History
Great People
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Successful History With You!
Scott's Lumber started in 1944 when W. Lee Scott and a partner purchased a small lumber yard and grain elevator in Rowena, SD. Mr. Scott bought his partners share and in 1952 moved the yard 7 miles west to 3300 E. 10th St. in Sioux Falls. In 1979 Lee was awarded “Honored Lumberman” by the SD Retail Lumbermans Association. Lee was active with the community and among his many involvements he was also a member of the “El Raid Shrine Temple” and often dressed up as a clown to bring laugher to kids.
When Lee retired, his son, William, better known as Bill, eventually took ownership and managed the yard. Bill’s quiet and thoughtful demeanor served the business well, especially through the early 80’s when every business struggled through some tough economic times. I never saw Bill get upset. His Christian ethics were something to be admired in the business world. Even in the sale of his yard, he took care of his employees. In 1993 Bill was awarded “Honored Lumberman” by the SD Retail Lumberman’s Association. Bill was my employer for twelve years. Few people reach the level of respect I have for Bill. In 2009 Bill provided us with some awesome pictures of the Scott's yard as well as the early history in his own words. Read about it Here! Thank you very much Bill.
Bill’s son, Dan Scott, took over managing the yard in 1991. In his short time of managing, Dan changed the yard's focus, catering more to the contractors. Dan also turned 1/3rd of the store into a 24 hr display center handing contractors keys to the display center so they had somewhere to bring their customers after hours. This idea and story was published in a national retailers magazine for the original thinking.
The Scott family eventually decided to get out of the lumber business and in 1995 sold their yard of 50 years to Lampert Yards, Inc. of St. Paul, MN. Lamperts is also a family owned company that was founded in 1887. You can learn more about the eventful and rich history of Lampert Yards by going to www.lampertyards.com and click on the history tab. Scott’s Lumber has such a good thing going, Lamperts didn’t want to change even the name and so they kept the name of Scott’s Lumber.
After the acquisition of Scott’s, Lamperts hired Doug VanderBeek, who was the lumber buyer for Scott's, to be the yard manager. Doug managed the yard until he retired in 2006. Doug’s tenure with Scott’s as manager saw more changes and expansion than anyone ever imagined.
On April 1st, 1997, our Lamperts district manager called a meeting for our yard and announced Lamperts had purchased the Great Plains yard in Sioux Falls. We tend to have fun while working so we were not sure to take it as an April Fools joke or not. Within a few weeks though we were moving out of our E. 10th street location and moving into the building known in Sioux Falls as “The old Knox Lumber building” on 4040 S. Grange Ave where we are located today.
This site more than doubled our yard size and made us much more accessible to both sides of Sioux Falls. During the process of acquiring the Scott’s lumberyard and the acquisition of the Great Plains facility, all employees were invited to stay on. Two competitors coming together might lend itself to some discord. I can personally say I witnessed a bond develop among staff that was like a cord of many strands woven together. The staff united and we were able to focus on the one goal at hand; taking care of our customers very well. Our sales more than tripled during Doug’s eleven years as manager. In 2000, Doug VanderBeek also earned the “Honored Lumberman” award from the SD Retail Lumberman’s Association, as well as many awards given by Lampert Yards during the years.
Upon Doug VanderBeek’s retirement in 2006, Mark Kozel was promoted to manager of Scott's Lumber. Mark was hired by Bill Scott in 1973 as a yard man and driver. Being a family yard, Mark had worked every aspect of the business including dispatcher, bookkeeping, estimating, sales and sales manager. In 2008, Mark was given the “Honored Lumberman” award from the SD Retail Lumberman’s Association. This was the fourth Scott's manager to receive this prestigious award! Mark’s eternal optimism is infectious and his enthusiasm for life can’t help but to be noticed by anyone within earshot of his voice. I have worked with Mark since he hired me in 1983 and I will testify that the excitement and optimism is genuine and perpetual. One of Mark’s philosophies is he never wants work to get to the point it is not “fun”. Our store and employees reflect that projection from Mark, and have found a true balance between serious hard work and having professional fun.
Dan Fesler, Owner of Lampert Yards:
Motivator extraordinaire. That is the only way I can think of describing Dan Fesler, the owner of Lampert Yards, Inc. The only man I know that even comes close to the enthusiasm of Mark Kozel and just as fun. You don’t really expect that from a man who owns well over 30 lumber yards scattered over a 5 state area. Dan has provided the “Scott’s” yard with the freedom of a family yard while supporting us with his General Office staff of Accounting, I.T. Department and Purchasing Department increasing our buying power to that of over 30 combined yards. Dan continually encourages personal development at Regional Meetings and sets the stage for serious fun with serious business.
About the Author of this Article:
I have worked for Scott’s as a yard man, driver, counter sales, estimator, and since 1997 full time resident I.T. guy. I also visit the Western Division Lampert Yards to assist with Inventories and other projects. Working for Scott's since 1983 I guess has qualified me as the Scott’s historian.
Why did I write about the owners and managers and not dwell on our facilities? Because over the years I have learned that while a building might identify your location, it is the people and its leaders that identify your company and how we treat you, our customer. The employees of Scott's and Lamperts have stayed strong through all of these transitions. We have been a part of Sioux Falls history and really can say we have helped build Sioux Falls. Our leaders have been and are outstanding. Our people and their drive to make you successful are our success.
Randy Hoiland, I.T. Dept, Sioux Falls Yard