Steve Hockman: Mountain View Lumber

MOUNTAIN VIEW EXPRESS reporter Mark Hornbeck

MH: You have been involved in MV Lumber since 1976, Steve. Is that right?

Steve: Yes. Padgett owned several businesses in the area. My Grandfather began working for him in 1946. My dad, in 1965. First as employees, then as managers, then on October 10, 1997, as owners.

MH: What are some factors that influenced your decision to take up this trade?

Steve: I always wanted to go work with my dad. I used to go hide in the pickup and go to work with him. Then I got smart and rode my bike to work. I would go out on a delivery with the men. I was 12 or 13 at the time. Then dad would take me back home when he found me, usually no later than noon.  Then finally one day he decided that if I was going to be here, I could stack lumber. I remember my first $15 paycheck. I thought that was absolutely wonderful.

The Hockmans began working           for the lumber company in 1946

MH: How important was formal education to you in the pursuing of your career, vs. just practical, day to day learning from your dad, and the nature of the business itself?

Steve: At the time, I didn’t think it was important at all. At first, I would just take deliveries or work outside. It was later that I found out how important the Math, English, and just relating to people was. Fortunately, I was somewhat good in math. Most of my experience came in the way of on the job training. I was about 14 when I started working after school, on the weekends, and in the summertime.

MH: How long have you lived in Mountain View?

Steve: all my life.

MH: You must see yourself and your family as an integral part of this community. In what ways do you think the family business reflects your values?

Steve: Hopefully, honesty is foremost. I hope that people see right away, in dealing with us, our integrity in whatever dealings that they have with us and whatever they buy. What you buy is what you get. In many businesses or houses, there are problems in the day to day running of the business or remodeling or building. Hopefully, people see and experience everything worked out by us in a professional manner.

MH: You have seen a lot of changes in the town. Can you talk about some of the changes, both good and bad, that you have seen?

Steve: Mostly good. Anytime you have an increase in population, you’re going to have an increase in crime. At one time, you knew everybody who walked in the door by name, or at least by face. Now, you don’t know. 

     There has certainly been an increase in the variety of businesses opening, and the variety of items that you can buy. More restaurants, places to eat. We’re  still smaller than cities, and that’s a good thing.

We have just about anything a person or company would want

MH: There are a lot of businesses that have not made it. Come and go. I suppose it is in the nature of things.

Steve: Anyone who has been in business for themselves, can tell you the amount of time that it takes to build and run a business. My Grandfather, and then my Dad, developed a good base, and you’ve got to have that. The community has to support you. We have a lot of people, both inside and outside of town who spend as much as they can with us.

MH: Are there any particular industries that you would like to see come to the area?

Steve: Right now, many different industries would be good for Mountain View. A Manufacturing Plant, and so forth.

MH: Young people face a myriad of challenges these days. Do you think it is really very different, in reality, from the challenges that we faced, growing up?

Steve: Oh yeah. I think it is very difficult to be a young person, now. Lack of morals, lack of respect. I don’t think it is so much young people, as it is our generation. Our generation has not upheld our end of the bargain. Young people have to learn from someone!

    They’ve got so many choices. A lot of the world doesn’t have an absolute truth. The world tells them that there is not one. I believe that there is one.     

We originally worked for the Padgett company, in 1946

MH: What are some of the best tools that we can give to our young people, to help them cope in a realistic and prosperous way with life?

Steve: To show them, by our example, that all of the virtues are not only possible, but desirable. These virtues are wonderful in any area of life; school, work, play. Honesty, integrity, loyalty. They may not always be easy, but they will without doubt give you the greatest satisfaction in the end. Of course, a deeper knowledge of God, of the Bible, and of His great life lessons contained within it.

     I know it’s a small example, but say you are driving along and you’re in a hurry. Instead of obeying the traffic laws, you decide to pass everyone. You could endanger yourself and others. Are you supposed to be justified in doing this?

MH: What is your prime motivator, Steve? What is it that we could perhaps call the “central organizing motive” in your life and actions? What is it that brings it all together and makes sense of everything, for you?

Steve: Jesus. If you have any question, you can go to the Bible. You may not always like the answer, but it is always the correct answer. I guess that’s my crutch, as they would say, but man it’s a really good crutch!

MH: In your life experience, what are some of the best things about living in Missouri, and Mountain View, in particular?

Steve: It’s where I met my wife, Betty. And I love to hunt and love to fish, just love the atmosphere of the people.  The morals that we talk about, at least we are in the so-called Bible-Belt, and Sunday is still a day set apart. I think it is still a morally based area. In other places, it is treated as just another day.