Crossing continents, making history
McGuire and Hester has played an integral role in the construction of many of Northern California’s most recognized landmarks and infrastructure projects. Our storied past follows a timeline that crosses more than eight decades.
Coming to America
Michael J. McGuire emigrated from Ireland to California in the 1890s. In 1926, he started his own construction business and began installing sewers for new and existing homes around Oakland.
Forging a partnership
In 1931, Michael asked Mike Hester, also an Irish immigrant, to be his business partner. Using their 1921 Buick touring car as a mobile tool shed, they worked throughout the Bay Area on projects that included the Alameda County Courthouse in Downtown Oakland. In 1935, they finally bought their first pickup truck.
Growing the company
During World War II, the two partners took on major projects, laying all the underground utilities at the Oakland Army Base and Naval Supply Depot, and installing a section of the Hetch Hetchy water system for the City of San Francisco. The company was incorporated under the name McGuire and Hester in 1947. A year later, Michael J. McGuire passed away and Mike Hester purchased his late partner’s remaining interest in the firm.
Welcoming a new generation
Mike Hester’s sons, Joseph and Robert, joined the company in 1957 and 1958 respectively. By the 1970s, operations expanded to include underground construction, grading and paving, concrete and mechanical work. Major projects of this era included a prototype for the California Aqueduct Canal, the beautification of San Francisco’s Market Street, the Powell Street Cable Car and Turntable, and the Napa Downtown Mall and Clock Tower.
Looking to the future
In the 1990’s a third generation took on the daily operations of the Company when Michael R. Hester succeeded Joseph M. Hester as President and Robert C. Doud was appointed Executive Vice President. Under their leadership the company added landscaping, architectural concrete and aggregate divisions and expanded operations throughout California, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. In 2003 McGuire and Hester made the transition from a family owned business to a 100% employee owned (ESOP) company to provide its employees the opportunity to benefit from the company’s continued growth and success they work so hard to help create. McGuire and Hester has built and maintained its reputation as a service and client-oriented company meeting the changing and growing needs of the expanding market. The emphasis on quality and integrity, service to clients and concern for each individual reamains our primary focus as McGuire and Hester and its dedicated employees, look forward to the future.
