Cultivating success for over 60 years.
Joe Anderson Jr.
Anderson Columbia was built from the ground up by Joe Anderson Jr. (1939 - 2016) with a hard-working spirit and a vision for growth and success. Between the ages of 18 and 19, his entrepreneurial desire to build and construct was taking shape and in 1958, a company called Anderson Contracting began work in Dixie County. That company, with one dump truck and a tractor would later become the genesis for a nationally recognized leading infrastructure company in the United States.
Anderson Contracting’s first job was delivering fill dirt to a new home construction site in Cross City off Hwy. 351. Joe reminisced a few years ago about the early days and how excited he was about the possibilities for the new company. “I was excited about the possibilities of what lay ahead if I worked hard and gave good service,” said Joe. Over 50 years later, his enthusiasm glowed like a bright light about the future of this company and how his children have taken leadership roles and are growing it beyond what he ever thought possible.
Joe always thanked the Lord for having good parents who helped lay a foundation as he struggled to keep the little construction company, Anderson Contracting, going. In the early years, his dad, Joe Henry, Sr., and his sister Harriett (Anderson) Wall were crucial to success. Joe was on the road day and night bidding jobs, repairing equipment , managing jobs and Harriett kept the books and knew how to stretch a dollar when it came time to pay the bills, said Joe.
In the fall of 1958, Anderson Contracting was awarded it’s first road job and things began to move for the company. The job was in Nassau County (“way off for a boy from Old Town, Joe said to himself). It was a state job that ran from Hilliard to Kings Ferry-CR 115A. The job called for dressing shoulders and grassing and was for $19,000.
The first big break came in the Spring of 1963 when AC was awarded a $500,000 job in downtown Madison, Fl on US 90. AC hired some more employees, including one man named Ernest Sheppard on June 10, 1961, who although small in stature, proved to be a giant in getting things done on any project he ever tackled. Ernest was not only a life-long employee, but a dear friend of Joe. AC continued to struggle as a growing company, with everyone learning every facet of the business. Some lessons came very hard, but the experiences taught them how to adapt to numerous situations and in the end made AC a better company. Some of those old lessons learned still hold true today. Joe quickly learned that so-called “luck” was really the meeting of opportunity and perseverance, especially when you worked hard.
About that Madison job, Joe said, “it gave us something we could ‘sink our teeth in’ and the project turned out all right for us at the time. The job called for four lanes, curb, gutter and sidewalks as it is today.
As time progressed so did Anderson Contracting. Asphalt paving became a major part of road building in Florida and Joe saw the need to expand his operation into that arena as well. In 1978, an opportunity presented itself to Anderson to purchase Columbia Paving in Lake City. Joe did the necessary due diligence and determined that adding asphalt services to Anderson Contracting’s existing operations was a perfect fit and moved forward with the purchase, becoming an equal partner with Hubert Real in Lake City’s Columbia Paving. From the purchase date in 1978, Columbia Paving and Anderson Contracting continued operating as two separate entities.
With the partnership in Columbia Paving, more services were integrated, better cost controls were put in place, and a wider range of construction services were added, allowing the company to diversify and grow state-wide. Grow it did, and the two companies were building major brands in the road construction industry providing not only road construction service but mining operations as well, developing lime rock services for both in-house and contracted sales.
In 1982, Mr. Real retired and Joe purchased his 50% ownership in Columbia Paving and continued operating the two companies as before. At this point, Ted McRae of Lake City was named President of Columbia Paving.
From 1982 until 1988, the two companies were separate entities, but with a close working relationship that allowed them to grow with major projects throughout the southeast United States. City, County, State and Federal Interstate Highway work was the company’s forte’ but the company began adding other heavy civil projects such as airports, landfills and commercial site development, now growing two once small companies into major construction players.
As a result of the workload and dynamics, the companies were merged in 1988 to become Anderson Columbia Co., Inc. with Joe Anderson, Jr. as Chairman, Ted McRae, President.
Other companies brought into the AC fold or created during the 1990’s and later were Baxter Asphalt in Marianna, Florida Asphalt in Panama City and Asphalt Pavers in Ocala, FL. New companies were formed; Anderson Environmental to handle environmental construction, remediation and cleanup in the southeast U.S., particularly for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Asphalt Technologies, a state of the art laboratory for testing asphalt and other construction materials. ATI has been very successful over the years and has been recognized state-wide for their services to the industry both in-house and contracted services industry-wide. Ken Murphy was named President of Asphalt Technologies since its founding in 1995.
1996 was a memorable year for the Company when it was announced they had won the prestigious Shelton G. Hayes Award, the nation’s top honor for a major paving project in the United States. Many other awards have been received by AC over the years including other state and national construction awards, attesting to the company’s creed of always giving the best service available.
Tree farming and land development became an integral part of the company from the early years as Joe, Jr.’s vision for a diversified company grew. Since 2008, the company owns thousands of acres of pine trees for timber harvesting and pine straw operations and offers a substantial amount of land for commercial and private development.
