Family roofing company history is more than nostalgia: it tells you who will still answer the phone when a warranty question comes up years after the crew leaves. This album walks through the Thrush & Son® story decade by decade, using only milestones the family has put on the record.
Founded in 1960 by Wilbur Thrush, handed to his son Allen and daughter-in-law Michelle in 1989, now with the third generation in leadership. The lesson from this family roofing company history: a warranty is only as good as the company behind it, a local address matters, and you can check a contractor’s record in about ten minutes with the Ohio Secretary of State and the BBB.
Family Roofing Company History, One Page at a Time
Spin the dial to a decade and the album flips to that page. Dated entries come from the Thrush & Son® About page and anniversary timeline. A decade with no dated milestone gets a family note, not a made-up fact.
The 1960s: one man, one truck
Generation one- 1960Wilbur Allen Thrush starts installing gutters and roofs in Phillipsburg, Ohio, as a one-man operation. His rule: “Every customer will be satisfied.”
- 1962The first employee is hired.
- 1965The family moves to Brookville, and the business takes the Thrush & Son name.
- 1969A red Dodge one-ton becomes the first branded truck on Miami Valley roads.
The 1970s: a family note
Generation oneWe don’t have a dated company milestone from this decade on the public record, so we won’t invent one. What the record does show is continuity: the business Wilbur moved to Brookville in 1965 was still his to hand down when 1989 came around.
That quiet stretch is its own lesson. Most of any family roofing company history is ordinary weeks of steady work.
The 1980s: handing it down
Generation two- 1985Allen Thrush and Michelle, both Brookville High School graduates, marry.
- 1989Allen and Michelle buy the company from Wilbur, and the second generation takes over.
The 1990s: a front door in town
Generation two- 1990The first office and showroom opens on Market Street in Brookville.
- 1991Michelle starts in the front office.
- 1995A warehouse opens at 201 Sycamore Street, and the lineup grows past roofs and gutters into siding, windows, doors and insulation.
The 2000s: a family note
Generation three, in trainingNo dated company milestone from this decade is on the public record, so this page belongs to the family. Corey, Allen and Michelle’s only child, graduated from Brookville High School in 2004 and earned a management degree in 2008.
Meanwhile Allen and Michelle kept running the business they bought in 1989.
The 2010s: the third generation comes home
Generation three- 2011Corey Thrush comes home to the family business after earning his management degree.
- 2013Thrush & Son® sponsors driver Jason Bowles at the Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway.
- 2014The Brookville Area Chamber names the company its Partner of the Year.
- TroyThe Troy office opens, and the Ohio Senate of the 132nd General Assembly commends the grand opening.
Today: still a Brookville company
Three generations- 2024Thrush & Son® is named a Best of Dayton winner.
- 2025A Good Day Dayton feature notes offices in Brookville, Troy and Lebanon and more than 31,000 homeowners served, by the company’s count. A Best of Dayton finalist again.
- 2026A Best of Dayton finalist for a third straight year of recognition, run from headquarters at 115 Jefferson St in Brookville.
What a Family Roofing Company History Teaches Homeowners
A roof, siding or window job comes with promises that outlast the install by decades, and those promises depend on the company still being around to keep them.
A warranty is only as good as who stands behind it
Most exterior jobs carry two promises: a manufacturer warranty on the materials and a workmanship warranty on the install. The Federal Trade Commission advises that your contract spell out the warranties covering both materials and workmanship.
The workmanship side is a promise from the contractor alone. If the company closes, that promise usually closes with it. Manufacturer certification can extend the safety net: Thrush & Son® is a GAF President’s Club Contractor, which lets the company register enhanced system warranties. Our GAF roof warranty guide explains how the tiers work.
A local address is part of the deal
The FTC says a written contract should list the contractor’s name, address, phone and license number where required.
That is the quiet thread running through this family roofing company history: a Market Street showroom, a Sycamore Street warehouse, and today a headquarters at 115 Jefferson St, all in the same small town.
