Corrigan Dispatch Company was founded in 1927 at Laredo, Texas by
the late Edward H. Corrigan (1898 - 1956), a British Citizen. He was
born and lived in Saltillo, Mexico, until along with other families, his
parents brought him to Laredo, Texas at the onset of the Mexican
Revolution in 1910. He spent the remainder of his life at Laredo and
practiced Customs brokerage with License number 13.
By the time World War II was under way, Corrigan Dispatch Company had been operating in Laredo, Texas for 15 years. As WW II continued, shipping lanes of the Atlantic Ocean became increasingly restricted. Cargo that had been exported from Mexico via Veracruz or Tampico; destined to U.S. seaports, was diverted overland via the Mexican railroad system and Mexican truck lines to clear U.S. Customs at Texas land ports. There was a heavy flow of raw materials, such as chicle, crude rubber, assorted metals and coffee. Laredo and Brownsville both received a heavy percentage of previously water-borne tonnage.
At the end of WW II, two sons, the late Bat Corrigan (1925-1983) and E.H. Corrigan, Jr. (1927) entered the firm with License numbers 3009 and 2503.
Bat Corrigan opened an office at Brownsville on January 4, 1949. Mexican cotton sold to various foreign markets entered the U.S. at Brownsville. Cotton was important well into the 1960's; its influence on the Port of Brownsville and surrounding area brought a period of prosperity. The Brownsville office of Corrigan Dispatch Company represented many cotton importers and participated in this cotton movement.
Toward the end of the 60's, U.S. investors and manufacturers became aware of the advantages available in the "Maquiladora" concept that had begun to unfold along the Mexican - U.S. border. The Mexican government was quick to see this potential; it was receptive and cordial to this previously non-existent activity just inside its 2,000 mile boundary with the U.S. These two factors came together at the same time; progressively, more corporations established themselves along this border.
The complexities of Maquila importations were a perfect match for the computer, already firmly established in the worlds of banking and commerce. Recognizing this compatibility, a comprehensive Automated Import System has been a key ingredient for serving importers at Corrigan Dispatch Company since 1977.
In June 1984, Mary Alyce Corrigan and the late Anita Sharkey Corrigan (1898 - 1991) joined the firm at Laredo, Texas.
In May 1985, an office was opened at Hidalgo, Texas. This office has since been expanded to include a warehouse that encompasses 61,000 square feet.
In 1997, Corrigan Dispatch Company opened its fourth office in Del Rio, Texas.
At this time, facilities of Corrigan Dispatch Company at its four offices total over 234,000 square feet of warehouse and office space, and the total railroad spur capacity for these four offices is 20 cars. The products that these offices handle vary from strawberries to steel. Though the type of trade at each office differs, all four are unified in their commitment to flexible service and a standard of excellence. This commitment accompanies our growth; as international trade becomes increasingly complex and elaborate, demand for speed and efficiency also grows.
Corrigan Dispatch Company has weathered these and other fluctuating trends in our 73 year history; the result has been a company that is flexible to meet and master change while unyielding in its commitment to service and excellence.