It was an eventful summer for the folks at Bower Tiling Service Inc. Drainage Contractor first introduced readers to the company three years ago, when we profiled the then 112-year-old business in our Spring 2012 issue.
Now, after an exciting few months that saw two retirements and two successions transferring ownership of established businesses from one generation to the next, we’re checking back in with Bower Tiling Service to find out what’s new with this fourth-generation family business.
But first, a quick re-cap: George W. Bower founded the Clyde, Ohio, based company in 1900 with a steam-powered Buckeye Trencher. In time his sons, Richard and William, formed a partnership with their father. All three worked together until approximately 1955, when Richard bought William’s share of the business. When George retired in 1958, Richard was left to run the company. Six years later, another partnership was formed – this time with Richard’s sons, Jack and Tom. In 1976 it was Richard’s turn to retire, leaving the family business safely in the hands of a third generation of Bowers. By 1980, the company had grown into one of the largest agricultural drainage contractors in the United States, installing more than four million feet of tile every year.