2004 Year in Review

Golden Business: Workman Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling

Workman Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling on the east end of Morrison.

The Workman truck is seen all over the Morrison area.

Workman Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling in Morrison passed the Golden Business (50 years in business) mark in 1999. The most unusual part of Workman’s is the original owner is still watching over the business today.

Irvin Workman started Workman Plumbing on July 5, 1949 with his wife Lorraine. They purchased the building at 304 East Main Street for $4500. Needing $5000 to start, Smith Bank said “most businesses fail” and would not lend the young man any money. “I borrowed from my dad and purchased a second hand truck too,” Irv explained.

After returning from serving 31 months in Italy during WWII, Irv learned the trade by working for Brands Heating, but when business slowed he then found furnace work in Tampico. “Then I decided to start my own business. The building was an old blacksmith shop where they fixed buggies.” The family moved upstairs and he ran the heating business downstairs while Lorraine answered the phone and did the bookkeeping.

Later he purchased the building across the street at 301 East Main where Shawver Press had been. Eventually that became too small. They had water heaters and furnaces stored all over town. When Lester Weinstine walked down the street in 1971 and asked how much he wanted to sell the building they realized an opportunity to grow.

Weinstine completely gutted the building and took out the picture windows. He donated them to the Morrison Country Club and they are still part of the dining area at Sunset Woods.

Bruce Hunter was building on the east end of Morrison and thought Workman would make a good neighbor. Hunter sold Irv a chunk of land and he purchased a new steel building from Dick Groharing. In 1974 they moved into the building on U.S. 30.

In 1961 Irv hired Harold Schultz. He had a plumbing license so they could add plumbing to their heating and air conditioning services. By 1966 Irv also earned his license.

Irv and Lorraine raised two sons in the business, Jim and Bob. After school and in the summers the boys would help out by doing small jobs. In the summer of 1967 both boys joined their parents’ business and by 1971 they both had their plumbing licenses. Around 1987 when Irv was 65 he sold the business to the boys. “They’re good boys and I’m proud of them,” explained Irv.

Workman’s continues to be a family business; Jim’s son (Jeff) and wife (Diane) have worked there for the last 15 years.

“It’s a good but demanding business,” recollects Irv. “We have doctor’s hours.” Jim explained that they are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So if a customer’s heat goes out on Christmas morning or an oil line freezes at 2:00 a.m. they have to repair it. “It’s hard to work for the public,” they explain.

Customer loyalty is gone and they will wait until after hours to call when their heat has been off all day. The addition of do-it-yourself businesses, like Menards, has changed the plumbing business. The average person will go to a discount place and try to buy before the local businesses. Then when things do not work right, they call the professionals.

When asked how they have stayed in business for so long when many have failed Jim answered, “Diversity.” Jim work on furnaces and air conditioning. Bob is primarily plumbing. They also work on pumps and septic tanks. In 1984 Bob started installing swimming pools including pool supplies and repair. Last year Bob installed 10 pools some with auto pool covers. Two years ago they purchased a sewer camera and they recently purchased a duct-cleaning machine. In-floor heat is also a new product and can be installed in homes to commercial buildings. Workman’s do new construction, remodeling, and light commercial. They carry licenses for plumping, septic & pump, and refrigeration. Seven trucks, a trencher, a backhoe, and a pump truck allow them that diversity.

Currently eleven employees work for Workman Plumbing. Three women work in the office, two are part-time. The eight full-time field technicians learned most of their training on the job. They also hire on summer help each year.

The Workman family and employees have been an important resource to the community. They have been able to do jobs no one else can do because of their equipment and experience. Everyday the job is different and problem-solving skills are essential but that is what makes Irv say, “I enjoyed working”.

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
April 20, 2004