Obituary: J. Ron Stacey

J. Ron Stacey 1932 ~ 2006 Our Giant Gentleman and Master Builder, Jack Ronald Stacey, moved on to another part of life's journey on Sunday, December 17, 2006. Ron was born on May 20, 1932 to Jack and Laverna Stacey in Sacramento, California, the first of three children. Frog, as he was known by his boyhood friends, enjoyed his youth and was respectful of the knowledge he gained and comradery he treasured while earning the rank of Eagle Scout. These friendships lasted a lifetime. Jack graduated from Weber High School in 1950. He then served his country in the U.S. Navy being honorably released in 1954. His heart of gold was evident when as a young seaman he would visit children at an orphanage during his personal time off the ship. Jack went on to attend Weber State College on a scholarship, graduating in 1956. He received his engineering degree from the University of Utah in 1958. J. Ron first learned the building trades from working with his father. He helped fund his education by working his way through college as an architectural draftsman and steel detailer. These experiences instilled in him a firm knowledge of understanding blueprints and details related to construction. These years would help propel his career as a successful building contractor. After graduating from the U of U, Ron took a job working for Shell Oil in California as an engineer. He returned to Utah in 1959 and worked for Marquardt and Hercules. His enthusiastic passion for building and working with his hands soon steered his life back towards his love of construction, hence the beginning of J. Ron Stacey Engineering and Construction Company. This work initially involved building homes, duplexes and apartments and then progressed to commercial and industrial projects. He later formed Stacey Properties, a property management company that constructed and managed many projects. Ron was also instrumental in helping develop Stacey Enterprises, Inc., a General Contractor and Construction Management firm that continues the building legacy today. Additionally he served on the Board of Directors for Weber Valley Bank. Ron was one of a kind and an exceptionally hard worker - known to pound nails with a hammer all day - then pay bills and work on bids all night. Many wondered if he needed any sleep. He was a lifelong early riser and was often the first one at the office or on a jobsite in the mornings. It was not uncommon to hear him say, "I've just got to wear it out!" as he would endure completing a difficult task. Over the past 50 years, Ron has been involved in many prominent building projects across the U.S. and from Mexico to Hawaii. This extensive list includes office buildings, shopping centers, banks, churches, schools, restaurants and numerous industrial projects. Ron had a never wavering commitment to make sure he had plenty of work available for his workers and crews. Some will recall his early trademark of the blue with yellow polka-dot construction trailers that could be frequently seen. He was a driven man who wanted to be involved in every construction project possible and took pride in his detailed estimates. He was literally known to count nails! Numerous subcontractors, suppliers, superintendents, carpenters and management personnel recall fond memories of their start in construction with "J. Ron Stacey", while countless others recall the good times working along side him. "Stace" as he was also known, was a handsome and generous man who was willing to blaze the trail with his adventurous spirit. In both his professional and personal life, Ron was one to share all he had so everyone could enjoy both work and play. He expected the best out of himself and that is what he gave to those around him. His quiet style of leadership was to initiate a project, then patiently watch from the sidelines providing support when asked. The nice part was no one recalls him ever getting mad. Continued on next column.