Three Generations, One Ribbon, and a New Front Door in Troy
Family-owned since 1960, Thrush & Son® added a new address in early 2017: an office on Troy’s Public Square. The ribbon cutting was a proud day for three generations of the Thrush family, and a chance for Troy neighbors to walk in, shake hands, and ask for an estimate.
The Troy Tribune and the Troy Daily News both covered the opening. This updated story shares what they reported, what has changed since, and what being family-owned actually means when we’re working on your home.
How a Family-Owned Business Reached Its Third Generation
Tap a generation to see who carried the family-owned business forward, and what each one added.
Wilbur Thrush
Wilbur started a spouting business in 1960. His son Allen tagged along to job sites from the age of three, and by 1965 the sign out front read Thrush & Son.
Gutters, one house at a timeAllen & Michelle Thrush
Allen and Michelle bought the company in 1989 and opened the first showroom in Brookville in 1990. They grew it from roofing and spouting into siding, windows, and remodeling Those are the years the company grew from a trade into a full exterior contractor.
A showroom, a bigger crew, and a broader menuCorey Thrush
Corey joined after college and a stint in professional baseball. He built the company’s web and social presence and helped lead the move into Troy. Today he guides the company’s marketing and its focus on roofing.
Roofing first, and a family name online- 1960Wilbur starts a spouting business in Phillipsburg.
- 1965Thrush Spouting takes the name Thrush & Son.
- 1989Allen and Michelle buy the company.
- 1990The first showroom opens in Brookville.
- 2017The Troy office opens on Public Square.
- TodayOffices in Brookville, Troy, and Lebanon, with roofing at the center.
The full story, with the milestones in between, is in 65 years strong and who we are.
Why a Family-Owned Company Chose Troy
The family spent about a year weighing locations before picking Troy. Troy had the walkable downtown, the community events, and the neighbors they wanted to serve. Here’s how they explained the choice to local reporters.
“We plan on prevailing and we’ll be here for a long, long time.”Allen Thrush, on taking a year to choose Troy. Troy Daily News, 2017
“Being down here we have a lot of walk-ins. They’ll come in and ask for an estimate.”Michelle Thrush, vice president. Troy Daily News, 2017
“There’s no other way I’d want to go through life than working with my family.”Allen Thrush, owner. Troy Daily News, 2017
The Troy Tribune reported that Allen called downtown Troy vibrant and welcoming to new businesses, and that the new office was a full-service location. Allen also built Contractor Rush, his own estimating software, to keep every project on track.
5 Promises Behind Every Family-Owned Project
“Family-owned” can sound like a slogan. Here’s what it looks like on your project.
- 01
The owner signs off
“Every job gets my seal of approval,” Allen told the Troy Daily News. A family-owned company puts a name, not a ticket number, on every project.
- 02
Relationships, not transactions
Michelle described the goal as long-lasting relationships with customers. That’s how a local business earns repeat calls and referrals.
- 03
Respect in your home
Corey stressed professional conduct and respect for every client. In practice, that means clear answers and no pressure.
- 04
Someone to call in year twenty
Family-owned means the same company, and often the same family, answers when you call about a project years later.
- 05
Decisions made locally
No out-of-state headquarters. Choices about crews, materials, and schedules are made here in the Miami Valley.
Comparing contractors? Our checklist for choosing the right company works for any project. And when you want the paperwork behind those promises, read the warranty.
4 Questions to Ask Any Local Contractor
Plenty of companies use the word family. These four questions show you whether it means anything on your job. Ask them of everyone you meet, including us.
Our short answers: the Thrush family owns the company, the family stands behind every estimate we write, and we’ve served this area since 1960. Ask us about the rest in person.
- Who owns the company today?A name you can look up, not a holding company in another state.
- Who signs off on my job?Someone with authority should review the work before you’re asked to pay the balance.
- Who will be at my house?Know whether you’re getting the company’s own crew or a subcontractor, and who manages them.
