Posted 12:56 am Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Groundbreaking Facility Will Prepare Students To Be Their Very Best
By MEGAN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer
The construction company that Hugh Denson began in 1946 continues -- with his children and grandchildren at the helm and tackling projects in Tyler ISD's new school bond program, including schools his company originally built in the 1950s.
With shovel in hand, at the age of 90, Hugh Denson helped turn dirt Tuesday as part of the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Woods Elementary School. The new Woods will replace the original school Denson helped build in 1956.
Staff Writer
The construction company that Hugh Denson began in 1946 continues -- with his children and grandchildren at the helm and tackling projects in Tyler ISD's new school bond program, including schools his company originally built in the 1950s.
With shovel in hand, at the age of 90, Hugh Denson helped turn dirt Tuesday as part of the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Woods Elementary School. The new Woods will replace the original school Denson helped build in 1956.
BREAKING GROUND: Students congregate at the Andy Woods Elementary School site Tuesday for the groundbreaking ceremony.
Denson was recognized at the ceremony for his involvement, as was the company he started, which is building the new Woods and other new schools for TISD.
"Having the family involved is really heartwarming," Hugh Denson said after the ceremony, noting how even his 9-month-old great-grandson held a shovel out at the site of the new Woods.
"I'm really excited and proud," he said when asked what he thinks about the next generations building the new schools. "I catch myself bragging sometimes. I'm real proud of them."
LEAVING A LEGACY
Hugh Denson came to Tyler after World War II in 1945. He said he came here because Dallas was too big and Canton, where he was born and raised, was just too small. He started out building homes before getting into commercial construction, he said.
Denson Construction, under Hugh's leadership, not only built Woods for TISD but also the W.A. Peete Elementary Annex Building and Mattie Jones Elementary. Under his leadership, the company built other projects throughout East Texas, such as the R.L. Davis Manufacturing Company, First Federal Savings & Loan, Green Acres Bowling Lanes, Green Acres Shopping Center and many others. He also developed the Jeff Davis area, Skyline Drive and Cumberland Drive, according to information from the family.
Hugh Denson's sons, Joe and Jim, own the construction company now. Denson retired in 1981, but he's remained active in the community, volunteering with Meals on Wheels for the past 20 years. He said that before coming to Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony, he delivered 20 meals.
Joe and Jim's children -- Matt, Jeff and Michelle -- are the third generation of Denson Construction Company and serve as project managers. Michelle is the project manager on the Andy Woods Elementary project.
"I think it's really awesome that we get to carry on what he started," Michelle said of her grandfather. "It's a great opportunity that he gave all of us."
And the fourth generation is connected to the project as well. Two of Denson's great-granddaughters, Madison, a second-grader, and Taylor, a fifth-grader, attend Andy Woods.
"My great-grandkids that are here (at Woods) are having a hard time convincing the rest of the students that their Pa Pa built this building," Denson said Tuesday, laughing.
After Tuesday's ceremony, the girls gave their great-grandpa hugs. They were excited about the new school.
Madison, who still will be attending Woods when the new facility opens, knows where her class will be in the new school.
"When I'm in fourth-grade, I'll be upstairs -- which is only two years away," she said, very excited.
"I think it's awesome," Madison said of her family's connection to the school.
The girls said they are proud of their great-grandfather.
Hugh Denson's sons -- Joe and Jim -- say they are very proud of their father as well.
"He gave us a great opportunity that we wouldn't have had otherwise," Jim Denson said. "He's created a lot of relationships that we've been able to continue over the years with area subcontractors and architects�"
"And owners," Joe added.
"Schools have a tendency not to forget," Joe said. "I question how much involvement we'd be having with TISD if Dad hadn't pleased them back in the '50s."
As part of the TISD 2008 bond program, also known as Phase 2, Denson Construction Company is building the new Woods, Orr and Griffin elementary schools as well as the Jones/Boshears campus. And as part of Phase 1, the company built the new Bell, Ramey, Jack, Peete and Douglas elementary schools.
"We're excited," Joe said of the upcoming construction. "We feel very fortunate to be involved in the projects and look forward to the successful completion of the projects."
The company, under Joe and Jim Denson's leadership, also built Owens Elementary in the 1980s.
