The Wittwer StoryA History of Dedication, Experience and Expansion
The Early Years Download the Wittwer Information Brochure
Wittwer Construction Company traces its roots to 1951, when Ron and Sterling Wittwer formed Wittwer Brothers, a southeastern Nebraska grading contractor partnership. Their commitment to integrity, craftsmanship, and dependability is the foundation on which our company today was built.
Humboldt, Nebraska, 1951 Ron and Sterling WittwerAs a fledgling partnership, Wittwer Brothers focused on soil conservation work in Nebraska building terraces, ponds, and plowing farmland. The next few years for the brothers were defined by sustained growth in the number of contracts and the type of work each project brought. In 1955, the company added a D6 Cat dozer to its equipment assets, followed by a D8 Cat dozer two years later, marking the start of their heavy highway construction capabilities. Shortly thereafter, Wittwer Brothers received their first highway project east of Fall City, Nebraska, a job accompanied by a the purchase of a rubber tire scraper.
In 1960, the company expanded its work to Salina, KS where they were awarded the Merimount Road project. This project initiated what would become a full-scale expansion into Kansas, a move exemplified in 1963 by their largest contract to date, a 1.3 million cubic yard grading contract on Interstate 70.
In 1965, following the path of their work, the partnership moved from Humboldt, Nebraska to Oskaloosa, Kansas. One year later, Wittwer Brothers became incorporated as Wittwer Construction Company, with Ron as sole owner of the new company and brother Sterling opting to remain in Nebraska to pursue his aspirations of owning a John Deere dealership. With the new company and an eye towards growing Wittwer's highway construction interests, Ron ventured into concrete construction. Building box culverts, the first concrete job in Effingham, Kansas was a success and launched Wittwer Construction as a competitor in the region's concrete industry. In 1972, Wittwer Construction further expanded its project base by receiving a job in Ponca City, Oklahoma with 3,300 cubic yards of concrete. This contract marked the start of our company's business interest in Oklahoma, and establishment of the home office in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Wittwer Today
In over five decades of existence, Wittwer Construction Company, Inc. has grown from a small partnership into a multi-million dollar, family-owned and operated construction company with the accumulated experience and capabilities necessary for meeting the challenges of today's construction needs. We have experienced tremendous growth in recent years, and employ a staff of over 225 dedicated employees involved in the professions of construction, management, skilled and unskilled labor, engineering, accounting, administrative, clerical, and safety. Our present workload echoes Wittwer's history and is concentrated in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas. While the majority of our business is located in the public sector, our clients also come from the private and commercial sectors.
Five major and three minor structure crews comprise our operations, incuding two grading and drainage crews. With extensive training and experience, the superintendent of each Wittwer crew is an integral link in realizing our commitment to starting and completing each project professionally and on time. In particular, our project capabilities include:
- Cast-In-Place Box Culverts
- Precast Box Culverts
- Concrete Ditch Paving and Channel Paving
- Cast-In-Place Retaining Walls
- Segmental Retaining Walls
- Concrete Paving
- Sidewalks and Driveways
- Curb and Guttering
- Storm Drainage Pipe and Small Structures
- Grading
To support our prime contracts and larger projects, we also own and operate three portable concrete ready-mix plants along with 13 mixer trucks. The ready-mix division gives us direct control over two primary objectives: scheduling and quality. In return, this gives us a competitive edge in the projects we build. Thus, while we always welcome new opportunities, cast-in-place box culverts continue to be our specialization.
Presently, Ron Wittwer serves as Executive Vice President while enjoying his hobbies of wheat farming, raising Black Angus cattle, and crappie fishing. Daniel R. Wittwer, the younger of two sons, took over as President of Wittwer Construction in 1996. Guiding Wittwer in its capacity as a leader and innovator in the construction trade, Dan oversees the company, its current and future projects, and qualified staff. The traits Dan brings to his position can be attributed to his own construction experience, as well as the mentoring of his father, Ron. Owing to the company's long-standing integrity, competitive spirit, and over fifty years of experience, Wittwer Construction Company continues to be a leader and innovator in the heavy highway construction industry.
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