Being Present For More Than 100 Years
Woodson Lumber is a fourth-generation Century Club member, and the company’s stockholders include, from left: Stu Chapman, Kate Borroni, Ann Chapman and Philip Chapman.
From covered wagon origins to a fourth generation of family ownership, Woodson Lumber has been building Texas for more than 110 years.
The origins of Woodson Lumber could be traced to the trail of a covered wagon that owner Ann Chapman’s grandparents drove to eventually settle in central Texas. Brothers Jim and Harrie Woodson founded the lumber company in 1913, building the business and enduring World War I, the pandemic of 1918, and the Great Depression. After World War II, the second generation took up the mantle of ownership.
Chapman, the current CEO, represents the third generation of ownership, and the business has been part of her whole life. When she was a little girl, she would go to work with her father on Saturdays and she worked alongside him during the 1990s. By 1994, she started working at Woodson Lumber full time. Her children, representing the fourth generation, are stockholders and gaining industry knowledge by working in the business.
Ann Chapman believes in helping community members enjoy the places they live by offering the items they need and want in an environment that is welcoming and helpful.
Now, Century Club member Woodson Lumber Company, headquartered in Caldwell, Texas, has seven locations in central Texas. When reflecting about her family’s history and entrepreneurial spirit, Chapman expresses deep gratitude.
“I hope that my family—both living and passed on to glory—knows how much we cherish our time together and that family relationships are most important,” Chapman says. “I hope that we are good stewards with people and the business overall. I hope future generations continue to enjoy helping others, creating jobs, and supporting and building our communities.”
Along with family, Chapman is also appreciative of her community, suppliers, customers, and employees. “Currently, we’re focused on the legacy that our family can leave for the future,” she says.
When researching company history before their 100th anniversary, Chapman found an old magazine quote in which her grandfather explains that everyone needs a place to live and how important that is, and that perhaps they might need a fence and a barn, too.
“We always hope to help our community members enjoy the places they live by offering the items they need and want in an environment that is welcoming and helpful,” she says.
