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At the outset of World War II, the Company played an
active part in the war effort by installing many miles of conduit
and direct-buried cable under the direction of the Signal Corps to
serve our coastal defense systems. | |
This was the period following the First World War, an era
of tremendous growth and expansion. It became obvious to Mr. Irish
that many future power and communication installations would have to
go underground as poles were becoming overburdened with overhead
lines necessary to keep up with the burgeoning growth. In addition,
newer areas demanded the clean, uncluttered look that underground
services offered for telephone and power.
The yellow and black "Irish" barricade was seen
everywhere as an integral part of the growing communities; along
railroad embankments where signal lines were installed, on downtown
streets where deep concrete vaults and multi-tiered conduit systems
replaced the overlade poles and in new subdivisions where residents
would be guaranteed a view unobstructed by overhead
lines.
Following the conclusion
of World War II, and the death of Edwin Irish in 1946, the Company
was inherited by Mr. Irish's children, Ethel and Bill. Shortly thereafter, Bill's good friend, Jack Warde, acquired Ethel's interest in the company and became Bill's "silent" partner. Under the leadership of Bill Irish, the
Company played a role in meeting the challenges of a new
post-war era of expansion. While the need for utility services
increased and the Company continued to be active in this field, a
heavy division was also created to assist in the installation of
flood control and major water transmission pipeline projects which
made possible the growth and development of areas outside the Los
Angeles basin. Throughout the 1950's a great number of significant
projects were successfully completed for the Corps of Engineers, the
Los Angeles County Flood Control District, U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, Santiago Aqueduct Commission, San Diego Water Authority
and such local districts as Las Virquenes and Callequas.
In 1981, Bill Irish retired and sold his interest in the Company to Jack Warde and his sons. A few years later, Jack's son, Greg Warde, joined the Company as its Chairman. With the guidance of Pat Furnare (the Company's capable C.E.O. and mentor to many key employees), Greg assumed day-to-day leadership of the Company in 1988. With the explosive population growth in Los
Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside and San Diego Counties, and the
proliferation of subdivisions and shopping centers, the Company
found it advantageous to specialize in the installation of
underground systems for power and communication facilities. The advent of Cable TV has been a perfect fit into the
Company's construction activities in the communications
field.