Luck Companies Celebrates 100 Years

In 1923, Charles Luck Jr. opened a crushed stone operation, Sunnyside Granite Company, in Richmond, Virginia. One hundred years later, Luck Companies is the nation’s largest family-owned and operated producer of crushed stone, sand and gravel.

Today, Luck operates 30 locations across Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia and employs approximately 950 people across its divisions:

• Luck Stone, the nation’s largest family-owned and operated producer of crushed stone, sand and gravel;
• Luck Ecosystems, which transforms raw materials into environmental performance products;
• Luck Real Estate Ventures, which specializes in the development of industrial and commercial land.

Although Luck Companies has experienced plenty of good fortune in its 100 years in business, its success has little to do with luck. Quite frankly, it doesn’t even have to do with rock. According to Charlie Luck IV, CEO of Luck Companies and grandson of the founder, the company focuses on the “how” rather than the “what” behind its operations. “We are in the crushed stone business,” Luck said. “This is the ‘what.’ Our values of leadership, integrity, commitment and creativity are the ‘how.’

“Our business is aggregates, but people are our purpose,” he continued. “As we mark our 100th year in business, our success has been fueled by people who embody tremendous pride, deep caring for each other, world class innovation, and a commitment to our values and beliefs.”

“We’ve learned that the two biggest reasons families do not make it from one generation to the next are lack of trust and communication. For [Richard] and I, communication and trust have been, and will continue to be, critical in leading a successful transition.”—Charlie Luck IV

Luck Stone Expands Presence in North Carolina

The History of Luck

Luck Companies began as Sunnyside Granite Company in Richmond, in 1923. When the company began, production on a good day amounted to about 100 tons of stone—crushed by a mere seven employees with sledgehammers and loaded by hand onto mule-driven carts for transport out of the quarry to various construction projects.

Even in the early days of the company, its people were a priority for the company’s leaders.

“In the early 1900s, my great grandfather Charles S. Luck Sr.’s business, C.S. Luck & Sons, won a project to dig the foundation for the Pontiac Motor Company in Michigan,” Luck said. The Virginia-based company set out for the Midwest, transporting 100 associates to the site by locomotive. When the job was complete, the train’s cook car returned to Virginia, where Charles Luck Jr. served his employees meals from the car every day at Luck Companies’ first quarry, Sunnyside.

“The Sunnyside cook car is one of the earliest images in our company’s archives and has grown to symbolize the caring, people-focused approach to business that’s inspired our organization for 100 years,” Luck said.

This mentality has been evident in each of the company’s three generations of leadership. Charles Luck Jr. was known for saying, “If you take care of your people, they will take care of you.”

“This sentiment has served as the company’s North Star for a century,” Luck said. Charles Luck III, who led the company from 1965-1999, expressed that same belief through the company’s slogan and promise to people: “We care.”

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Charlie Luck IV broadened the scope of that belief under the company’s current mission statement, first announced in 2011: “We will ignite human potential through values-based leadership and positively impact the lives of people around the world.”

In celebration of the company’s 100-year anniversary, Luck Companies launched a “What is your Dream?” campaign where employees were asked to share their dreams: if they could do anything, what would it be? “We will always encourage associates to identify and pursue their passions, whether it’s professionally at the company or outside of work,” Luck said. “We were blown away by the responses and have learned so much about what inspires the incredible people that work at our company.”

“I think these quotes show that what we stand for hasn’t changed over time,” Luck said. “Our company has always been about people—the people who come to work each day to support what we believe in at Luck Companies, and the people who have chosen to partner with us: our customers and communities.”

Charlie Luck IV’s commitment to carry on and expand the legacy of his father’s and grandfather’s commitment to take care of people was cited as a reason for Luck being awarded the 2023 Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award by the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA). The award recognizes individuals who exhibit dedication to family, community and the aggregates industry. Charles S. Luck III, Charlie Luck’s father, received the Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award in 2004.

“[Luck’s] industry expertise and drive to help individuals succeed showcases he is an outstanding representation of the Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award,” said NSSGA President and CEO Michael Johnson.

Luck was also honored with the ROCKPAC Paul Mellott Jr. Award for Political Excellence, which recognizes industry leaders who work on behalf of the aggregates industry and promote the importance of political advocacy.

