Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD – Members of the Fort Fairfield community voted, and awarded McGillan, Inc. as the 2006 Business of the Year.
The award was presented last Friday night at the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner, which was held at Mike & Maude’s Restaurant.
“We put ballots throughout the stores in town, and the people who live in our community chose our Business of the Year,” said Shawn Murchison, executive director of the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce. “I think that’s the best way to do it, and I think that says a lot about how our community feels about tonight’s recipients.”
In presenting the award, Murchison said McGillan, Inc. “has a long and successful history in Fort Fairfield.”
“McGillan, Inc. is owned and operated by Fred McGillan Jr., better known as JR, and his wife, Janet,” said Murchison. “The company employs many full-time people, and during the height of construction season, an even greater workforce. JR and Janet are hardworking, community-oriented citizens and that is certainly reflected in their company and their manner of conducting business.”
The company’s workload includes residential site work, building projects, road construction, landscaping, environmental cleanup and more.
JR grew up working for his father in the construction business, the Fred McGillan Co. Fred Sr. learned his craft from his father, as well.
“JR joined his father and worked summers until he graduated from college,” said Murchison, “and Fred Sr. told JR, ‘If you still want to do this kind of work when you graduate from school, I’ll help you get started.”
After JR McGillan earned an engineering degree from the University of Maine at Orono in 1987, he decided he did want to come home and work alongside his father. JR quickly got his feet wet when he started doing site work for a housing project in Fort Fairfield in the spring of 1987. In 1988, they were awarded a $230,000 sewer job in Fort Fairfield, as well.
In 1990, JR and Janet slowly built McGillan, Inc. and increased the company’s bonding capacity. A significant job completed by McGillan, Inc. was the $1.5 million Wal-Mart store in Presque Isle where they did all the site and utility work on the 95,000-square-foot complex.
Other memorable jobs overseen by the Riverside Avenue company include the Wal-Mart expansion to a Supercenter, two large landfill projects (one in Houlton and one in Fort Fairfield), as well as construction projects at The Aroostook Medical Center.
Murchison said McGillan, Inc. is known for its quality work.
“JR’s father would tell him, ‘If you do a job, you go the extra mile and you do it right the first time … you work hard, seven days a week if need be,” said Murchison.
McGillan, Inc. has been very instrumental in a number of community projects.
“JR serves on many boards and committees, and he and Janet volunteer their time to help their community refurbish itself and to grow,” Murchison said. “They have put their hearts and souls into projects like the Maine Potato Blossom Festival, the County Bluegrass Festival, our community center, the community bandstand, and the community swimming pool just to name a few.
“Fort Fairfield is certainly blessed to be the home of McGillan, Inc. and even more blessed to be the home of JR and Janet,” he said.
In accepting the award, JR thanked his father, who is currently in Florida, his crew, and his wife.
“This is as much for him as it is for me,” said McGillan. “Most of our crew is here, and their dedication is of the utmost. We have seven months to do our work, and they go the extra mile.
“Janet, I’m glad I met you, and thank you for being there,” he said.
In congratulating McGillan, Inc., Town Manager Dan Foster said JR has been “a great supporter of this community and is widely respected for his fair mindedness and good sense approach in dealing with many issues.”
“I can tell you that no matter how busy he is, JR is always willing to help. I’ve seen it with the Snowmobile Club, the Fish & Game Club, the Lion’s Club, the K of C Club, and sometimes he would even help out the town manager,” said Foster.
“JR and Janet have worked very hard at building a very successful, credible business in Aroostook County, and they’ve done it while raising three wonderful children,” he said. “They have consistently assumed leadership roles and participated in activities in the school and the community. JR and Janet are truly an asset to the town of Fort Fairfield and are very worthy recipients of this honor.”
