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At Crowder, family has always been at the heart of who we are. Over our 79-year history, countless family members have built careers here, passing down a commitment to hard work, integrity, and excellence from one generation to the next. Few families embody that tradition better than the Wilson family, whose connection to Crowder now spans four generations.

The Wilson legacy began in the early days of the company when J.R. Wilson worked alongside our founders, O.P. and W.T. Crowder. His dedication helped establish a foundation not only for the company, but also for a family tradition that would continue for decades.

That tradition continued with Michael "Big Mike" Wilson, who dedicated 45 years of service to Crowder from 1968 until his retirement in 2013. Throughout his career as a Superintendent, Big Mike became a respected member of the Crowder team and left a lasting impact on the people and projects he worked alongside.

Today, that legacy continues through Michael Wilson II, who joined Crowder in 1994 and currently serves as a Superintendent. While coming to a company where his family was already well known could have been intimidating at first, Michael says the support he received made all the difference.

"It was a little overwhelming at first, but I had a lot of great people helping out along the way. I just tried to listen and do things right and 'Be ready when the bell rang,' like Bill Crowder always says. Before I knew it, I was getting my 5-year pin, and looking back now that I have the 25-year Rolex and will be here 30 years soon is almost surreal."

Although many might assume there was pressure to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Michael says that pressure came only from within.

"Early in my career I felt internal pressure to make my family proud. At no time did I ever feel any pressure from Crowder to live up to any expectations. I was thankful that they kept putting great opportunities in front of me and giving me the tools to be successful."

When asked what has made the biggest impression during his time at Crowder, Michael points to the relationships he's built over the years.

"What stands out to me the most over my years at Crowder is the relationships I have made. I still have memories of people that I met when I was a kid going out to jobsites with my dad. Some of the first people I worked with on my first summer job in '93 are still working here today. Now, I look forward to coming to work every day because of the people I get to interact with."

The Wilson family's Crowder story doesn't stop there. Today, Michael's son, Wyatt Wilson, is working full-time as a Project Engineer after spending four summers interning with the company. Benjamin, his younger brother, has also been working during his summer breaks in the shop. And Michael's youngest son, Sam, hopes to begin working summers at Crowder next year. For Michael, seeing Wyatt choose a career with Crowder has been especially meaningful.

"I am very proud that Wyatt wanted to come to work at Crowder full time once he graduated. He quickly realized why his Great Grandfather, Grandfather, and Father spent their whole careers in one place. He has a similar story to mine. He and his two brothers, Ben and Sam, have grown up with Crowder."

From J.R. Wilson working alongside O.P. and W.T. Crowder to Big Mike's 45-year career, Michael's three decades of service, Wyatt's role as a Project Engineer, and Ben's continued involvement through internships and summer work, the Wilson family story reflects the values that have defined Crowder for nearly eight decades.

"I am grateful for the opportunities that Crowder has always provided me and my family over the generations. I can't thank everyone enough who has had a part in my success over the years and look forward to what the future holds."

As we celebrate our history, we are proud to recognize families like the Wilsons whose dedication, hard work, and loyalty continue to shape Crowder's future. Their story is a powerful reminder that at Crowder, we're not just building projects, we're building legacies.