Landmark honors retiring brothers as reins are passed to the next generation

"That’s been my goal and dream all along," Kenneth says. "Living within sight of the factory, I would have to move if grass ever grew in the parking lot or if strangers ever owned it."

The retiring brothers were honored with a reception Nov. 5 at the Landmark Manufacturing cafeteria. Their accomplishments were displayed on a large movie screen for family, friends and business acquaintances. And now, like old soldiers, the two can share a lot of war stories from their 56-year-journey, played out on the family farm six miles east of Gallatin.

It all began in 1953 when their father, Wayne Critten, built his first wood-burning furnace in the family shop next to their small rock home. At the time, Wayne and his wife Mary farmed, and Wayne ran the road grader. Their sons, Joseph (J.W.) who passed away in 1979, Donald and Kenneth, grew up in Dad’s shop where they watched him build everything from corn-picker attachments to fixing and improving farm implements for himself and neighbors.

"He didn’t believe in buying anything new," Kenneth’s wife, Lola, explains. "Kenneth’s like that, too. Even if he did, he would have had to reconfigure and improve it."

The idea for an automatic thermostat-controlled wood burning furnace came to Wayne in the middle of the night. He got up and drew the plans. He built a test model and applied for a U.S. Patent. Soon, the small barn served as the original factory where they made "Longwood" furnaces during the winter and hired a small crew to install them in the summer. Today’s sprawling group of buildings encircles that original shop.

In 1960, the business introduced its dual-fuel furnace (Donald’s idea) and expanded to a 12,000 foot plant. Meanwhile, Don graduated from Gallatin High School in 1959, attended MIT, and taught math in Chillicothe for several years before returning to the business. Kenneth, who graduated in 1962, farmed, milked cows, and worked in the Longwood factory where he honed his engineering skills.

Wayne took demonstration models to state fairs and depended on word of mouth for advertising. Dealers began calling him and 95% of his products were sold to farm families in Missouri and surrounding states.

"About this time Dad said, ‘this is getting way too big for me,’ and he retired," Kenneth continues. "The boys" had some pretty big decisions to make.

"I don’t think many brothers could have gotten along in a partnership like we did. Don was smooth and I was rude and crude." The combination worked!

Longwood furnace entered the Metal Fabrication Sub-Contractor phase of their operation in 1978. Don took care of the financial end and marketing; Kenneth "made" things. By 1979, 50% of their revenue was derived from the sub-contractor business instead of furnaces. The name was changed to Landmark Manufacturing Corp. in 1980, and in 1981 the business underwent another 30,000 square foot expansion and purchased 500- and 1,500-ton presses.

In 1987 the brothers sold Longwood Furnace and continued to expand the size and sales of Landmark Manufacturing. In 1994, another 30,000 square foot warehouse was added, and 1996 saw the addition of 45,000 more square feet of factory space, two additional 500-ton presses and a 750-ton press.

Growth continued every year. And, each expansion brought its own war story.

Leaning way back in an office swivel chair — in his farmer’s cap and bib overalls – Kenny chuckles deep in his throat and shares some behind-the-scene tidbits.

"Our first big press came out of a toy factory that built the Little Red Wagon," he begins. It’s a 1940 model. The price of a new press would have been prohibitive but with Kenneth’s mechanical skills, the old press is still serviceable today.

Then, there’s the largest press. It would have cost more to deliver it than it cost to buy it. So, the Crittens had it shipped by train. They met the train at the tracks a couple miles from the factory, unloaded the mammoth piece of machinery, and moved it to the factory site themselves.

"I don’t scare easy," Kenneth laughs as he recalls that day. "But, that scared the living dog out of me. Cecil Hobbs brought two big cranes and we unloaded the 375,000 lb. 60-foot press off the train and brought it to the factory." A semi-truck carrying four huge bolts to put it together arrived separately.

A fire in 1992 posed the biggest challenge in Landmark’s history. It ignited in the paint tank, burning much of the building and all of the electrical lines. The entire plant had to be rewired and some of it rebuilt.

Kenneth rocks forward and rests his elbows on the desk as he recalls the taxing restoration.

"We worked two shifts a day, seven days a week for a year to fix it back. And the next year was the 1993 flood."

