Vol. 16, No. 8 - A Publication For Faculty, Staff and Friends of Wichita State University - December 2, 1999 

[Inside]

By Amy Geiszler-Jones

After a nine-year hiatus, WSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship has revived its Business Heritage series with the publication of its 13th book, "Building Wichita: The History of Star Lumber and Supply Co. 1939-1999."

"It dawned us on us that we’re 60 years old, and some of the stories are starting to fade," said Chris Goebel, president of the company that is in its third generation of family ownership.

So when Goebel approached center director Don Hackett, with whom he’d consulted previously, about how they could preserve their history, it seemed like an ideal time for the Center for Entrepreneurship to restart its Business Heritage series.

The series, which recognizes local and regional entrepreneurs, began in 1980. Over the next 10 years it featured 12 books, telling the stories of Fourth National Bank and Trust, the Hesston Corp. and the Chandler banking family, among others.

Now that the series has been revived, the center would like to continue adding to it with yearly releases.

"I view the capturing of successful entrepreneurial and family business experiences as a natural responsibility of the Center for Entrepreneurship," said Hackett.

Star Lumber is also one of the charter members of the center’s Kansas Family Business Forum, which helps family businesses transition through generations.

The 135-page hardcover book was written by Scott Dalrymple, Beech Professor of Business Administration and chair of the business department at Southwestern College in Winfield.

"Wichita has grown significantly over the past 60 years, and Star has supplied the raw material for much of that growth," Dalrymple said.

Goebel said the book doesn’t focus as much on where the company is presently, but on its beginnings, from when George and Earl Goebel set up shop on the corner of West Street and Maple. The company grew as Wichita did and now has more than 500 employees and more than $85 million in revenue.

The book will be released during an invitation-only luncheon Dec. 9 at the Hyatt Regency.

Copies of the book will be available for $14.95 from the center.

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