Gallagher Turns 75
Reprinted with permission from the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce magazine.
Third-Generation, Family-Owned Paving Contractor Celebrates 75 Years of Paving Heritage
(July 2003)—This year marks 75 years of road building for Gallagher Asphalt Corporation. Without a grade-school diploma or any experience running a company, and only the funds provided by putting a second mortgage on his home, James F. Gal-lagher Sr., then 30, founded Gallagher Asphalt Corporation (originally as J.F. Gallagher Co.) on June 5, 1928.
“Dad had lots of courage,” said the founder’s son and retired Gallagher president, Donald.
“Despite his lack of formal education and real-world experience, and the fact that an economic depression was just beginning, he still forged on with his dream of starting a paving company.”
After working for an asphalt contractor as a receptionist and clerk and later as an asphalt and oil salesman for Texaco Oil Company, James Sr. originally started in the business as a “broker” of projects to contractors throughout six counties in Northern Illinois.
However, in 1934, the company established itself on Chicago’s South Side at 93rd and Ewing after the city awarded Gallagher the contract for furnishing asphalt to street crews. Several years later, the company moved its base of operations to the Thomton quarry owned at the time by Moulding Brownell Company. Material Service Corporation now owns the quarry.
“Our grandfather was a true innovator,” said third-generation co-owner and Vice President of Operations Dan Gallagher. “In fact, there are several asphalt-related U.S. patents that bear his name.”
After earning their college degrees and serving their country, James’ three sons - Jack, Jim and Don -joined the business during the ‘40s and ‘50s and succeeded ownership from their father in the late ‘60s. By the ‘70s, the company had experienced massive growth as the south suburbs boomed.
“The interstate system was being built, towns were growing by leaps and bounds, huge shopping malls were popping up everywhere, and the heavy industrial market - such as steel mills and rail yards-were thriving,” said retired president. Jack, a 49-year industry veteran.
“The second generation played a pivotal role in establishing Gallagher Asphalt as a well-respected paving contractor, employer and community leader,” said Jack’s son and current president, Charlie, a third-generation company leader.
Now with its main plants located in Thomton and Joliet and a portable plant in Elwood at the Joliet Arsenal Redevelopment, Gallagher Asphalt has paved hundreds of thousands of miles of asphalt throughout the greater Chicago Southland. The firm’s high-profile projects have included The Dan Ryan Expressway, Lake Shore Drive, The Borman Expressway, Lincoln Mall, River Oaks Mall, Orland Square Mall, The Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Dragstrip in Joliet and the Joliet Arsenal Redevelopment, not to mention thousands of resurfacing projects with virtually every municipality in the south suburbs and Joliet area.
Now in its third generation of family ownership and management, the company is run by Jack’s two sons, Charlie and David, and Donald’s two sons, Dan and Patrick.
