Chamber, GHDC honor Landstrom’s Photo Loft, Bush Fullerton at annual meeting
Posted
Roger Larsen of the Plainsman
HURON — A long-time downtown Huron business and an individual who epitomizes what it means to volunteer one’s time were this year’s award recipients at Tuesday evening’s joint annual meeting of the Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau and Greater Huron Development Corporation.
Landstrom’s Photo Loft was presented with the Family Business of the Year Award and Bush Fullerton was the recipient of the Distinguished Civic Service Award.
The guest speaker was actor and motivational speaker Mark Lindquist of Fargo, N.D.
Owned and operated by Robert and Jane Landstrom, Landstrom’s Photo Loft is a family business that dates to the mid-1970s when it was started by Robert “Silly Bob” and his late father, Tom Landstrom.
The Loft is located on the second floor of the building that houses Potter’s Shoe Store, which is owned by Bob’s mother, Pat.
After graduating from college, Bob returned home with his wife, Jane, to work at the Photo Loft, the same way they conduct business today.
Bob captures and edits the images and Jane works with the customers and keeps things running smoothly.
Landstrom’s Photo Loft has a tradition not only of giving back to the community through various fundraisers and donations, but also of being a constant presence, whether it’s taking photos at local sports games or taking senior photos around town.
Landstrom’s Photo Loft was nominated for the Family Business of the Year Award for being “very deserving of this award as they continue to be a successful family business in our community.”
Bush Fullerton, a native of Frankfort, Ind., decided he wanted to go far away to college and, after researching Barron’s Book of College and visiting the campus, chose the University of South Dakota at Vermillion.
He graduated in 1977 with a degree in business administration, and landed his first job as a management trainee in International Harvester Company’s regional office in Minneapolis.
After nine months, he was assigned to the Jamestown, N.D., office as a territory manager, a position he held for the next four years.
In November 1981, he and Susan Landstrom, whom he had met at USD, married in her hometown of Huron. The spring of 1982 found them moving to Frankfort where he joined and eventually managed Fullerton Equipment, the family business that was an International Harvester and then Case-IH dealership.
Bush worked alongside his dad, Bill, until 1994, when Bill’s health began declining. They decided to sell everything so Bill could retire and Bush and Susan could start fresh in Huron.
Bush began working at Huron Equipment Company, also a Case-IH dealership, as a minority owner and general manager. He held that position for seven years.
Then in 2001, as a member of the Huron Regional Medical Center Foundation Board, he decided to resign from the board and announced he was applying to be the next full-time foundation director, who would help the hospital with its future endowment needs and expansion projects.
In 2004, Bush left the foundation and went to work for the Rink family at Overbuilt Inc. as business manager. The business was flourishing, delivering 606 car crushers and 50 baler loggers, leading the industry.
After some years of economic decline in the metal recycling/manufacturing industry, Overbuilt suspended operations in 2016.
However, it wasn’t long before the industry began showing signs of recovery and, along with Scott Rink and seven other instrumental fellow employees willing to stick it out, the company was reborn.
Investors from Texas purchased the assets and during the last 18 months OVB Holdings, doing business as Overbuilt, has grown to 40 employees, has sold 46 new car crushers and two new balers. Bush remains the business manager.
Since arriving in Huron more than 20 years ago, Bush Fullerton has been an active member of the community, serving on many boards and committees.
They include the Chamber Ag Committee, Huron Country Club board, as president of the Huron Chamber board and Kiwanis Club, as a member of the Huron Wellness Center Steering Committee and as vice president and president of the Nordby Center board.
Other volunteer efforts have included the Beadle County Republican Party, the South Dakota BBQ Championships, Wheatgrass development committee, Huron youth basketball coach and supporter, Junior Achievement board and the fundraising committee for the Nordby Exhibit Hall.
“Bush has always been a big supporter of Huron,” his nominator said. “He is proud to call Huron home and states it’s terrific to have two home towns.”
ANGELINA DELLA ROCCO/PLAINSMAN Bush Fullerton, left, who received the Distinguished Civic Service Award during the Chamber and GHDC annual meeting Tuesday, is shown with Robert and Jane Landstrom, owners of Landstrom’s Photo Loft, who received the Family Business of the Year Award.