- How long have you served this area?Years in one community mean old customers you can call and a reputation worth protecting.
Why Third-Generation Family-Owned Companies Are Rare
An often-quoted rule of thumb says about 30% of family businesses make it to the second generation, 13% to the third, and 3% to the fourth. The Oregon State University family business program traces those numbers to a 1980s study of Illinois manufacturers and notes they’re narrow, but the point stands: passing a business down is hard.
For homeowners, that matters more than any slogan. A family-owned company that has reached its third generation has already shown it can survive hard years, stand behind old work, and plan for the next one.
It also means the people answering your call today learned the trade from the people who answered it decades ago. Habits like returning calls, cleaning up the job site, and putting prices in writing get handed down along with the business.
The Family-Owned Company, 2017 vs. Today
A lot has changed since the ribbon cutting. The services narrowed, the offices multiplied, and the way homeowners find us moved almost entirely online. The name on the door hasn’t changed, and neither has who answers for the work.
| At the Troy opening | Today | |
|---|---|---|
| Offices | Brookville showroom, new Troy office on Public Square | Brookville, Troy, and Lebanon |
| Focus | Roofing, siding, windows, remodeling, additions, and pole barns | Roofing first, plus siding, windows, doors, and gutters |
| Volume | About 1,200 to 1,600 projects a year | 31,000+ homeowners served since 1960 |
| Online | 16,000+ Twitter followers, a blog, and video blogs | The Home Improvement Minute, YouTube, and every major platform |
| Recognition | Official home improvement company for the University of Dayton | GAF President’s Club, BBB A+, and Best of Dayton 2024 |
The biggest shift is focus. Today roofing is the heart of the business, backed by our standing as a GAF President’s Club Contractor. For another snapshot of that era, read our KWP interview.
A Family-Owned Neighbor in Downtown Troy
One of the first things the family did in Troy was join the chamber and Troy Main Street. They sponsored a downtown concert and joined the Halloween parade that fall. “That’s what we’re all about,” Allen said. “It’s fun.”
That same spirit shows up across the Miami Valley, from supporting the Dayton Flyers to showing up for neighbors after storms.
Walk-ins became one of the nicest surprises of the Troy office. Neighbors stopped by with a question about a leak or a drafty window, and many of those conversations turned into projects. That’s the kind of relationship a storefront on the square makes possible.
Family-Owned, Award-Backed
Being family-owned is where our reputation starts, not where it ends. See the work in our project gallery, read homeowner reviews, check our BBB profile, and see why homeowners trust in Thrush.
Awards are nice. What we’re proudest of is the number of homeowners who call us back for a second and third project, and the ones who send their kids to us when they buy their first house.
Family-Owned FAQs
How long has Thrush & Son been family-owned?
Since the beginning. Wilbur Thrush started the business in 1960, Allen and Michelle bought it in 1989, and Corey represents the third generation.
When did Thrush & Son open in Troy?
The Troy office opened on Troy’s Public Square in early 2017, as reported by the Troy Tribune and the Troy Daily News.
Where are your offices today?
We have offices in Brookville, Troy, and Lebanon, serving Miami, Montgomery, Greene, and Warren counties.
What does family-owned mean for my project?
The people whose name is on the company are the ones accountable for your project, from the estimate to the final walk-through and years beyond.
What do you install?
Roofing is our main focus. We also install siding, windows, doors, and gutters. See our roofing services.
Why is it called Thrush & Son?
Wilbur Thrush started the business in 1960, and his son Allen worked beside him from childhood. The name became Thrush & Son in 1965, and it still fits three generations later.
Is Thrush & Son locally owned?
Yes. The company is owned by the Thrush family and based in the Miami Valley, with no outside parent company making decisions about your project.
How can I reach the family?
Call 937-833-5136, use our contact page, or request an estimate online.
Anything else on your mind? We have answers.
