In the early 1950s, Clifford W. Cliff Murphy had managed operations for several established construction companies. Frankly he thought he could do things better. In 1955 he formed Drilling Service Co.As President of Drilling Service Cliff Murphy was a stickler for staying abreast of the latest in underground technology and in proactively pursuing customer relationships. He was later joined by his brother Marshall. Cliff and Marshall had grown up in a working-class family. They had never been exposed to social and business networking But Cliff took up golf and both he and Marshall began attending industry association events. Soon the St. Louis construction industry knew the Murphy brothers and their work ethic.
Marshall’s three sons Mark, Bruce, and Jeffrey began working at Drilling Service as teenagers. In 1979 Cliff Murphy moved the majority of the company’s operations to Tennessee, for a nuclear power plant project. He sold five rigs and the Drilling Service Co. name to Marshall who continued operating in the St. Louis market. Marshall’s sons postponed further school in order to help their father with the transition of the company. Mark joined Marshall in 1979 and his brothers Bruce and Jeffrey came on board soon after.
Mark Murphy returned to college a decade after joining Drilling Service and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration a few years before becoming president on Marshall’s death in 1993. Executive Vice President Jeffrey Murphy checked off personal bucket list items by earning a BSBA degree from the University of Missouri in 2010 and an MBA from Washington University in 2012. Bruce Murphy, trained as an operating engineer. Today as vice president at Drilling Service Bruce directs the company’s yard, shop, and warehouse operations. He makes sure that the right equipment, in proper operating condition is always available.
Prior to joining Drilling Service in 2002, Chuck Skouby, a graduate-degreed professional engineer, performed site investigations and helped design foundation solutions for engineering firms. Project Manager Sean Jackson joined Drilling Service in 2007. As a representative for a national construction supply firm Sean developed a knowledge of the needs of project managers. He possesses specialized expertise in the planning and safety issues related to site stabilization and foundation/underground construction.
In January, 2015, Mark, Bruce, and Jeffrey Murphy, the owners of Drilling Service Co. purchased an equity interest in Taylor Ridge Drilled Foundations, Inc. of Taylor Ridge Illinois. Taylor Ridge Drilled Foundations, Inc. specializes in drilled shaft foundations for communications towers, transmission lines, utility work and bridges since 2004. The company currently operates in 9 states throughout the Midwest with recent projects taking the company as far as Mississippi and Maryland.
The acquisition expands the market reach of both companies, broadening our joint capabilities and strong customer service. The companies will operate autonomously as well as working together. Chris Wynn remains as President of Taylor Ridge. Jeffrey Murphy is Vice President of Taylor Ridge in addition to his role as Executive Vice President of Drilling Service Co.
Together we are better able to serve our customers while broadening our combined geographic reach and customer service base, said Jeffrey. We’re excited to be working with Chris Wynn and the entire staff at Taylor Ridge Drilled Foundations, Inc. We’re all looking forward to growing both companies as we continue to cultivate our relationship.
We are delighted with this strategic acquisition combining the strengths of two long-established drilling contractors with strong reputations and dependable track records, said Mark Murphy, President of Drilling Service Co.