Always Something Awesome
When people talk about a family business, it may go back a generation or two, but rarely between and throughout the family too!
Meet Martin Press – a fourth generation DC Metro area HVAC and plumber (not to mention his daughter…generation five!) and our newest national ASA Board member. But I’m getting ahead of myself. The construction industry is part of Martin’s DNA.
Back in the late 1920s, Martin’s great-grandfather, William Magazine, started Standard Construction Co. in Baltimore, providing construction services to the area, and eventually moving to DC. One of his milestone projects was the first phase of the Washington Hospital Center in DC. To this day, the plaque can still be seen highlighting Standard Construction’s work.
His two sons worked in the business, opening Magazine Brothers Construction, in the late 1940s. They built the Twin Towers in Silver Spring, The Old Georgetown Inn, and were general contractors for the Watergate complex. Check out the Subby Award they received from ASA Metro DC in 1972. (Puzzle for extra credit: does anyone recognize who’s presenting the award? Write to communications@asa-hq.com)
Larry Press, Sam’s son in law, started Press Construction in the 1960’s. Both of his sons worked in the family business and eventually started their own businesses: Leigh Press, PCC Construction, providing custom architectural wall solutions (and also an ASA member), and Martin Press, of Press Mechanical Contractors providing HVAC and Plumbing services to the DC/Maryland/Virginia (aka “DMV”) area.
I’ve left out numerous cousins and uncles and other relatives (my apologies), but obviously this is a family that knows construction, knows the community, and excels at service.
We’re honored to welcome Martin to the ASA Board of Directors for 2023-2024. And just FYI – the 60th(!) SUBBY awards are taking place on February 3, in 2024.
