Three Generations In Stone: The Luck Story
It's rare to find a company that has enjoyed continued success for more than eight decades, yet has remained family-owned and operated. Luck Stone is one of those companies. Under the leadership of three generations of the Luck family, Luck Stone is now one of the largest private, family-owned and operated aggregates suppliers in the U.S. with more than 1,000 associates.

"My dad and I literally eat, sleep, and breathe our business," relates Charles (Charlie) Luck, IV, current CEO and President of Luck Stone. "America has been built by family companies that understand and are a part of their local communities. That was an important piece of history passed down from my grandfather to me."

Luck Stone began as a single quarry on the West End of Richmond, Va., and was called the Sunnyside Granite Company. Over the next 20 years, Mr. Luck, Jr., added manufacturing facilities as the demand for crushed stone increased. He pioneered the use of electricity, converting from standard steam-powered machines to more productive electric ones. Today, Luck Stone's construction aggregate division operates more than 15 crushed stone plants in Virginia and North Carolina and a sand and gravel operation.

"However, our company's success is based on people, not necessarily on machines," states Charles S. Luck, III, current Chairman of the Board for Luck Stone. "My dad taught me that if you treat people fairly, then they'll treat you the same." Mr. Luck, III, joined the family's company full-time in 1955 and assumed the role of president ten years later. Through his vision, the company became a nationally recognized industry leader in automation, product diversification, plant safety and environmental stewardship.

In 1977, Mr. Luck, III, captured the industry's attention by adding a "shopping center for stone" which evolved into the Charles Luck Stone Center, formerly known as Luck Stone's Architectural Stone Division. The Charles Luck Stone Center is now one of the company's most ambitious and exciting ventures. It features a combination of studios, contractor yards and worshops in the mid-Atlantic region and offers thousands of stone products from around the globe for home building and landscaping.

Luck Stone also owns Lee Tennis Court Products which features Har-Tru, one of the world's most popular types of clay tennis court, and is a leading supplier of court accessories. Luck Properties is the real estate development arm of Luck Stone and includes a portfolio of three business parks in Virginia.

Luck Stone Corporation is based out of in Richmond, Va.' and its headquarters is undergoing a major transformation slated for completion in Summer 2008.

"We've never lost our focus on people, yet at the same time we provide products and services that our customers can depend on," explains Charlie Luck. "We've taken our core product, a rock, and wrapped it with services and features that are unique in our industry. And we remain committed to our customers, neighbors, associates, and communities to never lose sight of our roots, and the core values my grandfather established more than 80 years ago." Today, Luck Stone's foundation rests on its values-based culture consisting of creativity, leadership, commitment and integrity.