Reputation is a long paper trail
A long family roofing company history leaves a trail you can follow: neighbors who hired them, chamber awards, BBB files, past project photos. A brand-new outfit may be excellent, but you have less to go on.
Older homes make the point twice. If you own one, our historic home renovation guide shows why a contractor’s past work on similar houses matters as much as the bid.
The family roofing company history that matters most is the part you can verify.
The Troy Chapter of the Family Album
This post first told the Troy office expansion chapter of our family roofing company history, and older links to that story now land here. The office’s grand opening drew a commendation from the Ohio Senate of the 132nd General Assembly, and Troy remains one of the company’s offices today alongside Brookville and Lebanon.
For Miami County homeowners, that means a local office for samples, paperwork or a warranty question in person. In any family roofing company history, a new office is a bet on staying put.
How to Check Any Contractor’s Track Record
You don’t have to take a company’s word for its own family roofing company history, including ours. Five tickets, about ten minutes, all public records or plain questions.
Look up the business with the Ohio Secretary of State
The Ohio Secretary of State business search lets you look up a company by name. Read the filing record and compare it with the family roofing company history the salesperson tells you. A “decades in business” claim on a recently formed company deserves a follow-up question.
Read the BBB file and complaint history
The Ohio Attorney General recommends checking with its office and the Better Business Bureau to see whether complaints are on file. Read how complaints were answered. Here is the Thrush & Son® BBB profile as an example.
Ask how long they’ve been in business, and for references
The FTC suggests asking how long a contractor has been in business and requesting the names and contact details of at least three past clients. Call them and ask whether the company came back when needed.
Ask for proof of licenses, insurance and bonding
The Ohio Attorney General notes that state law does not require home improvement contractors to be licensed, but many Ohio cities do. Ask for proof of whatever your city requires, plus insurance.
Get the history in writing
Put every detail in the contract: scope, schedule, price, the company’s address and both warranties. Our guide to picking a contractor walks through the full interview.
- Red flag: a long history claimed out loud that you can’t find in any public record.
- Red flag: no physical address on the estimate or the contract.
- Red flag: a workmanship warranty that isn’t written down anywhere.
The Takeaway Worth Sharing
A long family roofing company history is only useful if you can check it. Look up the filing, read the complaints, call the references, and get every warranty in writing.
Send this to the neighbor collecting estimates this fall.
Want to Meet the Family? Stop by Brookville
Thrush & Son®: family-owned exterior pros since 1960.
If you’re in the Miami Valley and want the full family roofing company history, read the Thrush & Son® 65 Years Strong feature, then book an estimate for your roof, siding, windows or doors.
➡️ Schedule in Dayton➡️ View All ServicesCall (937) 833-5136 · 115 Jefferson St, Brookville, OH 45309
- GAF President’s Club Contractor
- Best of Dayton 2024 Winner · 2025 and 2026 Finalist
- BBB Accredited A+
Further Reading
Official sources: the Ohio Secretary of State, the Ohio Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau.
Family Roofing Company History FAQ
When was Thrush & Son founded, and by whom?
Wilbur Allen Thrush started the business in 1960 in Phillipsburg, Ohio. The family moved to Brookville in 1965, and his son Allen and daughter-in-law Michelle bought the company in 1989.
Why does a family roofing company history matter to homeowners?
Workmanship warranties are promises from the contractor itself. A company with deep local roots and a long record is more likely to be around to honor them years later.
How can I check how long a contractor has been in business in Ohio?
Search the company name on the Ohio Secretary of State business search and read its filing record. Then ask the contractor directly and compare the answers.
Are home improvement contractors licensed by the State of Ohio?
According to the Ohio Attorney General, state law does not require it, but many Ohio cities do. Ask for proof of licenses, insurance and bonding.
Where are the Thrush & Son offices?
Headquarters is at 115 Jefferson St in Brookville, Ohio, with offices in Troy and Lebanon. Call (937) 833-5136 to schedule an estimate.
Written by Corey Thrush, Vice President and third generation of Thrush & Son®.
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