Culture & Community

According to Luck, the company’s culture has been integral to attracting the talent it needs to run such a large operation. “Our dedication to igniting human potential through values-based leadership really differentiates us, in addition to the personal development and technical training opportunities we provide to all associates throughout their entire career,” Luck said.

“As finding talent becomes more challenging, we rely on the strength of our culture,” Luck said. “The profitability of our business isn’t enough in attracting talent—we need to provide meaningful career paths and opportunities to contribute to the community.”

Luck Companies’ people-first mentality is also evidenced in the way the company supports and engages with the communities in which its 30 facilities operate. “At Luck Companies, we engrain ourselves in the communities where we work and live,” Luck said. “We take great pride in supporting communities and helping our neighbors, and we’ve always operated this way. I can remember the story of how my grandfather, Pop Pop, bought the first ambulance for the local fire department when they needed us. It’s in our DNA to give back.”

The Luck Foundation, founded in 1966, partners with nonprofits to lead work that results in long-term, positive outcomes for its communities.

“We always want to be seen as a supportive force in every community where we conduct business,” Luck said. “As we join new communities, our first step is to learn from and engage with the citizens so that we can work in tandem to achieve shared goals.”

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As part of the company’s 100th anniversary celebration throughout 2023, Luck Companies launched a company-wide Gift of Giving campaign where every employee selects a nonprofit of their choice to receive a $1,000 donation from the Luck Foundation, for a total of $1 million in 2023. “This unique opportunity was a chance for associates to think deeply about their personal values and the causes that are closest to their hearts,” Luck said.

“We’re excited about the future, specifically the hands-on learning opportunity with the innovative technologies that make autonomous hauling possible. The partnership with Caterpillar represents an acceleration of autonomous technology for smaller mining operations, enabling a step change in safety and productivity for our industry.”—Charlie Luck IV

Luck Looks Ahead

Luck Companies is already looking ahead at the company’s next 100 years, in terms of leadership, innovation and expansion, to name just a few.

In the company’s 100 years, there have been only three presidents. Charles Luck Jr. led the company for about 40 years; Charles Luck III led the company for about 30 years; and Charlie Luck IV has led the company for 30 years so far. Luck’s son, Richard, currently serves as the vice president of Luck Stone’s Central South Region and is the fourth-generation family leader to join the company.

“I think the most important factor for a successful transition is to be highly connected to one another and to the business,” Luck said. “Richard is highly committed to and passionate about our people-focused mission. [We’re] doing some great work together to ensure his transition to president in the next few years.”

Luck and his wife, Lisa, made it clear to their children that Luck Companies was big enough for all of them to have a role at the company, if they wanted to. They also made it clear that they would help their children pursue passions outside of the company.

Richard knew he wanted to be a part of the company so much so that he was ready to jump in immediately after graduating from college. However, Luck has a policy in place that family members need to spend three to five years working outside of the company before pursuing their careers with Luck. “Richard is the first to admit that he wasn’t a big fan of that rule at the time, but in hindsight it enabled him to grow and learn in valuable ways,” Luck said.

When his career path led him back to Luck Companies, Richard was put on a rotational series of assignments and his first stop was not in the field, but rather supporting human resources and InnerWill, a nonprofit leadership institute founded by Charlie Luck that works to bring values-based leadership to organizations outside of Luck Companies.

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“My dad took a lot of heat from me and my grandpa—we both wanted me out in the field,” Richard said. “But in hindsight it was the right place to start. When I got to the quarry, I was ready. I knew what was expected and would walk the talk.”

Richard then went on a series of rotations in the plants and other roles, spending nine to 18 months in each role. His first role was at Leesburg, where he was in the foreman training program, working in every aspect of the quarry. He went on to become a plant manager at one of Luck Stone’s quarries, where he led a team of Luck employees for the first time. He then served as a sales manager and interned with a Luck customer before serving as general manager of Luck’s Atlanta-Stephens Plant in Atlanta, as well as joining the Luck Companies’ leadership team.

Charlie Luck said his family is active in the family business community and strives to learn all they can about successful family businesses around the globe. “We’ve learned that the two biggest reasons families do not make it from one generation to the next are lack of trust and communication,” Luck said. For the last 15 or so years, these have been areas in which Luck has devoted significant attention.

