Army Surplus Jeeps, which converted the vehicles into on road vehicles. The company also created overdrives and a winch system both which found immense popularity among off-road racers, four wheelers and individuals who counted on their vehicles to make a living.
Warn served as a long time advocate of organized off-roading. He gave his prominent support to groups such as the National Four Wheel Drive Association, the California Association of Four-Wheel Drive Clubs, and OREA.

Source:
http://www.warn.com/corporate/history.shtml