3P LLC DBA ROCKDALE STONE Pendergraft family turns economic slump into profitable quarry operation that supplies decorative stone to a wide range of customers
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bout 30 years ago, Dana Pendergraft worked for a company pulling stone from a quarry in Haskell County, Texas. After an economic decline, the owner decided to shut it down. Dana, however, believed it was still a viable business proposition and took over the company. “I had one loader and figured I would just do what I could by myself,” Dana said. “I didn’t want employees. Things started to take off a little, and my wife and daughter ended up running equipment and helping out. It turned into a family business.” Dana and his wife, Gayla, now own and operate what became 3P LLC DBA Rockdale Stone. They recently took the titles of president and vice president respectively. Their daughter, Jessica
Pendergraft, is the secretary and does bookkeeping for the Lueders-based company that now has two locations. “I love the fact that we all work together,” said Gayla. “I think that’s been a real key to our success. Along the way, extended family came on board and helped us expand. We have a common goal, and that’s for the business to thrive. Each of us has been willing to do whatever it takes to make it work.” The Pendergrafts no longer run equipment, but they continue to operate the original quarry near Avoca, Texas, which is a 300-acre site with numerous rock ledges of various colors. Dana and Gayla’s nephew, Matt Huggins, is a quarry manager. He has helped expand the product offerings and customer base during the past few years. 3P LLC DBA Rockdale Stone recently added a
third saw at the quarry and now has a staff of about 20. “Our products are limestone slabs generally used for building and landscaping, such as the outside of houses and buildings, fireplaces and mantles, countertops, walkways, and more,” explained Matt. “We custom cut, but customers also come and pick up raw material and do their own things with it. It’s used all over the country, and some has even been shipped overseas and to Mexico.”
Harder building material 3P LLC DBA Rockdale Stone has four basic product categories: sawn top and bottom, rough chop, landscaping and special cuts. In total, it offers over 40 options. “The material here is harder than in some other places where there is a lot of sandstone,” Matt pointed out. “That makes a really good building material for all areas. A good example is in places where the temperatures change a lot during the year. Our limestone is not as affected by cold weather, so it doesn’t crack in those conditions.” A few years ago, the company leased a second pit that has a similar footprint to the original location. Adding a second site allowed the company to expand its offerings and is currently managed by Jessica’s husband, Philip Davis. “This pit has what’s known as the charcoal color, which is actually more blue than black,” noted Philip. “It has become very popular. Right now, we’re pulling four different layers.”
Komatsu meets the challenge (L-R) 3P LLC DBA Rockdale Stone is a true family business that includes President Dana Pendergraft; his wife, Vice President Gayla Pendergraft; their daughter, Secretary Jessica Pendergraft; and her husband, Lueders Quarry Manager Philip Davis. Also pictured is Jessica and Philip’s son, Griffin, who the family hopes one day will also be involved in the company.
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Extracting the raw stone can be a tough task. Getting to the ledges first requires overburden removal that’s typically done with excavators. 3P LLC DBA Rockdale Stone uses
