Companies Celebrating 130 Years in 2015

130 might not be a normal milestone to celebrate, but when a company survives to this point it is definitely worth noting. Less than one percent of companies make it to the century mark, so surpassing that point and surviving the transition to another generation of leadership is cause for celebration. Here is my list of 11 companies hitting this mark in 2015 - I would appreciate hearing from you if you know of others who should be honored on this list.







E.C. Barton & Co., a building supplies retail store chain based in Jonesboro, Arkansas - a private company with an employee stock ownership program
Belden Brick Company, a 4th generation private block & brick manufacturer in Canton, Ohio

Bemberg Iron Works, Inc., the private metal fabricator in Little Rock, Arkansas - still run by Bembergs

W.C. Bradley Co., a private company making home and leisure products in Columbus, Georgia
Central Michigan Paper, the private wholesale paper merchant in Ada, Michigan
Cromwell Architects Engineers, a privately-owned architectural firm in Little Rock, Arkansas
Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc., a public retail furniture store chain based in Atlanta
Johnson Controls, Inc., the public, global manufacturer of various energy and automobile products based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
M.G. Newell Corporation, private manufacturer of sanitary processing equipment based in Greensboro, North Carolina
Reusch Jewelers, a private retail jewelry store in Petoskey and Cheboygan, Michigan
RMK Merril Stevens, a privately-owned shipyard and yacht repair in Miami, Florida

Companies Turning 100 in 2015

For a company to stay in business for 100 years is truly a remarkable accomplishment. Companies that have survived this long did so through conscientious management, consistently running the business according to values established early in the firm’s life. Think about it: companies in business for over 100 years have weathered economic depression and several recessions, two world wars, quantum leaps in technology (some of which have rendered whole industries obsolete), major shifts in social and cultural mores, globalization – all this in addition to normal competition. In my opinion, these companies are true treasures, having contributed both economically and socially to our communities. We should all celebrate the following firms reaching this milestone in 2015 and wish them many more successful decades to come. (If you know a company turning 100 in 2015 that is not on this list, please let me know.)

Baker Roofing Co. Raleigh, North Carolina

Bealls Inc. Bradenton, Florida

Black & Veatch, Kansas City, Missouri

Commercial Metals Co. Irving, Texas

Donaldson Co. Inc. Minneapolis, Minnesota

1st National Bank,Wynne, Arkansas

Gannett Fleming,Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

GenCorp, Inc, Rancho Cordova, California

Gordman's Stores, Inc. Omaha, Nebraska

Haven's Candies, Portland, Maine

Patrick Lumber Co. Portland, Oregon

Thompson Cigar, Tampa, Florida

Welch Allyn, Skaneateles, New York

Western Construction Group, St. Louis, Missouri