STRICTLY BUSINESS: MANY 'GREAT DAYS' LEE ROWAN, JACKSON CONNECTION

When Mary Wade joined LeeRowan almost 35 years ago, the company, with 25 employees, operated out of 49,000-square-foot building, producing wire hangers, wire shoe racks and storage systems.

LeeRowan has come a long ways since then.

When Wade announced her retirement recently, it was from a company that manufactures wood, metal and plastic hangers, door and wall shoe racks, bath furniture, furniture and organizers, bulk shelving and a number of storage systems.

The Jackson facility has a number of buildings, with almost a million square feet under roof and with more than 800 workers -- soon to be 900.

The company, with headquarters in Festus, announced a week ago the company's Jackson facility will undergo a $1.5 million expansion, resulting in 100 more jobs and 104,000 square feet of additional space.

LeeRowan president George E. Hamilton, who works out of the offices in Festus and Chesterfield, was in Jackson for the big announcement.

"The decision to bring an additional 100 jobs and two new product lines to Jackson was an easy one," said Hamilton. "The location is well suited for shipping to our customers in the east and south, and most importantly, we are confident of the quality and cooperation of the workforce here in Jackson."

And the company has always had great cooperation and support from city, county and state officials, added Hamilton.

LeeRowan is closing its Memphis, Tenn., facility and moving its equipment to Jackson to produce the Systems Works brand wood closet and utility storage units and the Dorfile brand wall-mounted wood shelving.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development will provide a grant to the city of Jackson to provide electrical improvements necessary for the expansion.

J. Mike Seabaugh of the Southeast Missouri Regional DED office at Dexter, who was on hand for the expansion announcement, said the funding program is designed to provide economic development grants and loan funds to cities with populations under 50,000 and counties under 200,000 to assist in the location of new industry and expansion or retention of existing business.

"This infrastructure grant, through the Community Development Block Grant program will allow LeeRowan to expand its operation in Missouri, resulting in a large investment and creation of new jobs for the city and surrounding area," said Seabaugh.

LeeRowan also operates manufacturing plants in Vista, Calif., and Watford, Ontario, Canada, each employing about 200 workers.

The latest expansion announcement came on a big fifth anniversary date for LeeRowan and the Newell Co. It was in September 1994 that Newell, headquartered in Freeport, Ill., purchased Lee Rowan.

And it was only four years ago the company transferred its St. Louis manufacturing operation to the Jackson plant, which manufactures metal storage and organizational products.

There have been many "great days" during the 34-year history of LeeRowan Co. and Jackson.

A dozen times since the first LeeRowan plant was opened at Jackson, officials have gathered for expansion announcements.

LeeRowan was founded in 1939 in St. Louis by Edgar D. Lee and John V. Rowan.

The company's first products were metal trouser creasers that were sold to Sears, Roebuck and Co. and JCPenney, which have been LeeRowan customers for more than 50 years.

During World War II, the firm, unable to obtain steel for the trouser creasers, started manufacturing arming wires for bombs. After the war, the firm experimented with new products that eventually led to Storage Systems by LeeRowan.

Today the firm offers not only makes the hangers, but a complete line of ventilated storage products and an assortment of traditional closet accessories.

The firm manufactures and distributes home organizational products in the United States, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Australia and Caribbean Basin.

The bulk of the products are manufactured in Jackson, where more than a half-million square feet of space is devoted to the manufacture of products.

When LeeRowan opted to expand its St. Louis operation in 1964, company officials selected a site at Jackson, constructed a 49,000-square-foot building and put about 25 people to work. Since then, the plant has undergone many additions to employ more than 800 people.

Four years later the work staff had grown to 70, the company added 42,500 square feet, and the Jackson branch was off and running.

It hasn't stopped since.

The Jackson record of success includes:

- 1964: Original building constructed, 49,000 square feet.

-- 1969: Expansion, 42,500 square feet.

- 1970" Expansion, 13,000 square feet.

-- 1972: Expansion, 12,500 square feet.

- 1983: Expansion, 47,700 square feet.

-- 1985: Expansion, 52,500 square feet.

- 1987: Expansion, 60,600 square feet.

--1988: Expansion, 86,440 square feet.

- 1990: Expansion, 100,000 square feet.

-- 1992: Expansion, 93,000 square feet.

-- 1993: Expansion, 81,000 square feet.

-- 1993: St. Louis LeeRowan manufacturing operation moves to Jackson.

-- 1994: Lee Rowan purchased by Newell Corp.

-- 1998: Memphis manufacturing operation moves to Jackson; leases a 104,000-square-foot building.

Jackson, which has experienced significant population growth the past decade, can be proud that LeeRowan has once again chose to beef up its operations there. It will bring more people to town, assuring continued growth in Jackson as the city prepares for a new century.

B. Ray Owen is business editor of the Southeast Missourian.