With the turn of the century, Anderson Columbia continued its growth mode and moved into other areas as well. The Andersons’ experience in the mining business continued to grow as lime rock sales built a basis and a vision for other rock services such as granite. After thorough investigation and due diligence, a granite mining operation was establish in Junction City, GA in 2001, providing granite to our various base operations in Crestview, Milton, Panama City, Marianna, Tallahassee, Lake City, Maxville, Ocala and Coleman, not only for use by Anderson Columbia, but to outside sales as well.
Construction materials continued to be in high demand in the early 2000’s and the Anderson vision turned to cement manufacturing to complement their internal business as well as building a wholesale manufacturing facility. The Andersons overcame a substantial number of hardships to get Suwannee American Cement coming out of the ground and as construction was underway, a partnership was formed with Brazil’s Votorantim Cimentos. In 2003, the kiln was fired and the plant has produced world-class cement since day one.
A new lime rock mine was established at Cabbage Grove (Taylor Co., Florida) in 2006 and is just off US 98 and is called “Bushy Hammock,” and is in full swing.
In 2003 Joe’s children assumed the company’s leadership roles with Joe Anderson III becoming President and CEO of the company. Joe Anderson III and Doug Anderson were named Co-Chairmen. Cindy (Anderson) Childers is vice-president.
Joe never retired from work, but turned over the day to day operations of Anderson Columbia Co, Inc. to his two sons and daughter who have continued to build on the successes of their father, expanding and diversifying operations in a number of states. But Joe’s passion was to work and his hobby was to work and he continued to be an integral part of AC’s operations until his passing, coming into the office and going upstairs to discuss the plans and projects AC had underway. His vision for the future was second to none. His ability to negotiate and communicate was superb. Joe was a reader of books, magazines and economic research; his research led him into other business ventures and he was the driving force behind the founding of Suwannee American Cement in Branford, Fl, providing additional jobs for area residents. Today, the plant is a recognized leader in the manufacture of quality cement.
In 2012, Joe was elected by his peers to the Florida Transportation Builders (FTBA) Hall of Fame for his tireless efforts as an advocate for the transportation industry, working with friends, business associates and governmental officials to insure that funds were appropriated by the Florida Legislature for quality infrastructure, highways and bridges. Joe’s legacy as a roadbuilder can be seen in many ways; as you drive on many of the highways the "A"-Team constructed and in the work he started with just one dump truck and a tractor, building a solid foundation for Anderson Columbia’s future.
Anderson Contracting’s first job was delivering fill dirt to a new home construction site in Cross City off Hwy. 351. Joe reminisced a few years ago about the early days and how excited he was about the possibilities for the new company. “I was excited about the possibilities of what lay ahead if I worked hard and gave good service,” said Joe. Over 50 years later, his enthusiasm glowed like a bright light about the future of this company and how his children have taken leadership roles and are growing it beyond what he ever thought possible.
Joe always thanked the Lord for having good parents who helped lay a foundation as he struggled to keep the little construction company, Anderson Contracting, going. In the early years, his dad, Joe Henry, Sr., and his sister Harriett (Anderson) Wall were crucial to success. Joe was on the road day and night bidding jobs, repairing equipment , managing jobs and Harriett kept the books and knew how to stretch a dollar when it came time to pay the bills, said Joe.
In the fall of 1958, Anderson Contracting was awarded it’s first road job and things began to move for the company. The job was in Nassau County (“way off for a boy from Old Town, Joe said to himself). It was a state job that ran from Hilliard to Kings Ferry-CR 115A. The job called for dressing shoulders and grassing and was for $19,000.
The first big break came in the Spring of 1963 when AC was awarded a $500,000 job in downtown Madison, Fl on US 90. AC hired some more employees, including one man named Ernest Sheppard on June 10, 1961, who although small in stature, proved to be a giant in getting things done on any project he ever tackled. Ernest was not only a life-long employee, but a dear friend of Joe. AC continued to struggle as a growing company, with everyone learning every facet of the business. Some lessons came very hard, but the experiences taught them how to adapt to numerous situations and in the end made AC a better company. Some of those old lessons learned still hold true today. Joe quickly learned that so-called “luck” was really the meeting of opportunity and perseverance, especially when you worked hard.
About that Madison job, Joe said, “it gave us something we could ‘sink our teeth in’ and the project turned out all right for us at the time. The job called for four lanes, curb, gutter and sidewalks as it is today.
As time progressed so did Anderson Contracting. Asphalt paving became a major part of road building in Florida and Joe saw the need to expand his operation into that arena as well. In 1978, an opportunity presented itself to Anderson to purchase Columbia Paving in Lake City. Joe did the necessary due diligence and determined that adding asphalt services to Anderson Contracting’s existing operations was a perfect fit and moved forward with the purchase, becoming an equal partner with Hubert Real in Lake City’s Columbia Paving. From the purchase date in 1978, Columbia Paving and Anderson Contracting continued operating as two separate entities.
