Ralph and Maxine Wortham retire after 58 years

WORLAND – After 58 years in excavation and construction the owners of Wortham Construction have retired selling their business and equipment to McClellan and Macqueen Inc. in the first part of February this year.

"We appreciate all the customers and friends that we've had through these years. We know that the new owners will carry on the good work," Ralph Wortham said. "McClellan and Macqueen have been in business since 1947 and they can be reached at 347-2332," he added.

After getting out of the service Ralph worked for another construction company until the company quit the business. Rather than work for another company Ralph and Maxine decided to go out on their own starting Wortham Construction on May 17, 1958. "We started in the lot where Arby's is now, with just a dog house and no money. We worked day and night, sometimes the girls and I would hold flashlights for Ralph so that he could do repairs or change the boom on the excavator in the evenings," Maxine Wortham said.

The business slowly grew until they were able to hire their first operator, Roy Snyder and their second employee was Richard Dallas. The Wortham's employees were very important to the couple and the company. "One slow year, we didn't want to let any of the men go, we found work in Cody on South Fork. We worked there every winter for 14 years," Maxine Wortham said. "We also built the trailhead at West Ten Sleep Lake and 11 miles of Forest Service road near Burgess Junction," Ralph added.

Wortham Construction did a lot of different projects in Worland as well. "We had a part in building the schools, the streets, everything, a little bit of everything," they said.

As the business grew Ralph and Maxine bought the property that now houses J.V. Lumber and worked side by side for many years, sharing a little tiny office until 1983 when Ralph built Maxine her own office. "Maxine took care of the business for over 30 years," Ralph Wortham said. "I loved every bit of it and wouldn't change it in any way," Maxine Wortham replied. "Sometimes we had a hard time knowing who was the leader, but he always won out," she added.

After selling the building where J.V. Lumber sits, the company moved just across the fence. "We had a feeling that we wanted to sell at that time but we fixed that building up and decided to stay there, until McClellan and Macqueen offered to buy the company," Ralph Wortham said.

The couple is looking forward to their retirement with each other and family. They have two daughters, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with a fourth on the way. "We are looking forward to enjoying each other and spending time with our family," Maxine Wortham said. "We have a small cabin that should be finished this week, outside of town that we are looking forward to spending time at. It will be our getaway spot," Ralph Wortham added.

Ralph and Maxine met in high school in Worland. "We started going steady and have been together ever since, 63 years. It's been a beautiful life, we live in God's country, it's a beautiful place to be," Maxine Wortham stated.