Gray Construction Company Timeline
1902-1903
Arthur A. Gray emigrated with his family by train from Belleville, Wisconsin to Watertown South Dakota in 1902. He founded Gray Construction Company as a proprietorship in 1903.
1906-1910
In 1906, Roy Rose and Lew Peters were taken into the company and the firm became a partnership. In February of 1910, the firm was incorporated as a South Dakota Corporation.
1938-1955
Arthur Gray, president of the corporation, died in 1938, at which time Roy Rose became president. Because of poor health, Lew Peters retired from the firm in 1955. Roy Rose’s eldest son, Elmo, joined the firm in 1946. He was elected as vice president in 1955.
1957-1961
L.C. Brownell joined the firm in 1957 as a bookkeeper. After an intensive training period, he became senior estimator in 1961.
1962-1971
Elmo Rose died in 1962 after a lingering illness. At this time Roy Rose was 76 yeas of age, and he asked his younger son, Lesilie M. Rose, at the time a Research and Development Supervisor with IBM in New York, to join Gray Construction Company as its president. Leslie Rose came to the firm in 1963. Roy Rose died in February 1971 at the age of 85.
1979-1983
Vic Brownell joined the firm in 1979 as an estimator and project manager. On February 26, 1980, Leslie Rose was elevated to Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. L.C. Brownell was then elected as the new president of the firm. As of April 1, 1983, Leslie (Les) M. Rose retired from full-time active employment with Gray Construction Company, Inc. Upon his retirement, he resigned his position as Chief Executive Officer of the firm, but retained the position of Chairman of the Board.
1994-1996
On December 29, 1994, L.C. Brownell purchased controlling interest in Gray Construction Company from Leslie M. Rose; thereby becoming the majority stockholder. Leslie Rose passed away in December 1996 at the age of 84.
2001 - Present
Dustin Brownell joined the firm in 2001 as a field employee, after 6 years of fieldwork he was then promoted into the office as an estimator and project manager. He is currently holding the title of Vice-President.
2009 - Present
Travis Torgerson joined the firm in 2009 as an estimator and project manager. He is currently holding the title of Secretary/Treasurer. On October 18, 2010, Vic Brownell purchased controlling interest in Gray Construction company from L.C. Brownell; thereby becoming the majority stockholder. L.C. Brownell officially retired from full-time active employment with Gray Construction Company, Inc. Upon his retirement, he resigned his position as Chief Executive Officer of the firm, but still remains as a life-time board member.