LEE/ROWAN EXPANDS; JACKSON PLANT DEDICATES NINTH ADDITION

In December 1991, E. Desmond Lee, Lee/Rowan chairman, was inducted into the "Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame."

In May 1992, Lee/Rowan, a manufacturer of storage and organization products, was recognized as "Vendor of Year" by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., for its performance as a supplier.

In between those two dates, figures revealed that 1991 was the best sales year in the 52-year history of the company. The company is headquartered in St. Louis but has more a half-million square feet under roof at its Jackson production facility.

"It has been a great year for Lee/Rowan," said Connie Conrad, vice president of marketing for the firm. "And, with all the good things for the company comes some good news for the Southeast Missouri sector of operations."

On Wednesday, Lee/Rowan will dedicate its ninth addition at the Jackson plant.

"Congressman Bill Emerson, representative of the 8th District, will be guest speaker at the dedication," said Conrad.

Prior to Emerson's address, about 2:30 p.m., guided plant tours will be conducted at the facility, and entertainment will be provided by the Coyote Creek Bluegrass band.

Desmond Lee will be on hand for the dedication, along with other company executives and officers. Carlton Meyer, mayor of Jackson, and more than 700 employees of the Jackson plant will join in the celebration.

"At a time when economic growth has been slow, this dedication event is particularly noteworthy," said Conrad. "This new 93,000 square foot expansion was made possible by excellent sales in 1991 and the first quarter of 1992."

Conrad added that 1991 was the best sales year ever for Lee/Rowan and that "1992 is continuing in the same vein."

Contributing to the excellent sales performance, noted Conrad, were a number of factors, including the introduction of new products such as the "Tight Mesh Family" product line and the "Under Cabinet Organizer" line, both produced at the Jackson plant.

The expansion puts the Jackson facility over the 500,000 square foot "under roof" mark.

"We now have 556,940 square feet under roof, and more than half of that expansion has been within the past three years," said Conrad. "We added 93,000 square feet this year, 100,000 square feet in 1990 and 86,400 square feet in 1989."

Lee/Rowan started the Jackson connection in 1964, when company officials constructed a 42,500 square foot building and put about 25 people to work. 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.

This year's expansion is the eighth addition to the operation, which now employs more than 700 people.

The Lee/Rowan firm has 167,000 square feet at St. Louis and employs another 400 people there.

Lee/Rowan was founded in 1939 by Edgar D. Lee and John V. Rowan. The company's first products were metal trouser creasers, which were sold to Sears Roebuck & Co. and JCPenney, who have continued to be major Lee-Rowan customers for 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 started making new products, such as an adjustable sweater dryer, glove dryers, garment racks and shoe racks.

"Storage Systems by Lee/Rowan" was introduced in 1985 as a complete line of ventilated wire storage systems, which include a wide variety of shelving.

Retail products now include wood, metal and plastic hangers, door/wall shoe racks and accessories, bath furniture and organizers, bulk shelving and a number of storage systems.

The Jackson connection:

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.

1989 Expansion, 86,400 square feet.

1990 Expansion, 100,000 square feet.

1882 Expansion, 93,000 square feet.

Total under roof 556,934 square feet.