For 150 years and five generations, L. G. Everist Inc. has supported the building needs of the Sioux Falls area and beyond.
The family business marks a century and a half of innovation, resilience and lasting community partnerships this year. Join the celebration at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, with a ribbon cutting from the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce at The Alliance, 1600 W. Russell St.
For L. G. Everist, roots in the Sioux Falls area run deep.
The company has evolved from a coal retailer to a multidivision leader in aggregates, rail transportation and construction materials.
It began in 1876, when founder Lucius Garland Everist began business in Havana, Illinois. He moved his family and business to Sioux City, Iowa, in the late 1880s.
By the 1920s, the nationwide push to pave roads fueled expansion. LGE acquired rock, sand and gravel operations in Hawarden, Iowa, and Dell Rapids, South Dakota, securing dependable sources that would support major infrastructure projects for decades. Operations eventually expanded, and post-war projects around the country ensued.
By the 1960s, LGE pushed further across the Midwest and into Colorado, pioneering portable crushing operations and providing vital materials for projects such as the Oahe Dam in South Dakota, Denver’s Stapleton Airport and the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel in Colorado.
The 1970s brought strategic expansion, including the development of a greenfield quarry in Ortonville, Minnesota, and the purchase of Connolly-Pacific, a Southern California marine construction company operating a quarry on Catalina Island. The D & I Railroad was later established to move materials in the Midwest.
In the 2000s and 2010s, LGE saw leadership from Rick Everist Jr. and Rob Everist, both fourth generation, while deepening its footprint in core markets. Strategic moves included the acquisition of Higman Sand & Gravel in 2014, expansion in the Colorado Front Range and investments in new ventures.
The 2020s brought further growth and renewed Sioux Falls-area focus. The acquisition of Myrl & Roy’s Paving, Ace Ready Mix and United Ready Mix strengthened operations.
“L. G. Everist is the sort of employer that literally helped build Sioux Falls and continues to do so today,” said Bob Mundt, president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. “It’s invested not just in its growing team and operations but in our broader community through its leadership and philanthropy.”
We got a closer look at the company courtesy of CEO Rob Everist.
Business name: L. G. Everist Inc.
Year founded: 1876
Year operations began in Sioux Falls: L. G. Everist Inc. relocated its headquarters to the historic Paulton Building in 1944 from Sioux City, Iowa.
Total employees in the Sioux Falls area: 283 across all divisions in the area
CEO: Rob Everist
How would you describe your organization to someone not familiar with it?
LGE is a family-owned construction materials company. Our core business is producing and supplying high-quality aggregates — rock, sand and gravel — that are key to roads, bridges, buildings and infrastructure. We’ve grown through the years to be a diverse company while keeping the close-knit family feel.
What are the top three reasons you continue to locate in the Sioux Falls area?
We love the people and community connections, the quality of life the area provides and the stable business climate.
What are you most proud of within your business in the past year?
We are most proud of our employees meeting challenges head-on with a focus on safety and pride in what they do.
How would you describe the culture of your business in three words?
Safe, reliable, productive.
Why does your business choose to invest in Forward Sioux Falls?
It provides and continues to promote and attract business to the Sioux Falls area, which directly strengthens the environment we operate and live within.
What are your expectations for your business in the year ahead?
The future seems bright in the Sioux Falls area with positive business growth to support growing families and community, and our expectation is to continue aligning with and supporting that growth.
Forward Sioux Falls is a joint venture between the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and is widely respected as the premier economic driver for the Sioux Falls region. To learn more and connect, click here.