“Our goal is to help LeRoy Morford and his concrete construction business remain viable, Tim Kuehner, director of national accounts at Marshalltown Co., said as he and Morford loaded the truck full of tools near the company’s loading dock.

After the tools filled the back of Morford’s apple-red pickup, the two attached a brand-new blue Marshalltown 600 CM concrete mixer to the rear.

Kuehner contacted Morford after a fire destroyed Morford’s concrete construction company equipment and tools on West Madison Street four weeks ago.

Damage from the fire was estimated at $1 million dollars.

T-R PHOTOS BY MIKE DONAHEY Tim Kuehner of the Marshalltown Co. helps LeRoy Morford, also of Marshalltown, load company-made tools into his truck near the company’s loading dock Monday.

Morford is still working out issues with his insurance company, so the call from Kuehner was timely.

“I absolutely need those from Marshalltown Co. tools to stay in business,” Morford said. “You have to be ready when people call on you. I have customers who depend on me and I must be ready. Since the fire, I have been working on a smaller scale. These tools will really help.”

Morford should know.

This year Morford is celebrating his 50th year in business in Marshalltown, a community he said “has been good to him” and he has been using Marshalltown Co. tools from the beginning.

Morford also prides himself on being 71, “but who is going on 40” he said.

“Because of the kind of work we do, I think it is important I am on every job,” he said.

“When you work, you work hard, when you play, you play hard” is one of his favorite sayings.

The fire

Like many small businesses, Morford must keep all of his equipment and tools in one place, and that is why the Aug. 16 fire at his building at 715 W. Madison St. was devastating.

The Marshalltown Fire Department had 15 firefighters on scene for three hours.

After observing two overhead doors collapsing, and a semi-trailer catching fire, the MFD declared the building a total loss.

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com