Print edition: 
During its first 50 years in business, Ziegler Electric Service has helped with projects as varied as the Rubbermaid production facility in Winfield and the Butler County Community College dorms.
Ziegler Electric, a family-owned and -operated business, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.
"We are very thankful for our loyal customers, who are wonderful, and without them we wouldn't have a job," owner Don Ziegler said.
Ziegler said he founded the business based on three goals: to provide the best possible electrical contracting services to customers, to provide employees with a great work environment where they can reach their goals and share in the rewards of building a successful company, and to bring honor to God in everything they do.
The business's main goal is to provide proper electrical installations and contracting services to its customers.
Ziegler Electric is truly a family-based business, as Don gained his love for the work from his father.
"My father owned an electrical contracting business in Salina until the early 1940s before moving to Wichita to work as an electrician," Ziegler said. "I also had two brothers who were electricians in Wichita, so I grew up around the electrical business."
After Ziegler started his own electric company on April 1, 1960, his father joined the business as well, and worked with Ziegler until his death in 1964.
The tradition lives on for the Ziegler family as Don's son, D.W. Ziegler, works there as well.
"He currently manages the day-to-day operations of the business, and I continue to help with some of the estimating," Don Ziegler said.
With the economic recession, Ziegler said the business has taken a hit, and it has been a challenge.
"Most of the current projects in the Wichita area are public works and there is a lot of competition for every project, thus making the margins very tight," he said. "Businesses seem to be under attack from our current federal administration, and until they began to realize that the federal government can't spend us out of this recession, I doubt things are going to get much better."
Although business isn't as booming as it used to be, Ziegler said he hasn't lost his faith in the business.
"We give all of the credit for the success of our business to God, who we believe has blessed us at every turn," he said. "We also believe our employees are what help to make us a successful electrical contracting company."
