Company History
Ralph R. Reeder moved to Indianapolis in 1897 from Jennings County and began working tin in an old barn on Michigan Street. His business grew considerably in just two years, so he relocated to 16th and Alabama where he specialized in tin, sheet iron, slate and furnace work.
Ralph’s oldest son, Roland, joined the business shortly after serving the U.S. Navy in World War I as a coppersmith. They renamed Ralph R. Reeder to R. R.. Reeder & Son. A third name change came when Ralph’s second son, Verne, became involved. They incorporated Ralph R. Reeder & Sons in 1932 with Roland as president, Verne as vice president and Ralph as secretary and treasurer.
By 1939 Ralph R. Reeder & Sons, Inc. maintained itself as the largest roofing and sheet metal company in Indiana, employing 125 workers and completing nearly 1,000 jobs annually. These included roofs for Shortridge High School, James Allison Estate (now part of Marian College) and the World War Memorial.
The company flourished during World War II, continuing its roofing jobs, manufacturing sheet metal products and supplying wholesale and retail roofing and construction materials.
After Ralph Reeder and his two sons died within 15 months of one another in 1956 and ‘57, Orman McKinley, founder of an architectural metal fabrication firm, purchased the company. McKinley passed the baton in 1981 to James “Sully” Sullivan, who first came aboard in the early ‘50s as a roofer’s helper.
Sully’s work ethic earned him several promotions before becoming president and CEO. He drove semi-trucks, became warehouse manager and also roofing superintendent. As Reeder Roofing reached its centennial, Sully began slowing down and soon brought Tony Reddington in to serve as president. A few years later, Reddington bought the company and serves as the current CEO. Like the original owner, Reddington also has two sons working among his team of employees.
After more than a century, Reeder Roofing still holds the vision of its founder by bringing fairness and satisfaction to its customers.
