TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
The Ledwell family gathered in November 2018, at the opening of the Betty and Buddy Ledwell Workforce Training Center at Texarkana College.
Ledwell Enterprises is one of those Texarkana stories that begins with necessity and grows into a legacy. Founded in 1946, the company traces its roots to L.W. “Buddy” Ledwell. What started as a small lumber operation, shifted course when Buddy built a trailer to solve a simple hauling problem. The solution worked so well that others began asking for trailers of their own. From that single moment of practical ingenuity, Ledwell & Son was born, and a family legacy took shape. Over the decades, Ledwell evolved from a modest local operation into a nationally respected manufacturer of custom trailers, truck bodies, and specialized equipment. While the company grew in scale and reach, it never lost its family-owned character. Ledwell became known for equipment engineered for real-world use, built to last, and tailored to the specific needs of customers across industries, ranging from construction and energy to transportation and municipal services. Its long-standing motto, “Not just well made, Ledwell made,” reflects a reputation earned through craftsmanship, innovation, and pride in doing things the right way. Today, Ledwell celebrates 80 years in business and employs approximately 600 people, making it one of the region’s largest and most enduring employers. The Ledwell Texarkana campus, including Ledwell Machinery, spans 658,500 square feet on over 82 acres. The parent company includes subsidiaries of Ledwell Office, Ledwell Machinery, and Ledwell Imaging.
Michael Hawkins, Ledwell’s director of operations, describes the unique culture of the organization by stating, “Our people are not just building products. You can see it in their eyes. They feel passionate about the work because the dump truck they are constructing will go out into the world and build a school, a road, or a church. Our people are with those products. What we do is move the world forward.” Mike Thomas reinforces the mindset of a Ledwell employee by saying, “Our last name may not be Ledwell, but we treat it like it is because it matters to us.” The company’s longevity, expansion, and diversity are a testament not only to product quality but to the consistency of values passed from one generation to the next. What began as a single practical idea has grown into one of Texarkana’s industrial anchors, a company built on steady faith, hard work, and a commitment to staying rooted in its hometown. Equally central to the Ledwell story is its deep connection to Texarkana. Generations of local families have built their careers at Ledwell, and the company has long invested in workforce development and community growth. The Betty and Buddy Ledwell Workforce Training Center at Texarkana College stands as a visible reflection of that commitment. For the Ledwell family, success has never been measured solely by the number of contracts secured or units produced, but by the number of people trained, jobs created, and a community strengthened.
12
BUSINESS & POLITICS
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs