Charles W. Ireland, Vulcan Materials Co.

The company that eventually became Vulcan Materials Co. traces its roots back to 1910, but Vulcan’s rise into mega-producer territory is largely credited to Charles W. Ireland, a member of the third generation of Irelands involved in the company. By 1951, Ireland developed a plan to capitalize on increased automobile ownership that subsequently led to an increased demand for crushed stone. The demand increased further after 1954, when a commitment was made to build a $50 billion interstate highway system across the country. In 1956 and 1957, Ireland directed the company’s transition to a public corporation.