Employee Spotlight

January 1986 started a new year and a career for Steve Carter. When he started at Ledwell 31 years ago, Steve ran parts to the different shops and parts counter. Currently he is over Shipping and Receiving in the Parts Warehouse. Steve receives anything from a small bolt to a large vacuum pump that comes into the plant. He also ships everything, besides trucks and trailers, all over the United States and overseas. Steve says, “My favorite part of my job, it’s always changing. Shipping always has new forms or rules. When I started every order was handwritten, and now it is all electronic. A lot of things have changed over the years, in shipping and receiving, except one thing, I still enjoy my job.”

Steve and his wife, Tammy, of 30 years have three children. Whitney and her husband Mike live in Oklahoma with their son Brayden and another on the way. Asilyn and her husband, Chris live in South Carolina. Steve and Tammy’s son Hayden lives in Texarkana.

Jason has been with Ledwell for 17 years. He has worked in the Feedbody, Hydraulic, and Truck Shop over the years, and currently works in the Kit Fabrication portion of the Parts Warehouse. Jason’s main focus is fabricating plumbing for Water Trucks, tarp kits for Dump Trucks and welding parts for Vacuum Units. He likes to weld and build new parts every chance he gets. His most memorable project was a Water Truck for Kiewit, Jason said “That truck was a beast!”

Jason and his wife of 17 years, Barbara, have three girls; Haylea, 15, Jaysi, 10, and Bryleigh, 8. He loves to coach softball and watch all of his girls play. Hunting, fishing and having cookouts with family is how Jason spends his time away from work.

This year, Michael Adcock celebrates 20 years at Ledwell. He has worked in the paint department since day one and loves to make something old look new. Michael mainly works on vacuum tanks from taping to blasting and painting to touch-up. “One of my memorable projects was painting Mr. Ledwell’s house,” Michael said.

Michael and his wife, Kandee, have two daughters Brittany and Kara. He enjoys going four wheel riding and hunting together, with his family.

Kenney Cecil has been a part of the Ledwell team since 1989. He started his career in the Truck Shop building various pieces of equipment. And then after 11 years in the Truck Shop, he was promoted to shop foreman.

Since 2003, Kenney has been an integral part of the Ledwell Sales Team. He enjoys talking to new people about Ledwell and explaining everything we have to offer.

One of his most memorable times at Ledwell was when he and Phil Bocox drove a feed trailer up to a feed mill in Arkansas to demo the trailer. Things got a little intense and complicated, but ended on a positive note. This particular customer showed them true hospitality that they had never received before. “That is one trip I will never forget,” Kenney said.

Kenney has been married to his wife, Mona, for 27 years and they have three children: Stephanie, Lisa, and Lee. Both Lisa and Lee also work at Ledwell and Stephanie is a 911 operator. In his free time Kenney enjoys hunting, fishing and camping with his family.

“I have known Kenney for the last 27 years. He impressed me with his energetic learning ethic. As he went from the plant to sales, he was conscientious in becoming a salesman. Kenney has honed his craft to the point of almost perfection. I am very proud of him as a friend and a valued asset to Ledwell. ~ Phil Bocox

Kevin started in the Feedbody Shop in 1983. After twenty years, he moved to the Trailer Shop to help build Hydratail Trailers, and in 2005 became a foreman.

Kevin said, “The best thing about my job is the variety of equipment you can build and the friendships you can build with your co-workers.” Although he works in the Trailer Shop, Kevin assists in building Feed Trailers, Dump Beds, or whatever is needed at the time.

He has two daughters, Lenzie, 23 and Kailyn, 18 with his wife Lorie. Kevin enjoys spending time with his family, but also likes to get away to go fishing and hunting. When he has time, Kevin does a bit of wood working.

The most memorable project Kevin has worked on was an End Dump Trailer. This trailer was built to be very heavy-duty to run on icy roads in Alaska. “Turned out to be really cool,” Kevin said.

He is proud to work in the Trailer Shop along excellent craftsmen and the products they build every day.

This year celebrates 25 years at Ledwell for Duane Knowles. He has worked in the Parts Department since day one and loves it. Interacting with people from all over the United States and different shops around Ledwell is Duane’s favorite part of his job. Duane works half of his time in the office helping walk-in customers and those who call in to order parts. The other half of his time is spent visiting and delivering parts to customers South and East of Texarkana.

Duane is married to Kim and they have a daughter, Kristi. He enjoys cooking on his Traeger Grill, camping and fishing at Lake Wright Patman.

When asked his most memorable story while working at Ledwell Duane said, the first day I came to Ledwell to apply for a job, Mr. Ledwell asked me where I was working. I told him the paper mill. He said he could tell and that I was lazy, making too much money and didn’t need me. He hired me anyway. Since that day I count it an honor to be a part of the Ledwell team.”

David Turnage has been with Ledwell for 23 years and is currently our Purchasing Director. He has worked in a few different shops over the course of his career; Brake and Shear, Feedbody, and was the supervisor of the Pattern Torch before moving to his current position.

David purchases all the necessary supplies needed for every shop to continue working. He said his favorite part of his job is, “Meeting and talking to new people. Also, trying to find the cheapest dollar.”

David and his wife of 19 years, Missy, have two daughters Holly, 18 in her first year of college and Hannah, 13 in eighth grade and plays basketball and is a cheerleader. They also have four wonderful dogs. While not working, he enjoys playing softball. David is part of a team called Cheetahnation that plays almost every weekend.

The most memorable project David recalls is building a house for Watersprings Ranch. “The look on the children’s faces was PRICELESS,” he said about the experience. Not only does David work at Ledwell, he has become close friends with many throughout the years.

Todd Offield has been an employee at Ledwell for 11 years working in the Tank Shop for the majority of that time. Currently, Todd fabricates and welds vacuum tank and says that is his favorite part of his job.

Todd and his wife, Linda have three daughters, Samantha, Kaitlyn, and Skye. He enjoys spending time with them while not at work.

Todd’s most memorable project he has worked on at Ledwell was the new Feed Bin.

“Todd will do any job that he is asked to do, he is a hard worker and does a good job at what he does. “ Brad Stinger – Tank Shop Foreman

Dennis Cleveland has been with Ledwell for 11 years. Currently, he is the city parts runner, gathering parts and supplies needed for all the shops and employees at the Texarkana manufacturing facility. Dennis makes it possible for production to continue even if a tool breaks. His favorite part about working at Ledwell is meeting the customers and vendors in town. Dennis said, “Just making someone’s day better,” is what he really enjoys about work.

Dennis has been married to his wife, Diane, for 24 years. He likes to go fishing, hunting, and riding ATVs with his friends and family during his free time.

Ryan has been with Ledwell for ten years and currently works in the Feed Body Shop. Previously, Ryan worked in the Trailer Shop, as well as, at Ledwell’s Fayetteville, North Carolina location. He mainly works on Feed equipment, but sometimes works on Dump beds, Hydratail Trailers and Flatbeds.

Working service calls are what Ryan says are his favorite aspect of his job. He enjoys getting to see the product that he helped to build out on the road and being used by customers.

Ryan and his wife Lacey have a 4 year old son, Tyler. On the weekends, he enjoys hunting, fishing and hanging out at the lake with friends and family.

One of his most memorable projects at Ledwell was, building one of the first plastic auger trailers with an aluminum boom because it was something new and challenging.

“Ryan is a good worker and very dependable. He takes pride in putting out a quality trailer.” – Mike Harris