Bostleman Corp. Founder, Fred Bostleman, Turns 90!

On June 25, 2011, Fred Bostleman, founder of Bostleman Corp., turned 90 years young!

Coming from humble beginnings, Fred graduated from Scott High School in 1939, and in the same year became a civil service employee for the U.S. Army Corps. In 1943, he was drafted into the U.S. Army Corp. and served in World War II as an Aerial Flight Engineer. In 1946, while waiting for discharge, Fred participated in a poker game and by the time it was over, he had won $300. He took his winnings, went home and started his own business as a construction handyman. Fred sought business advice from friends who were accountants, lawyers, etc., and paid for their services by doing construction projects for them. Eventually, Fred’s handyman business became a general contracting firm, the Fred W. Bostleman Company.

Fred and his wife, Kathleen, had three children, Richard, Bonnie, and Mark. In the late 1970’s, after many years of successful construction projects and exciting business ventures, Fred turned control of the company over to his son Richard and it became Bostleman Corp. Now, under the leadership of Bill Bostleman and Jon Harding, Bostleman continues to be a premier construction management firm in Northwest Ohio and throughout the country. Always thanking the Bostleman employees for doing a good job and making him proud, the continued success of Bostleman still amazes Fred after all these years. In fact, in 1996, Fred proudly authored his own book, “Reflections, Life Stories and Observations as the Bostleman Corp. Marks its 50th Anniversary” to share his success story and inspire others to work hard to reach their goals as he did.

Fred remains active in many community organizations. Though retired from Bostleman Corp., he continues to operate his own consulting business while also providing arbitration and mediation services through the American Arbitration Association. Never seeming to slow down, Fred still manages to squeeze in a round of golf now and then, and continues to travel the world as he has always done.

Bostleman celebrated Fred’s landmark birthday at a company luncheon/cookout on June 23rd. Happy 90th Birthday Fred! Keep smiling and one foot in front of the other!