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Statesville Record & Landmark
By J.R. Munoz-McNally
jmcnally@statesville.com

It isn’t often that a Statesville company reaches its 100th year of business.

It’s so rare, in fact, that the occasion was marked by a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and a visit by the congresswoman who delivered it.

“I am a champion of working men and women,” 5th District U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx told those gathered at a celebration of Holland Transfer Company’s making it to the century mark.

Foxx spoke of her humble beginnings and said her rise to Capitol Hill was a fulfillment of the American Dream.

“It is a tribute to God’s plan and this nation that someone from my background could make it to the United States House of Representatives,” Foxx told the mostly working class crowd.

She said she gets a kind of charge from attending events like Holland’s anniversary bash.

“People ask me why I do these things,” Foxx said. “And I tell them it is because they give me a boost that allows me to go back to Washington with the verve and inspiration to fight the hard fights.”

Foxx repeated the speech she gave on the House floor in which she talked about Holland’s longevity.

“It’s doubtful that when Holland Transfer Company began with a team of horses and a single wagon that its founder, S.R. Holland, envisioned a company that today is a major part of the Statesville community,” Foxx said.

Jeff Harvey, who purchased Holland with other partners in 1998, gave all the credit to those who work for him.

“It is absolutely fantastic but it’s owed to our great employees,” Harvey said. “This has been a full company effort.”

He said Holland’s good name and location prompted him to get involved in the company’s ownership.

“Holland has always had a solid reputation,” he said. “Plus, I wanted to come back to my home state.”

Gene Kiser, Holland’s vice president, said the 100-year milestone gives the company a leg up from some other transport operations.

“I think, if nothing else, it give us credibility,” he said. “It tells folks that we are not another company that it is here today and gone tomorrow. It tells them they can trust us to be here for them.”

Kiser said that last part was the key ingredient to Holland’s success.

“We are not the biggest,” he said. “But we pride ourselves on our dedication to serving the customer. And we have been very lucky to have customers who put a high value in service and that personal touch.”

Kiser said he believes the company will make it another 100 years.

“But I don’t want to be at that celebration,” he said. “I will say we plan to be here for a long time.”