After almost a century in operation, West-Hodson Lumber & Concrete was recognized Friday night for its continued contributions, both to its employees as well as the community at large.
Established in 1930, the company has had a storied history in Northeast Nebraska, beginning as a coal and lumber company in Osmond before changing its name and opening its first concrete plant in the 1980s in Creighton, subsequently branching out to Plainview, Norfolk and Bloomfield.
Rich Hodson, who runs the concrete side of the business, is a fourth-generation owner of the 2024 inductee into the Norfolk Area Business Hall of Fame.
“We have the best people in the business, bar none, and that’s what it takes,” Hodson said. “There have been a few that didn’t make the grade, but the ones that can cut it, they stay a long time.”
An example is Paul Holland, who has been at the Norfolk location since it opened in 2011.
“One thing about Rich is he is meticulous about the way he goes about his business. Once he puts his mind to something, it gets done,” Holland said. “They way he treats his employees is a big reason why I’ve stayed since I started, and I’m always proud to say I work for this company.”
In nomination letters to the Daily News, current employee Jerry Pospisil described Hodson as “a great listener and a great friend” and someone who worked to foster a family-first culture within the company.
“I knew I didn’t want to go to college. I did try college, but it just didn’t last,” Hodson said. “I grew up in the business, starting about the age of 10. Back then they heated the office with coal, so it was my job to make sure that furnace worked. It was always cold out in the yard.”
A few years later, Hodson found his passion.
“When I got old enough to drive a truck or run a loader, that’s when I gravitated to that side of the business,” Hodson said. “My philosophy has been to under-promise and over-deliver every single day, and it’s worked out pretty well.”
Hodson credited his family for inspiring him to keep the business thriving.
“Both my parents and grandpa were big influences on my career,” Hodson said. “They worked harder than anyone I know, especially my dad.”
Equally noteworthy is West-Hodson’s philanthropic work with Concrete Cares of Nebraska, through which it has helped to raise $600,000 in assistance to Nebraskans battling cancer since 2013.
“Most never know the level of their involvement,” said Northeast Community college instructor Misty Wortman, who nominated West-Hodson for the award. “It’s easy to say that (they support their) communities and beyond every day.”
This post was originally published on here