The most frustrating project Kenneth recalls was the installation of a generator big enough to run a whole town. When Kenneth couldn’t get it to run, he called some friends. "Roger Loxterman (I sure miss that guy) and Jerry Bashford helped me with that," he explains. "We used the generator to combat REA’s high charges for peak demand. Now they have changed their program and the generator is obsolete."

The longest endeavor was the installation of the Eco Paint System which took 3-1/2 years to install. The most interesting to the novice visitor is perhaps the robotic welders.

Then, there’s the last warehouse which the brothers decided to build themselves. "We spread 900 yards of cement in one day. It was like building 400 houses." And a giant laser machine is the latest addition.

While Kenneth’s stories played out in Daviess County, Don was busy marketing their products worldwide. He traveled throughout the continental United States and shipped products to Mexico, Canada and Japan.

"I knocked on a lot of doors and begged my way into some large companies that were hesitant to work for such a small company," Don says. "But, once they gave us a chance, we showed that we could do the job."

"Our biggest challenge was being able to do a quick turn-around from starting the project to getting it to their door." The factory, which fabricates over 60 million pounds of steel per year, contracted for parts on trucks, buses, cars, combines, backhoes, tractors, forklifts, and much more. Included among their customers are Case, John Deere, Kubota, New Holland, Rayco, Oshkosh, Modine, Novabus, Midwest Manufacturing and Freightliner.

They have also contracted with the U.S. government. When Rick Snidow, a young relative of Charlotte Critten, was serving in Iraq during Desert Storm, he was surprised when a 5-ton truck drove by with a plate on the fender that said made by Landmark Manufacturing, Gallatin, Mo. Rick had his snapshot taken with the truck and sent it home.

The Crittens are quick to share the credit for their success with others.

"Mom and Dad gave us the farmland and a good foundation to build on," Kenneth cites.

"And we feel lucky to live in a good area where people want jobs and want to work," Lola adds. "That’s a good source to draw on and our employees have been great." Like their longest-working employee, Junior Burke, who worked part time for Longwood during high school. After a stint in Vietnam, he returned full time and continues at the plant today.

Along with their own profits, Don and Kenneth both judged their success by the jobs they were able to provide. They looked for ways to keep their people working. And they tried to give back to the community whenever they could.

It’s unfortunate that the transition from the second to third generation comes during the factory’s most difficult years financially.

"I can walk out that door and listen to the hum from the factory and know if we are making money," Kenneth explains. That’s the first big challenge for the new leaders. "We had a night shift for 35 years. We even worked three shifts for several years. I slept with the phone right next to me in those years. Worse hours than doctors but without the babies. Now, one shift isn’t working a full week." That’s a challenge!

What’s next for the retirees?

Don is already in Florida where he plans to spend the winter. "I want to just enjoy my time," he adds. "I will still be available for the next generation if I am needed. In this day and age, distance is not a problem."

Kenneth figures he’ll concentrate on his 1600-acre farming operation. "But, I’ll be around here, too," he concedes. "I probably won’t get rid of the Sunday night boiler job either. No one’s volunteered for that." Every Sunday night for as long as he can remember, Kenneth goes to the plant and checks everything over – making sure it’s all ready to go Monday morning.

Other than that, he says "the boys" — David, James, Kevin, Kris and Kent — will be making the big decisions now and compiling their own war stories for the next generation.

History of Landmark

1953 – Started by Critten Family as Longwood Furnace

1960 – Dual-fuel furnace introduced; 12,000 sq. ft. building

1974 – Nationwide distribution; 95% sold to farm families

1978 – Entered metal fab sub-contractor business

1979 – 50% revenue derived from sub-contractor business

1980 – Name changed to Landmark Mfg. Corp.

1981 – 30,000 sq. ft expansion; purchased 1500-ton and 500-ton presses

1987 – Longwood Furnace sold; continued growth in size and sales of Landmark Mfg.

1994 – 30,000 sq. ft. warehouse added

1996 – Additions totaling 45,000 sq. ft; added two 500-ton and one 750-ton press

1997 – 30,000 sq. ft. press addition; 2000-ton and 1000-ton presses purchased; one robotic welder; ISO 9002/QS9000 registered March ‘97

1998 – 70,000 sq. ft warehouse addition; two robotic welders; 750-ton brakepress

1999 – Continued building expansion; addition of five new robotic welders.