“For [Richard] and I, communication and trust have been, and will continue to be, critical in leading a successful transition,” Luck said. “I want my son Richard to be the most successful he can be, so it’s about working with him to understand his biggest leadership and developmental opportunities and nurturing those areas. Through our work together, I’m continuing to listen, share the wisdom I’ve gained over the years, and ensure opportunities for him to lead alongside me and our leadership team. We want to equip him with all the tools he needs to succeed.”

Innovation Ahead—and Behind

Luck Companies is also looking to the future by continuing to innovate and invest in emerging technologies. According to Luck, the company has a long history of innovation. In 1930, its Boscobel quarry became the first crushed stone operation in Virginia to convert from steam to electric power. The company was also an early adopter of computerized ticketing for the sales offices, introducing the technology in 1972. The company was also at the forefront of the safety culture conversation, launching its Value Safety initiative in 2001.

“We have always been driven to innovate and pioneer new technologies that advance our business and our industry, including automating our plants back in 1977,” Luck said. In 2020, the company quickly responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by rapidly enhancing its safety protocols and introducing digital ticketing for customers. It also launched JobSight, a digital platform allowing customers 24/7 accessibility to place orders, manage accounts, track deliveries and more.

“We’re not slowing down,” Luck said. In 2022, Luck Companies announced a partnership with Caterpillar to introduce autonomous haulers, beginning with a pilot at Luck’s Bull Run Plant. Luck said this initiative provides opportunities to develop and cross-train the company’s workforce and will enable Luck Companies to attract more talent to the company and the industry in general.

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“We’re excited about the future, specifically the hands-on learning opportunity with the innovative technologies that make autonomous hauling possible,” Luck said. “The partnership with Caterpillar represents an acceleration of autonomous technology for smaller mining operations, enabling a step change in safety and productivity for our industry.”

Luck said the company also intends to expand its use of data and technology in the decision-making process, improve communication and elevate performance.

“Additionally, we are implementing programs aimed at creating a diverse workforce and culture that prioritizes the mental, physical and financial well-being of our associates and ensures a sense of belonging for all,” Luck said. “The places that focus on the culture and creating connection for people will get the best talent.”

In addition to offering a variety of free classes designed to help improve associates’ mental, physical and financial well-being, the company recently added five Well-Being Days to each associates’ PTO benefit.

“In the next 100 years, we will continue to focus on people because Luck Companies is more than a stone company; we are a people company,” Luck said. “We will continue to prioritize the development of our associates and bring on new team members to share their talents and perspectives with us.”

According to Luck, the company’s growth strategy is also people-focused. The company intends to build out its markets across the Southeast Region from Virginia to Georgia as part of its five-year vision cycle.

“For us, growing our footprint is about spreading the reach and impact of our mission to new associates we welcome, to new customers and vendors we partner with, and to the great new communities we get to be a part of,” Luck said.

To commemorate its centennial, Luck Companies has developed a series of interactive digital experiences to share the celebration with associates, retirees, customers and communities throughout the organization’s Virginia to Georgia footprint at LuckCompanies100.com.

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Cat, Luck Collaborate on Autonomous Mining Solutions

In December 2022, Caterpillar Inc. announced its collaboration with Luck Stone to deploy autonomous solutions at the company’s Bull Run Plant in Chantilly, Virginia. In an effort to accelerate its autonomous solutions beyond mining, the pilot project will implement the Cat MineStar Command for Hauling system on Luck’s fleet of 777G trucks at Bull Run.

“This will allow Caterpillar to gain greater insights on quarry operations in order to tailor the next generation of autonomous solutions specific to quarry and aggregate applications,” reads Caterpillar’s press release announcing the project. “This project supports the acceleration of autonomous technology for operations with fewer mobile assets to allow a step change in safety and productivity, as currently experienced at large mining operations.”

