In February and March of 2019, HPE's going to be featuring a fun historical campaign on social media – taking a look back at the origins of Heating & Plumbing Engineers and the family behind the legacy!
Heating & Plumbing Engineers, Inc. was founded on February 21st, 1947 -- but the history behind the business goes back quite a bit further. As the story goes, the great-great-grandfather of Kelly Eustace (HPE President) was Ford Steward; Ford started a blacksmith shop in the late 1800’s in Rocky Ford, Colorado. He had a son, Glen Douglas Steward; Glen started G.D. Steward Sheet Metal Works in Rocky Ford. Glen's two sons, Richard Glen (RG) Steward and Doug Steward, worked in the business -- and it was his oldest son, Doug, who inherited Steward Sheet Metal Works.
Kelly's grandfather, RG Steward, decided to move his family to Colorado Springs and started a Lennox dealership, there, called Heating & Inc. He later changed the name of the company to Heating & Plumbing Engineers, Inc.
FIRST PHOTO (1937 - 1938): The photo shown here is of Kelly Eustace's grandfather, Richard Glen (RG) Steward; many just called him RG, or Dick. Richard is shown with his brother, Doug Steward; they were out shooting jack rabbits on the prairie at Fagg’s Ranch, driving the company truck from G.D. Steward Sheet Metal Works.
We hope you enjoy taking this look back with us, as much as we do; stay tuned for more on the history of HPE!
