| Hayes & Lunsford Company History | ||
| Hayes & Lunsford Electrical Contractors, Inc. was established in 1926 by Van Hayes & O.T. Lunsford and was known as Hayes & Lunsford Electrical Company. The firm began as an electric motor repair shop and operated primarily in that capacity until the mid-30's. An electrical wiring department was started to meet the need for wiring systems as many of our industrial customers began modifying and expanding their plants. The war years slowed our growth, but after the war, there was an increased need for all electrical services and both the motor repair and electrical contracting expanded.
Ralph L. Presley joined the firm in 1928 as a Bookkeeper and Office Manager. In the 1930's, he purchased a partnership with Van Hayes & O.T. Lunsford and assumed the position of general manager. Mr. Presley purchased the other partners' shares and operated the company as a proprietorship until 1949 when the firm was incorporated. By this time the company was well established in the motor repair and the electrical contracting industries. Ralph P. Presley, after attending college, entered the firm in 1959 and devoted his time and interest to the motor repair department. Eugene L. Presley, after attending college and military service, joined the company in 1960 as an estimator in the electrical wiring department. Richard H. Presley joined the company in 1971 after college and military career. Ralph L. Presley continued as President and General Manager as the company began to grow in the 1960's and 1970's. The company moved to its present location in 1963. The expanded facilities for the motor repair, electrical construction and office space allowed for additional growth. The electrical contracting expanded more into the commercial and institutional fields while maintaining its industrial base. Ralph L. Presley retired in 1979 and his three sons, Eugene L. Presley, Ralph P. Presley, and Richard H. Presley purchased the company. The company began to expand outside Western North Carolina and into other states as well as the eastern portion of North Carolina. In 1984, the two operating entities, the electrical motor repair and electrical contracting, had grown sufficiently to warrant a formal division of the companies. A holding company, the Presley Group Ltd., was established with Hayes & Lunsford Electrical Motor Repair, Inc. and Hayes & Lunsford Electrical Contractors as wholly owned subsidiaries of the Presley Group Ltd. Ralph P. Presley is President and Manager of the Motor Repair, Eugene L. Presley is President and Manager of the Electrical Contractors, and Richard H. Presley is Vice President of Electrical Contractors. Presley Electric Company, Inc., known as PELCO, an electrical contracting firm that was operating near Hendersonville, merged in 1988 with Hayes & Lunsford Electrical Contractors, Inc. and the Presley Group, Ltd. The Presley Group, Ltd. is a well-established diversified company primarily operating in Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina with capabilities and customer base to operate in other geographical areas. |
||
