Dr. Gordon passed away in 1951. In his lifetime, he had delivered 5,500 babies in El Paso, served as president and the first non-paid secretary of the Illinois Independent Telephone Association, president of the Toll Clearing Company, and state and national director for telephone interests.

Dr. Gordon's son, Virgil, a retired army colonel who took over the management of the company, began buying all the rural lines and converted them to common battery service. The installation of cable in an eight mile radius followed. The number of toll lines increased to 40, and three additional switchboards and electronic ringing were added to the system. The company now has 2,000 telephones in service.

Today, a third generation, Robert Gordon, has been added to the firm in the capacity of manager. A new building has been constructed at 48 West First Street. New phone-ducts with dial and touch-tone telephones are expected to be in operation by the fall of 1974. The company now employs 30 people.

PFISTER HYBRID CORN COMPANY – The past twenty years have resulted in many changes for the Pfister Hybrid Corn Company. During this period, active management was transferred from Lester Pfister to his three sons, Jerry, Walter and Dan. Years before Mr. Pfister's death on May 27, 1970, they had already assumed active roles in the management of the business. Jerry serves as president and general manager, Walter as vice president and director of research, and Dan serves as secretary-treasurer and sales manager. Other key personnel include George Shadewaldt controller; Fallace Janssen, plant manager and Bernard Reeves, farm plant manager. James Bryant and Larry Rieffel are research agronomists and plant breeders for the company.

In recent months, two long-time employees of the company retired. Miss Florence Pfister, sister of Lester Pfister, served for many years as treasurer of the company and retired January 1, 1974. Merle Fulton, who served as research director for many years, retired February 1, 1974.

The company started a building program in 1964 after a fire destroyed one of the main processing buildings at the farm plant site. A grading tower was built in El Paso in 1964. A modern seed corn dryer was erected in 1966 with an extension added in 1971. Warehouses were added in El Paso in 1967 and 1973.

Over the years the Pfister Hybrid Corn Company has been a leader in the industry. Sales have steadily increased through market penetration for the past 10 years, and prospects for continued growth look good. Pfister customers are serviced by 1500 dealers in eleven states and 22 full-time sales supervisors.

The company has 80 full-time employees, but during the summer months, 500 to 900 part-time employees are hired to help with detasseling and hand pollination.

Page 342

Go to previous page

Go to next page

Go to El Paso Story gateway page