Tim Loper, director of facilities for TISD, said the school district has been "very pleased" with the work the company has done for the district.
"I think it says a lot for Denson Construction Company itself to be passed down for several generations, as far as the strength of the company and how solid a construction company it is and with their involvement with TISD," Loper said. "We certainly know what kind of job that we'll get any time that we hire Denson Construction. They are a good quality firm and they're a solid firm."
When asked why the company he started has been able to continue and thrive, Hugh Denson said, "I always tried to do the right thing. I made a lot of friends, a lot of acquaintances. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. But I had a lot of good help too."
"Having the family involved is really heartwarming," Hugh Denson said after the ceremony, noting how even his 9-month-old great-grandson held a shovel out at the site of the new Woods.
"I'm really excited and proud," he said when asked what he thinks about the next generations building the new schools. "I catch myself bragging sometimes. I'm real proud of them."
LEAVING A LEGACY
Hugh Denson came to Tyler after World War II in 1945. He said he came here because Dallas was too big and Canton, where he was born and raised, was just too small. He started out building homes before getting into commercial construction, he said.
Denson Construction, under Hugh's leadership, not only built Woods for TISD but also the W.A. Peete Elementary Annex Building and Mattie Jones Elementary. Under his leadership, the company built other projects throughout East Texas, such as the R.L. Davis Manufacturing Company, First Federal Savings & Loan, Green Acres Bowling Lanes, Green Acres Shopping Center and many others. He also developed the Jeff Davis area, Skyline Drive and Cumberland Drive, according to information from the family.
Hugh Denson's sons, Joe and Jim, own the construction company now. Denson retired in 1981, but he's remained active in the community, volunteering with Meals on Wheels for the past 20 years. He said that before coming to Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony, he delivered 20 meals.
Joe and Jim's children -- Matt, Jeff and Michelle -- are the third generation of Denson Construction Company and serve as project managers. Michelle is the project manager on the Andy Woods Elementary project.
"I think it's really awesome that we get to carry on what he started," Michelle said of her grandfather. "It's a great opportunity that he gave all of us."
And the fourth generation is connected to the project as well. Two of Denson's great-granddaughters, Madison, a second-grader, and Taylor, a fifth-grader, attend Andy Woods.
"My great-grandkids that are here (at Woods) are having a hard time convincing the rest of the students that their Pa Pa built this building," Denson said Tuesday, laughing.
After Tuesday's ceremony, the girls gave their great-grandpa hugs. They were excited about the new school.
Madison, who still will be attending Woods when the new facility opens, knows where her class will be in the new school.
"When I'm in fourth-grade, I'll be upstairs -- which is only two years away," she said, very excited.
"I think it's awesome," Madison said of her family's connection to the school.
The girls said they are proud of their great-grandfather.
Hugh Denson's sons -- Joe and Jim -- say they are very proud of their father as well.
"He gave us a great opportunity that we wouldn't have had otherwise," Jim Denson said. "He's created a lot of relationships that we've been able to continue over the years with area subcontractors and architects�"
"And owners," Joe added.
"Schools have a tendency not to forget," Joe said. "I question how much involvement we'd be having with TISD if Dad hadn't pleased them back in the '50s."
As part of the TISD 2008 bond program, also known as Phase 2, Denson Construction Company is building the new Woods, Orr and Griffin elementary schools as well as the Jones/Boshears campus. And as part of Phase 1, the company built the new Bell, Ramey, Jack, Peete and Douglas elementary schools.
"We're excited," Joe said of the upcoming construction. "We feel very fortunate to be involved in the projects and look forward to the successful completion of the projects."
The company, under Joe and Jim Denson's leadership, also built Owens Elementary in the 1980s.
Tim Loper, director of facilities for TISD, said the school district has been "very pleased" with the work the company has done for the district.
"I think it says a lot for Denson Construction Company itself to be passed down for several generations, as far as the strength of the company and how solid a construction company it is and with their involvement with TISD," Loper said. "We certainly know what kind of job that we'll get any time that we hire Denson Construction. They are a good quality firm and they're a solid firm."
When asked why the company he started has been able to continue and thrive, Hugh Denson said, "I always tried to do the right thing. I made a lot of friends, a lot of acquaintances. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. But I had a lot of good help too."
