Timeline Stories

Glen Perry is name President & CEO

After 24 years with COP, Ed Bedell retires from his role as President & CEO and serves as Chairman of the Board

Local Billings entrepreneur, L.R. “Lefty” Lyons purchases war surplus property and needs a local contractor to move the properties to Billings to sell as homes and commercial property. He solicits a local contractor Francis Flynn to move the properties for trade in stock in COP.

After construction is completed on the surplus homes and buildings, some of the original stockholders leave. Tom Dolan and Jim Lyons (Lefty’s son), who were instrumental in the successful completion of the projects, decide to stay on and continue building future projects. Lefty also stays on, and would remain the company’s visionary.

During the 1950’s, Jim Lyons is the Senior Executive and Tom Dolan is running the day-to-day operations as COP’s culture is taking shape. COP begins building schools, churches, commercial buildings, new home construction and bridges. Some of the work is focused in Yellowstone National Park.

COP Construction Corporation – Wyoming subsidiary is incorporated

During the 1960’s, COP begins to focus on municipal utility and bridge projects in Montana and Wyoming.

Tom Dolan and Jim Lyons bring on an old classmate from Montana State University, John Hansen, Sr. as a shareholder and Vice President. Around the same time, Jim Lyons leaves COP, making Tom Dolan President of COP Construction Co.

Tom Dolan and two other employees are killed due to carbon monoxide poisoning on a large COP irrigation project.  John Hansen, Sr. fills the key leadership void and, at the same time, buys out Tom’s shares of stock from his widow.  This tragic event changed the way COP would view safety forever. This led to COP’s commitment to safety that remains until today.

COP exceeds $13 million in volume.