Art part of contractor’s work

Franklin County native Roger Pennington never dreamed that the job he started out doing part-time while he was in high school would turn into a career that he would still be enjoying 32 years later.

Pennington grew up in Tharptown and while he was attending Russellville High School he got a summertime job pouring concrete for local resident Henry King.

Pennington soon realized that working with concrete was something he enjoyed and wanted to pursue.

“I enjoyed being outside while I was working but I also enjoyed the work itself,” Pennington said.

“I also liked the fact that being good at this line work required education. You’ve got to have a firm grasp on geometry and things of that nature, especially when you’re working with concrete design.

“After graduation, everyone else was heading to Florida for their senior trips, but I was going to work,” Pennington said. “But the hard work paid off because within two years I had started my own business.”

That business, called Southeastern Concrete Design, is now located in Muscle Shoals and Pennington has made a career out of providing concrete work for Tennessee Valley residents.

Although Pennington started out pouring concrete, his business has evolved over the years to include decorative concrete work as well. Recently, Pennington came up with an idea that is sure to excite sports fans in the area.

“About seven or eight months ago I was sitting with some of my friends,” Pennington said. “These friends are also in the concrete business and we were talking about different business ideas.

“While we were talking, I started looking at the emblem on a University of Alabama keychain that was lying there and I thought, ‘I could do that with concrete.’”

Pennington got to work on his new idea and designed a way to cut the circular emblem that is similar to the one displayed in the middle of Alabama’s football field into concrete. He worked with colors and patterns until he thought the emblem would look the way he wanted it to.

He cut the first emblem in his own driveway so that he could make sure it was going to come out right before marketing it to his customers.

Pennington soon discovered he had scored big with his new creation.

“I have already had lots of interest in this Alabama emblem,” he said. “I’m an Alabama fan and most of my friends are, too, so I know what a big deal football is around this area. Having an emblem like this is a way for football fans to show team spirit at their home or business all the time.”

Even though Pennington is an Alabama fan, he said that he can create just about any emblem or logo that a customer may want. All they have to do is draw it out for him on paper.

“Once I figured out I could do the Alabama emblem, I knew I could do any logo,” he said. “I can do other college emblems, high school team logos or logos for businesses or churches.

“Designs can also be done with plain concrete or with color and can be cut flat, in 3D, or with isometric views. There are many possibilities.”

Pennington said that he’s had requests for these logos and emblems in driveways, sidewalks, pool decks and patios.

“Every job we go on is different,” he said. “Personalized concrete work is a way to have something unique for your home or business. No one that I’ve talked to has seen anything like this. It really is art.”

Even though these designs are decorative, Pennington said that they are very durable and can withstand the elements.

“The color I use for these designs is a colored sealer,” Pennington said. “I use two coats of colored sealer and one clear coat of sealer with UV protection so the emblem won’t fade in the sun. You could pour a quart of oil on these emblems and wash it right off with a water hose.”

The smallest emblem or logo Pennington can create measures 4 feet in diameter and prices start at $1,200.

Anyone who has questions about Pennington’s new design can contact him at 256-762-1585.