Bob Goebel is the second generation of the Goebel family to run Wichita, Kan.-based Star Lumber. For several decades he was senior VP, working alongside brother Bill Goebel. The two became co-chairmen in 1989, handing the reins to third-generation member Chris Goebel. Bob retired in 1995. Now 83, he still sits on the company’s board, but he’s better known today for his construction projects, including several enormous Adirondack chairs. Here are his comments, as told to Craig Webb.
About Those Chairs A kid from North Dakota came down here with the YMCA and wanted one in front of the local chapter. So I built one for him. Then I built one for auction and a third for a group called Together Wichita; it’s over in a park. Then I built two of them for the Wichita River Festival. They’re 6 feet wide, 8 feet 6 inches tall and 10 feet long, built mostly out of 2x12s.
Earliest Days I was 6 when I first started working at Star. My older brother [Bill] and I were there in the way, mostly. I rode with the truck drivers during World War II, and because we had so many people coming to Wichita to build airplanes we had people in cars and camps. So we opened on Sunday from 9 to 3 so people working at the aircraft factories could get something for their homes to build it.
Letting Go I hated it, but I knew it was the best thing to do. When Chris—Bill’s oldest son—was ready to take over, we were ready to get out of the way. I stayed out of the management and let Chris build his team and do it his way. According to what we just heard this morning [at the board meeting], we just had the best month in the history of the company.
Lumbering Along I’m always building something. I probably stop by Star three, four, five times a week. If I get into the scrap pile and find something, I can keep it. The good stuff I pay for. We built gazebos at Sedgwick County Park. We’ve built three Habitat for Humanity houses for the community. Those kids wore me out in an hour and a half. I’ve got a little table now that I’m making for my personal use.
