BY QUINTON ATWATER

PHOTOS BY TRUNETTA ATWATER

FEATURED IN VOL 7, ISSUE 2: Legacy

Life will map the legacy we will leave and before we know it, we’ll be looking back on how the decisions we’ve made laid the foundation for future generations. In this interview between father and son, Quinton Atwater interviews his father Ronald Atwater, discussing how concrete finishing became the birthright to the Atwater legacy of entrepreneurship.

What were your plans after high school?

I graduated from East High School in 1966 and did well while I was there. Afterwards I started at Lane College. The initial plan was to graduate and attend medical school to become a doctor. I pursued the college path for about three years until 1970, when I was drafted to serve our country in the Vietnam War for the United States Army.

Was it scary being drafted into the Army?

I was twenty-one years old at the time. Nah, It wasn’t scary at all. I was drafted to stay for two years, but I volunteered to stay for three. When you signed up for three years you could take courses and tests to help qualify for jobs so that you didn't have to fight on the front line.

How did the Army change your college plans?

I was stationed in Germany for a few years. It really broadened my horizons and helped me see the world in a bigger picture. But after two years over there, I was ready to come home. I signed up for a job that I knew they weren’t doing in Vietnam in order to get far away from there. So, I made eyeglasses.

What was your job/rank in the Army?

Towards the end I was in the chemical unit warfare area. We would assess areas and predict which ones were contaminated and report to our commanders to determine the next plan of action. I retired as a Sergeant 1st Class/E7.

How did serving prepare you for entrepreneurship?

When I came home, I re-enrolled at Lane college and finished my degree in biology. I was used to having money in my pocket, so going to work immediately was important. I wasn’t ready for four more years of school.

How did you stay focused on your goals after returning from the Army?

Life kicked in, and I had family to take care of. I grew up finishing concrete with my father, and I found employment with Tennessee Valley Authority. I was able to hone my skills while I was there. When that assignment was over, I returned home and started working for local finishers in the area. My father taught me a skill that would put money in my pocket. After a short period of time, I found that I cared more about the jobs I was leading than the people I was working for. I had the skills, the talent, and the drive to do this work for myself. However, I still had a family to provide for. It was difficult for me because when I began to contemplate starting my own concrete contracting company, the Jackson Fire Department called offering me a job. It just turned out that the JFD schedule offered enough time off that I would still be able to start my own concrete contracting company, Atwater Concrete Works.

How was life as a businessman?

I started contracting my own work. I was always shooting for perfection. I did good honest business. As a result, the business grew. I never had to advertise. As my career as a firefighter progressed, so did my business. I took on enough work that I was able to partner with family members (who were also concrete finishers) to get work completed while I was working at the fire department. Over the years, I saw business grow. I was able to obtain steady contractors. I saw my business grow into something sustainable, while keeping a job that provided my family with a sense of security and provided a retirement for my later years.

What advice would you give other entrepreneurs?

When giving advice to entrepreneurs, I always caution them to weigh the risk. I was able to build a lucrative business, while maintaining a full time job. I have continued to finish concrete well into my retirement, and I am thankful for the skills I learned as a child from my father, James C. Atwater, who was also a concrete finisher. He would always tell me, “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right and worth doing good every time.” I applied that to everything.

How do you feel seeing your children and grandchildren growing to find their way in their careers and entrepreneurship?

When the kids were going to JCM, I would tell them all the time, “I don’t want you to do this for a living, but you definitely need to know how to do it.” I wanted them to have a skill to fall back on.

Four generations of concrete finishing and entrepreneurship is pretty cool. What makes you the most proud about the thought of leaving such a good legacy?

I’m very proud because having a skill to fall back on was the legacy I was trying to leave, ‘cause that’s what my father done. It’s one of those things that I know they will never forget how to do.

You retired from the Jackson Fire Department as Battalion Chief, correct?

Yes.

How long did you work for JFD?

Twenty-four years ago and ten months to be exact.

What are you doing in retirement?

Concrete. Concrete changed my life. I love it. I just got finished with a job a little while ago.

One more thing: perseverance is what paid off for me.

QUINTON ATWATER, 3rd Generation Concrete finisher at Atwater Concrete Works, is a son, husband, father, and manufacturing worker. He enjoys the simplicity of being creative with concrete.

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