The Lombard Company Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary - Congratulations!

The Lombard Company Celebrates 60 Years of Family, Loyalty and Construction

At the age of 50 and pondering a career change, Michael A. Lombard was reviewing his various options at his kitchen table one morning with his son George. During the course of their conversation, George asked his father if he ever considered using his many years of experience in the construction industry to start his own business. Michael was then a senior executive with a local construction company and George was working in the field for the same firm. With Virginia (wife and mother) listening in, she told both of them in no uncertain terms that they were nuts. And so they were. In early 1956, they established their own general contracting firm, MA Lombard & Sons Company. Michael and George were joined by son and brother Richard upon completion of his military service a few months after the new company began. At that time, had someone told George that the general contracting business that they were about to embark on would be successful for the next 60 years, he would have found it amusing to say the least. 60 years later, George still smiles when he thinks of those early days spent building a company that would become a mainstay in the Chicagoland construction industry.

George and his father were well known for their hands-on approach to general contracting. With George as the head of field operations, and Michael A. Lombard running the planning and estimating at the office, MA Lombard & Sons Company aggressively tackled projects that larger more experienced firms shied away from.

In 1961, having moved their business operations to the Village of Alsip, M.A. Lombard and Sons became focused on developing existing local farmland into industrial use. Being actively involved in concrete construction, they saw a benefit in precasting the exterior walls of the industrial buildings. From a very simple beginning with rather plain, channel-shaped wall panels, the creativity for precast use began to grow and continues to grow today. Lombard Architectural Precast Products Company (LAPPCO) was established in the late 1960s and has since grown into one of the most respected manufacturers of high end architectural precast products in the Chicagoland area.

In 1974 Michael A. Lombard began his transition out of the construction company he cofounded into a second career in the banking industry. At that time the company was renamed The Lombard Company with George taking over administration of the company. Over the next 10 years, a third generation of family joined the company. George’s sons John, Mike and Dan are currently principals of the company with George serving as Chairman of the Board – still coming to work every day 60 years after starting his own firm. A fourth generation of Lombards is now working in the family business as project managers:  Ryan (Mike’s son) in the general contracting business and Joe (John’s son) in the precast business.

Over the last 60 years, The Lombard Company has developed hundreds of industrial, educational, institutional, commercial and municipal projects. LAPPCO’s precast panels adorn buildings throughout the Chicagoland area. Their steady growth and continued success over these many years is a testimonial to the many satisfied customers they have served.

The new building company joined this local AGC chapter one year after they started business and has been a member for 59 years now. George and son Mike have both served as Board members of the Builders Association.