Remembering Marty Ozinga III

Ozinga

Marty Ozinga III, chairman of the board at the construction materials company bearing his family name, died April 26. He was 71 years old.

According to the company, Ozinga began working at age 15 as a $1-per-hour laborer in Ozinga’s first yard in Evergreen Park, Illinois. By age 18, he was driving a ready-mixed concrete truck while earning a degree in psychology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Ozinga, at age 23, became general manager at the company in 1973. In 1985, he succeeded his father as president of the company.

“It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the passing of our dad, Marty Ozinga III,” says Marty Ozinga IV, Ozinga CEO. “He passed away suddenly [April 26] at his home. Dad was loved by many, including his family, his coworkers, customers and friends in the community. Please keep the Ozinga family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Ozinga, along with two cousins, led the company through a period of tremendous growth – including an expansion into the downtown Chicago market where the company supplied concrete for projects such as the construction of the new Comiskey Park (now Guaranteed Rate Field), the renovation of Soldier Field and the production of more than 250,000 cu. yd. of concrete for the Dan Ryan Expressway.

Through acquisitions, Ozinga expanded the company to much of Chicagoland and northwest Indiana.

In 2012, Ozinga handed over operations of the family business to his six sons and their cousin who represent the fourth generation of Ozinga ownership. The company currently has more than 2,000 employees, primarily in operations in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Florida.