7220 DIVISION STREET, BEDFORD OHIO 44146-5406
STEEL ERECTORS, INC.
P 440-232-9595
F 440-232-0272
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Garen N. Kelley, founder of Kelley Steel Erectors, Inc., was born in 1923 in Marshall County, West Virginia, just outside Ohio at the base of the West Virginia panhandle. He attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Proctor, West Virginia, and graduated from Moundsville High School.
Garen had a deep love of his Catholic faith, a spirit of generosity and an appreciation of civic duty that guided his actions throughout his life.
Just two years out of high school and with the world at war, Garen joined the US Marine Corps and served with an assault demolition team belonging to the 2nd Marine Division in the South Pacific until the end of the war. He was honorably discharged in 1945 after earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with Valor.
After leaving the service, Garen worked as a construction foreman for Hunkin-Conkey Construction Company before being transferred to Cleveland as steel superintendent, overseeing all of its Cleveland work. Garen supervised jobs throughout Ohio and western Pennsylvania that involved structural steel erection, the placement of reinforcing steel for concrete, machinery setting, millwright work and heavy rigging. With each job, his knowledge deepened and his experience grew.
At age 36, he founded Kelley Steel Erectors, Inc., in Oakwood Village, on Cleveland’s southeast side. His first job erecting steel was for a new McDonald’s restaurant.
A 1960’s building boom in Cleveland helped the company grow in its first decade. The Cleveland skyline today is dotted with buildings containing Kelley Steel’s work. These include the Cleveland State University Library Tower, the IMG building (formerly the Cuyahoga Savings Association building), Glenville High School, the Bond Court and Diamond Shamrock buildings, Tower East in Shaker Heights and the 46-story BP building on Public Square.
Just as he built buildings, Garen built communities through decades of philanthropy and service on boards for a variety of institutions.
Garen’s physical, mental and business toughness was more than offset by his kindness and generosity. If someone needed help, he was the first to respond. He was a lifelong philanthropist who provided substantial support to Catholic Charities, the Christ Child Society, the American Red Cross, the Sisters of Charity, the Legionnaires of Christ and the Passionist Missions.
His civic support was extended to the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Playhouse Square Foundation, the Western Reserve Historical Society, United Way, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Society of Crippled Children and too many others to list.
In 1981, Garen received the honor of being inducted by Terence Cardinal Cooke at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City as a Knight of the Sovereign Military Hospitalier Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, a lay Catholic religious order established in the 11th century.
In 1982 he was inducted into the Garfield Society at Hiram College for his enduring work at the school, and ten years later was inducted into the Cleveland Engineering Society’s Hall of Fame for his accomplishments and service to the construction industry.
Garen’s vision, values and way of doing business guide to this day the company he founded over six decades ago.
FOUNDER
Garen N. Kelley, founder of Kelley Steel Erectors, Inc., was born in 1923 in Marshall County, West Virginia, just outside Ohio at the base of the West Virginia panhandle. He attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Proctor, West Virginia, and graduated from Moundsville High School.
Garen had a deep love of his Catholic faith, a spirit of generosity and an appreciation of civic duty that guided his actions throughout his life.
Just two years out of high school and with the world at war, Garen joined the US Marine Corps and served with an assault demolition team belonging to the 2nd Marine Division in the South Pacific until the end of the war. He was honorably discharged in 1945 after earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with Valor.
After leaving the service, Garen worked as a construction foreman for Hunkin-Conkey Construction Company before being transferred to Cleveland as steel superintendent, overseeing all of its Cleveland work. Garen supervised jobs throughout Ohio and western Pennsylvania that involved structural steel erection, the placement of reinforcing steel for concrete, machinery setting, millwright work and heavy rigging. With each job, his knowledge deepened and his experience grew.
At age 36, he founded Kelley Steel Erectors, Inc., in Oakwood Village, on Cleveland’s southeast side. His first job erecting steel was for a new McDonald’s restaurant.
A 1960’s building boom in Cleveland helped the company grow in its first decade. The Cleveland skyline today is dotted with buildings containing Kelley Steel’s work. These include the Cleveland State University Library Tower, the IMG building (formerly the Cuyahoga Savings Association building), Glenville High School, the Bond Court and Diamond Shamrock buildings, Tower East in Shaker Heights and the 46-story BP building on Public Square.
Just as he built buildings, Garen built communities through decades of philanthropy and service on boards for a variety of institutions.
Garen’s physical, mental and business toughness was more than offset by his kindness and generosity. If someone needed help, he was the first to respond. He was a lifelong philanthropist who provided substantial support to Catholic Charities, the Christ Child Society, the American Red Cross, the Sisters of Charity, the Legionnaires of Christ and the Passionist Missions.
His civic support was extended to the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Playhouse Square Foundation, the Western Reserve Historical Society, United Way, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Society of Crippled Children and too many others to list.
In 1981, Garen received the honor of being inducted by Terence Cardinal Cooke at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City as a Knight of the Sovereign Military Hospitalier Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, a lay Catholic religious order established in the 11th century.
In 1982 he was inducted into the Garfield Society at Hiram College for his enduring work at the school, and ten years later was inducted into the Cleveland Engineering Society’s Hall of Fame for his accomplishments and service to the construction industry.
VISION
Garen's vision, values and way of doing business guide to this day the company he founded over six decades ago.
KELLEY STEEL ERECTORS
7220 DIVISION ST
CLEVELAND, OHIO 44146-5406
P 440-232-9595
F 440-232-0272
KELLEY EQUIPMENT COMPANY
SCHWEIZER DIPPLE INC.
KELLEY STEEL ERECTORS
7220 DIVISION ST
CLEVELAND, OHIO 44146-5406
P 440-232-9595
F 440-232-0272
KELLEY EQUIPMENT COMPANY
SCHWEIZER DIPPLE INC.
