View source for Dahl & Groezinger

Dahl & Groezinger, Inc., Kentucky’s oldest scrap
iron and metal processor, was established in 1885
by George Groezinger, Sr. and Phillip Dahl. In 1867, George
Groezinger met Phillip Dahl on a ship from Stuttgart, Germany
heading for America. George and Phillip were employed by Mr.
Lacer to buy hides, wool and pelts for his American company.
In 1885, they formed Dahl & Groezinger at 114-116 Frederica
Street in Owensboro, KY. They began buying hides, wool, furs
and roots. Over the next decade, the company grew alongside the
local economy, shipping its products to both regional and national
markets. In 1900, George Groezinger, Jr. joined the firm. He
was followed by his brother, Walter Groezinger, in 1910. Walter
Groezinger believed that scrap iron and metals were the future of
the business, so he devoted his efforts to growing this part of the
business. At the time, hides were purchased form butchers, farmers,
and meat packing houses, and were then shipped to tanneries.
Both ferrous and non-ferrous material was accumulated before
shipping to mills by truck, railroad, or barge.

In 1912, George Groezinger died and George Jr. acquired
his interest. Shortly after the death of his father, Albert “Ike”
Groezinger joined the firm. He was joined by Phillip Groezinger
in 1920.

In 1927, Ike and Walter Groezinger purchased 77 year-old
founder Phillip Dahl’s interest. George Jr., Walter, Ike, and Phillip
operated the family firm together until 1929 when George retired.
His interest was purchased by Walter, Ike, and Phillip.
The Great Depression of the early thirties brought hard times
to Dahl & Groezinger. We still own the following hand-written
bank note: “Doubtful If This Note Will Ever Be Repaid.” By
some miracle, this note - and a lot of other notes - were repaid.
In 1931, we lost Phillip Groezinger to an untimely death. Walter
and Ike bought Phillip’s interest in the company and operated as
equal partners until Ike’s death in 1953.

In 1940 William R. Conley, Walter Groezinger’s son-in-law,
joined the firm.

In 1946, C. M. Kirkland, Walter’s other son-in-law, joined
the firm. He departed from the firm in 1969.

Dahl & Groezinger moved from 114-116 Frederica St. to our
present location (940 W. 9th Street) in 1954. Green River Steel
began operation in Owensboro the same year, expanding our steel
markets from railroad and river to a location just 10 miles away.
In 1963, Walter Groezinger died and William R. Conley
(Billy) became President. He held this title until he retired in 1987
The 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s were years of expansion for both our
markets and the physical plant. The 60’s saw Dahl & Groezinger
expand our white metals business while the 4th generation joined
the firm: John Drew Kirkland in 1966 and then William R. Conley,
Jr. in 1967, both as summer help. Bill, Jr. joined the firm full-time
in 1970 after graduating from Vanderbilt University. Drew began
full-time employment in 1972 following his graduation from
the University of Kentucky.
William K. Helwig (Bill)
joined the firm in 1974.
Bill took an active interest
in the equipment and yard
management.

William R. Conley, Sr.
retired in 1987. He is remembered
for taking extra
time to train the 4th generation
(Sill Conley, Jr., John
Drew Kirkland, and Bill
Helwig) by allowing them
the freedom to expand. Bill
Sr. provided the leadership
and vision for the business
to follow. He was proudest
of what the next generation
was doing, not what he had
done.

With William R. Conley Sr.’s retirement, George Groezinger’s
great-grandsons assumed leadership. William R. Conley Jr. became
President, with John Drew Kirkland and William K. Helwig
serving as Vice-Presidents.

On May 23, 1990, Dahl & Groezinger, Inc. mourned the
passing of William R. Conley Sr. - a friend, teacher, uncle and father.
In 1995, the fifth generation - William Walter Helwig (Will),
Drew Sumner Kirkland and John Sumner Kirkland - joined Dahl
& Groezinger as summer help.

Also in 1995, William R. Conley, Jr. decided to semi-retire.
John Drew Kirkland became President and Bill Helwig continued
to serve as Vice-President.

In 2002, William Walter Helwig graduated from Georgetown
College with a bachelors degree in business administration
and joined the firm full time. Will also played soccer for the
Georgetown Tigers.

In 2003, both Drew Kirkland and John Kirkland graduated
from the University of Alabama with masters degrees in business
administration and joined Dahl & Groezinger full-time. Each
also received their undergraduate degree from Alabama in 2001.
In May of 2005, Dahl & Groezinger welcomed another
member of the fifth generation when William R. Conley Ill (Bill)
joined the firm following his graduation from Western Kentucky
University. Bill left the firm in September of 2007.

Though another century has passed, “Dahl & Groezinger
will continue to use our family ownership and management to
give each customer and consumer the personal attention they
deserve. Regardless of the ever-changing business climate” our
customers and consumers will remain our top priority.

{{2015}}

[[Category:Businesses]]