Glen Perry joins COP as the Chief Operating Officer.
Dennis McPherson, Vice President of Operations retires after 47 years with the company. Dennis made his start as a laborer working in Yellowstone National Park in 1972 and held various leadership positions during his successful career at COP.
Pictured left to right; Ed Bedell and Dennis McPherson
COP is awarded it’s first design-build project. The Judith River trestle in central Montana is heavily damaged during flooding.
COP completes its largest project to date. The Spanish Fork Provo Reservoir Canal pipeline at $46,880,000.
COP completes it’s second largest project to date. The Springville Reach Pipeline at $36,305,000.
COP continues to build successful infrastructure projects.
Ed Bedell joins COP as Vice President of the Utah region.
Pictured: John Hansen, Sr. and his wife, Jean “Bunny” Hansen.
John Hansen, Jr. is elected president of the Montana Contractor’s Association. Around this same time, John also assumes the role of President of COP Construction Co.
COP completes the largest bridge project in company history at $8.25 million. The East Bridge project in Billings, Montana spans over the Yellowstone River. It is known today as the Dick Johnson Bridge.
COP is one of the most reputable contractors in the state of Montana, completing a variety of successful projects across Montana and Wyoming.
John “Hans” Hansen, Jr. leaves Peiter Kiewit Sons to join his father at COP as Vice President.
During the 1980’s, COP continues to build infrastructure projects across Montana and Wyoming.
Tom Dolan and two other employees are killed due to carbon monoxide poisoning on a large COP irrigation project.
John Hansen, Sr. fills the key leadership void and, at the same time, buys out Tom’s shares of stock from his widow.
This tragic event changed the way COP would view safety forever. This led to COP’s commitment to safety that remains until today.
During the 1960’s, COP begins to focus on municipal utility and bridge projects in Montana and Wyoming.
During the 1950’s, Jim Lyons is the Senior Executive and Tom Dolan is running the day-to-day operations as COP’s culture is taking shape. COP begins building schools, churches, commercial buildings, new home construction and bridges. Some of the work is focused in Yellowstone National Park.
After construction is completed on the surplus homes and buildings, some of the original stockholders leave. Tom Dolan and Jim Lyons (Lefty’s son), who were instrumental in the successful completion of the projects, decide to stay on and continue building future projects. Lefty also stays on, and would remain the company’s visionary.
Local Billings entrepreneur, L.R. “Lefty” Lyons purchases war surplus property and needs a local contractor to move the properties to Billings to sell as homes and commercial property. He solicits a local contractor Francis Flynn to move the properties for trade in stock in COP.
