In 1961, 3rd generation Jack L Bybee started working for the company. Today he has 56 years under his belt, of which 36 years are as President. In 1961/1962, a new building was built to house the Machine Shop Dept. and Steel Fabrication Dept. A grand opening was held in 1962 to celebrate the new building. In 1963, a Specialty Dept. was started, offering Republic Steel Doors and Frames, along with finish hardware products. This enabled the company to bid and supply misc. steel fabrication from the Structural Dept. and doors, frames, and hardware from the Specialty Dept. in the Topeka area, and surrounding communities from the Nebraska border to Emporia, and Salina to Kansas City.
By the early 1970s another 4000 sq/ft. machine shop space was added. This allowed for larger lathes and milling machines to be purchased.
In 1979, the company expanded across Jackson St by purchasing the old McPherson/Carlson lumber yard, demolishing and razing it, then building back with a 6500 sq/ft. building equipped with a large shear and saws, a steel yard, and a crane that extended over the street to enable off-loading incoming trucks. Today the company not only stocks Hot/Cold Rolled products, but also special alloys including aluminum and stainless steel products.