With the partnership in Columbia Paving, more services were integrated, better cost controls were put in place, and a wider range of construction services were added, allowing the company to diversify and grow state-wide. Grow it did, and the two companies were building major brands in the road construction industry providing not only road construction service but mining operations as well, developing lime rock services for both in-house and contracted sales.
In 1982, Mr. Real retired and Joe purchased his 50% ownership in Columbia Paving and continued operating the two companies as before. At this point, Ted McRae of Lake City was named President of Columbia Paving.
From 1982 until 1988, the two companies were separate entities, but with a close working relationship that allowed them to grow with major projects throughout the southeast United States. City, County, State and Federal Interstate Highway work was the company’s forte’ but the company began adding other heavy civil projects such as airports, landfills and commercial site development, now growing two once small companies into major construction players.
As a result of the workload and dynamics, the companies were merged in 1988 to become Anderson Columbia Co., Inc. with Joe Anderson, Jr. as Chairman, Ted McRae, President.
Other companies brought into the AC fold or created during the 1990’s and later were Baxter Asphalt in Marianna, Florida Asphalt in Panama City and Asphalt Pavers in Ocala, FL. New companies were formed; Anderson Environmental to handle environmental construction, remediation and cleanup in the southeast U.S., particularly for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Asphalt Technologies, a state of the art laboratory for testing asphalt and other construction materials. ATI has been very successful over the years and has been recognized state-wide for their services to the industry both in-house and contracted services industry-wide. Ken Murphy was named President of Asphalt Technologies since its founding in 1995.
1996 was a memorable year for the Company when it was announced they had won the prestigious Shelton G. Hayes Award, the nation’s top honor for a major paving project in the United States. Many other awards have been received by AC over the years including other state and national construction awards, attesting to the company’s creed of always giving the best service available.
Tree farming and land development became an integral part of the company from the early years as Joe, Jr.’s vision for a diversified company grew. Since 2008, the company owns thousands of acres of pine trees for timber harvesting and pine straw operations and offers a substantial amount of land for commercial and private development.
With the turn of the century, Anderson Columbia continued its growth mode and moved into other areas as well. The Andersons’ experience in the mining business continued to grow as lime rock sales built a basis and a vision for other rock services such as granite. After thorough investigation and due diligence, a granite mining operation was establish in Junction City, GA in 2001, providing granite to our various base operations in Crestview, Milton, Panama City, Marianna, Tallahassee, Lake City, Maxville, Ocala and Coleman, not only for use by Anderson Columbia, but to outside sales as well.
Construction materials continued to be in high demand in the early 2000’s and the Anderson vision turned to cement manufacturing to complement their internal business as well as building a wholesale manufacturing facility. The Andersons overcame a substantial number of hardships to get Suwannee American Cement coming out of the ground and as construction was underway, a partnership was formed with Brazil’s Votorantim Cimentos. In 2003, the kiln was fired and the plant has produced world-class cement since day one.
A new lime rock mine was established at Cabbage Grove (Taylor Co., Florida) in 2006 and is just off US 98 and is called “Bushy Hammock,” and is in full swing.
In 2003 Joe’s children assumed the company’s leadership roles with Joe Anderson III becoming President and CEO of the company. Joe Anderson III and Doug Anderson were named Co-Chairmen. Cindy (Anderson) Childers is vice-president.
Joe never retired from work, but turned over the day to day operations of Anderson Columbia Co, Inc. to his two sons and daughter who have continued to build on the successes of their father, expanding and diversifying operations in a number of states. But Joe’s passion was to work and his hobby was to work and he continued to be an integral part of AC’s operations until his passing, coming into the office and going upstairs to discuss the plans and projects AC had underway. His vision for the future was second to none. His ability to negotiate and communicate was superb. Joe was a reader of books, magazines and economic research; his research led him into other business ventures and he was the driving force behind the founding of Suwannee American Cement in Branford, Fl, providing additional jobs for area residents. Today, the plant is a recognized leader in the manufacture of quality cement.
In 2012, Joe was elected by his peers to the Florida Transportation Builders (FTBA) Hall of Fame for his tireless efforts as an advocate for the transportation industry, working with friends, business associates and governmental officials to insure that funds were appropriated by the Florida Legislature for quality infrastructure, highways and bridges. Joe’s legacy as a roadbuilder can be seen in many ways; as you drive on many of the highways the "A"-Team constructed and in the work he started with just one dump truck and a tractor, building a solid foundation for Anderson Columbia’s future.
At the forefront of QUALITY, SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY.
No matter the job, we put high-quality production at the front of the project. Our qualified teams bring the experience and the skills necessary for any job that requires our attention. Sunny or cloudy, hot or cold, efficiency continues to happen through our well-versed teams and will continue to happen until the job is accomplished and performed to the highest expectation.
