Company History
As part of Vecellio & Grogan, Hal Jones Contractor is linked to a legacy spanning almost 90 years. Vecellio & Grogan, founded in 1938 in Beckley, WV, is a fourth-generation, family-owned business recognized as a Top 400 Contractor, with expertise in heavy/highway, mining, and energy services.
The company’s roots trace back to 1900, when Enrico Vecellio started a masonry contracting business in West Virginia, building a reputation for quality and integrity. Enrico expanded into road construction, becoming an early industry leader. His son, Leo Vecellio, earned a civil engineering degree and joined the family business in the 1930s, along with Gene Grogan, who married Leo’s sister, Erma Vecellio Grogan, who managed administrative operations.
Over time, the company grew, expanding into new states and sectors, including coal mining and reclamation in the 1960s. In 1973, Leo Vecellio Jr., a third-generation contractor, joined the firm after studying civil engineering and serving in the U.S. military. With degrees from Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, and project management experience in the U.S. Air Force, Leo Jr. helped expand the company’s reach, notably adding bridge-building and establishing new operations in Florida.
The company’s operations evolved to include excavation, grading, structure work, asphalt manufacturing, paving, and aggregates production, eventually consolidating under Vecellio Group, Inc., while continuing to emphasize safety and environmental stewardship.
