S&S Talks To Erosion Control Pioneer
Hugo Reynolds, 62

© 2001 Wendy Dager

S&S:
What was it like in the early days?

HR:
I was in the first group that started the erosion control committee (which became the IECA). I worked for (Bailey) Justice & Dunn out of Emeryville; Bailey was one of the original erosion control people. Back in those days, when we first started in erosion control, you didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what to use on the job. There were three kinds of fertilizer and three kinds of seeds: barley, rye and alfalfa.

S&S:
When did you start your company?

HR:
My stepdad, Jack Smith, was my partner in Smith & Reynolds Erosion Control in 1964. I bought out my mother and stepdad in 1972 and I just sold out to my son, Rick, last year. Rick started when he was 16 or 17 years old. When they were teenagers, he and my two daughters, Robin and Rhonda, used to unload the fiber that we used on my jobs.

S&S:
Who were your customers?

HR:
Most of my work was for state governments. I worked in California, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada. I also did some private jobs for cities and counties. We moved palm trees and stuff like that. That’s why we’ve been around and stayed around so long—we were always versatile in what we did.

S&S:
How has the business changed?

HR:
It’s not primarily erosion control now. Rick’s new company, Reyco, Smith & Reynolds, also does landscaping, mitigation areas; landscape irrigation; all of that.

S&S:
So, how’s your "retirement?"

HR:
I have a nursery and a non-union company that I do some work with. Got out of the rat race and got with the mice.

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