History

John L. Wright, the founder of Wright Tree Service, got a taste of tree trimming when he got a job with National Tree Company in 1928. When the company went out of business in 1930 due to the depression, John took a part-time job as a mail carrier at 60 cents an hour and did tree work in his spare time. When the post office decided to cut his hours to four per day, John decided to pack his suitcases, loaded a few tools worth about $20.00 into his secondhand car and, accompanied by his wife Harriet, took off for Cedar Rapids. And so began Wright Tree Service in 1933.

Although total sales for the first year were only $600.00, John and Harriet managed to eat most of the time. Work shut down altogether when winter arrived and the couple spent the time in Des Moines, Iowa visiting relatives. In the spring of 1934, John decided to stay in Des Moines and the home office of Wright Tree Service has been here ever since.

The early years were extremely difficult times but work picked up in the spring of 1936 to the point where John purchased an ad in the phone book for the first time. John supplemented his income as a railway mail clerk because now he and Harriet had a family to support.

The business turned the corner in 1938 to the extent that John was able to quit his part-time job.

1940 was a significant year. Wright Tree Service received its first line-clearing job from a utility, Iowa Power and Light Company – now named MidAmerican Energy and a still a customer today. World War II decimated the work force so 1945 was a welcome year with rumblings that the war might soon be over. By 1947 business had grown to the point that districts were formed. The company also had purchased its first chain saws and, although bulky and heavy, they were a tremendous improvement over the cross-cut.

The company continued to grow as its business expanded into neighboring states. With the death of John in 1982, his son John R. Wright took over the reins as President/CEO. With “John R.” at the helm, Wright Tree Service swelled its coverage area to eighteen states, from Colorado to Indiana and from Minnesota to Texas.

In the fall of 2001, John appointed Scott Packard President and Chief Operating Officer while retaining the title of Chairman and CEO. In August of 2002, John approved an Employee Stock Ownership Plan to enable “the employees to become a financial participant in the success of Wright Tree Service and to help grow our company both in profitability and in efficiency of operations and customer service.”

Upon John’s untimely death at age 59 in October, 2002, Scott Packard became President and CEO. Under Scott’s leadership, Wright Tree Service has expanded its service area even further. It now covers Kentucky, Montana, Idaho and Utah.

Sincerely, Scott D. Packard President/CEO