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100 Years of Luck

• 1923: Charles Samuel Luck Sr., owner of C.S. Luck and Sons Construction Company, purchases the Sunnyside Quarry, first mined in the 1890s, and Sunnyside Granite Company, incorporated in February 1907, to supply crushed stone for C.S. Luck and Sons’ construction and road-building needs.
• 1926: Sunnyside Granite Company expands with the purchase of Boscobel Quarry.
• 1930: Boscobel becomes the first crushed stone operation in Virginia to convert from steam to electric power.
• 1933: Sunnyside Granite opens its Charlottesville Plant.
• 1935: Sunnyside Granite opens its Burkeville Plant.
• 1938: Sunnyside Granite opens its Fairfax Plant.
• 1950: Sunnyside Granite opens its Augusta Plant.
• 1955: Sunnyside Granite officially changes its name to Luck Quarries.
• 1957: Luck Quarries prepares its first greenfield, which eventually becomes its Augusta Plant.
• 1965: Luck Quarries purchases its Rockville Plant.
• 1967: The Burroughs punch card machine is introduced at Rockville, the company’s first move to automate the billing process.
• 1971: Luck Quarries launches a comprehensive safety program. The company also purchases its Leesburg Plant.
• 1977: Luck Companies begins automating plants to increase production.
• 1982: Luck Quarries becomes Luck Stone Corporation.
• 1984: Luck Stone purchases its Elkton Quarry, which the company eventually trades with Vulcan Materials for the South Richmond Plant and the Gilmerton Distribution Yard. Luck Stone also purchases its Greene Plant.
• 1985: Luck Stone installs a computerized truck weighing system for the company’s scale offices.
• 1985: The Powhatan Plant opens.
• 1988: Luck Stone purchases the Bealeton greenfield. Luck Stone also expands into North Carolina with the purchase of its Burlington Plant.
• 1990: The company designs and constructs the industry’s first self-service stone loading system. The Louisa Plant starts production.
• 1992: Luck Stone implements one of the industry’s first state-of-the-art computer monitoring systems for crushing operations.
• 1993: Luck Stone purchases its Goose Creek Plant.
• 1996: Luck Stone expands into the sand and gravel market with the purchase of the King William Sand and Gravel Plant. This plant ran until 2005.
• 2000: Luck Stone launches AdvantageAccess, a digital customer portal.
• 2001: The Value Safety initiative was launched to propel Luck associates’ dedication to safety. Luck Stone continues to grow in North Carolina with its Pittsboro Plant.
• 2002: Luck Stone completes the purchase and swap of the Burlington Plant in North Carolina for two Northern Virginia Martin Marietta sites, now its Culpeper and Spotsylvania plants. Luck Stone also acquires its Bull Run Plant.
• 2004: The Caroline Plant opens.
• 2005: Luck Stone opens its Massaponax Plant.
• 2008: Luck Stone purchases/trades its Augusta and Elkton quarries for Vulcan’s South Richmond Quarry and the Gilmerton Yard.
• 2009: Luck Stone opens the Berkley Yard in Norfolk, Virginia.
• 2010: Luck Stone acquires the Toano Yard near Williamsburg, Virginia.
• 2011: Luck Companies is established. The company also introduces iPads and apps to contract haulers.
• 2012: Luck Stone introduces the industry’s first unmanned pit loader.
• 2013: Luck Stone acquires its first Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for plant inspections.
• 2017: Luck Stone opens the Prince Edward Plant, the first greenfield site developed by the company in 10 years.
• 2018: Luck Stone acquires Stephens Industries in Atlanta, Georgia, now known as its Atlanta-Stephens Plant. This marked the largest acquisition in the company’s history. Luck Stone acquires the Rivanna and Kershaw plants, opens Oyster Point Distribution Yard, and acquires a greenfield permit in Crewe, Virginia.
• 2020: Luck responds to the COVID-19 pandemic with the introduction of digital ticketing and enhanced safety protocols. It also launches JobSight, a digital platform allowing customers 24/7 accessibility to place orders, manage accounts, track deliveries and more. The company also acquires a greenfield permit in Sanford, North Carolina.
• 2021: The company acquires a greenfield permit in Enoree, South Carolina. Luck Stone acquires its Mount Airy and Luck Stone Eden plants.
• 2022: Luck Companies partners with Caterpillar to introduce autonomous haulers, beginning with a pilot at its Bull Run plant. The company also acquires a greenfield permit in Fairfield, South Carolina.
• 2023: Luck Companies celebrates 100 years in business.