In 1955, Donald Smeal bought out a repair shop in Snyder, Nebraska, his home town, and named his new business Smeal Implement Co. His plan was to earn a living doing welding repair work while he experimented and searched for a product that he could build and sell. He was looking for something that had a rather small market so he wouldn't be competing with bigger manufacturers. His shop was a converted house located near the downtown business area. Don had an interest in things mechanical since his boyhood on the family farm, where he operated the big steam engine tractor that was used for saw milling. As the steam engine gave way to diesel tractors, Don dreamed of working for the John Deere Company. After high school, Don worked as a hired farm hand where his mechanical skills were very useful.

World War II loomed on the horizon and when Don got his induction notice, he asked his sweetheart to marry him. Don and Ardath started their lives together as many young couples of the day did, with an ocean between them. After the war, Don started a custom farming business where he took his farm machinery from place to place to assist with planting and harvesting. After several years, Don was offered a position as maintenance mechanic at a feed products plant. He left that position when he purchased the repair shop and he began to put his plan into action.

In 1961, the Snyder Farmers Co-op asked Don to design a feed box with an auger system which they would use to transport and unload livestock feed to area farmers. After some trial and error, the bulk feed body was ready.

When the product was put into service, other area feed dealers called Don to ask if he would build one for them. Orders continued as Don hired young men from the area to help him, and a salesman was put on the road with a demonstrator unit. Smeal still markets this product and has sold over 1,000 bulk feed bodies and other similar trucks over the years.

During this same time period, an area well driller asked Don to design a machine that could pull the pump from a water well and replace it. The products that were available to perform this job had been outdated, as pumps ceased being wind driven and now were electrical. Don designed a machine that suited the task perfectly. It was portable, easy to setup and take down, affordable and of excellent construction. As soon as this product was on the job, calls started coming in.

The Smeal pump hoist was just what the industry needed and sales took off. The new piece of equipment was shown at water well conventions in neighboring states and the response was excellent. A nationwide sales organization was set up with distributors in about 20 states. Orders continued to come in and it became apparent that the old shop facilities would not be adequate. In 1963, plans were drawn up for the new plant that was to be 84' x 120'. By the time the building was ready, the business had already outgrown it and the paint department had to remain at the old location.The first addition was put on shortly thereafter and the building has continued to grow to meet the needs of the business. Currently the facility has more than 300,000 sq. ft. of covered working space, and another 46,000 sq. ft. facility in Neligh, Nebraska.

Due to the success of the Smeal Bulk Feed Body and the Smeal Water Well Hoist, Don was chosen as Nebraska Businessman of the Year for 1965 by the Nebraska Small Business Association. It was the second year the award was given.

Smeal Manufacturing Company continues to be the leading producer of water well hoists in the U.S. with over 6,000 units in every state except Hawaii, and in 35 foreign countries. The U.S. Government and the United Nations orders Smeal rigs when they provide ground water equipment to developing countries. There are ten models of derricks designed to pull loads of three tons to 100 tons.

In 1963, Snyder Rural Fire Board asked Don to fix a leak in its fire truck tank. The tank could not be repaired so Don, being a volunteer firefighter himself and knowing the needs of the community, offered another arrangement. If the Board would buy a new chassis, Don would design and build a new fire truck that would have a portable and a PTO water pump, a 1200 gallon water tank, a body with an enclosed crew cab and a 42' hydraulic aerial ladder. This was the first fire truck to have all these features on one truck. Actually, this was the forerunner of today's quint, minus only the ground ladder storage.

Soon other communities were requesting that Don bid their firetrucks and thus began Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. Today, Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. has 26 dealers throughout the United States and Canada. It offers a full line of fire fighting apparatus including aerial ladder platforms at 85' and 100', aerial ladders at 55', 75', 105' and 125' as well as pumpers and tankers.

Smeal is a major competitor in the fire and rescue industry and has thousands of firetrucks and aerial ladders protecting lives and property throughout North America. The Smeal companies are family owned with five of Don and Ardath's children working in the businesses along with their spouses and their children. Don did not stray from his roots and built his companies with folks who have the same values and work ethic as his pioneer forbearers who settled the Nebraska prairies. Donald died October 19, 2004. He left his companies in the hands of his family and his long-term dedicated employees who share the same commitment to our customers. The Smeal products that are in service across the continent and around the world are built with pride and integrity in the heartland of America.