About John Pidgeon

My name is John Pidgeon and I am Draper’s president.

I was born to this job. Draper was founded by my great grandfather Luther Draper. My grandfather Elmer Pidgeon and my father Luther Pidgeon have served as Draper’s president.

My career here dates from the summer of 1957 when I began mowing the company lawn. The pay was good – $3.00 for four hours work. My job description and compensation have improved moderately since then.

I will be writing from time to time on matters of general interest.

May
23

Draper Salutes Darvin McGowan

Darwin McGowan

Draper’s Darvin McGowan was doubly honored on May 10. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Technology from the Purdue University College of Technology at Richmond, and was selected by the College to deliver the Class Response at the school’s commencement program. Darvin spoke eloquently of his eleven year quest to obtain his…
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Apr
09

March: A Big Month For Joe Burke

Joe Burke, Draper Group Ltd.

Joseph Burke is one of the salesmen for Draper Group Ltd. He and his family enjoy and participate in auto racing, so he is used to sudden turns. Joe’s life has taken a couple of sudden turns in the last month.  Fortunately both of them are for the better. On March 5th, Joe was named…
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Apr
05

Draper Congratulates Two of Its Finest

Chase Stigall on Senior Night

On March 23 Chase Stigall closed out his basketball career at Butler University. The Bulldogs lost a tough game to Marquette 75 – 73 in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Chase is a four year letterman for the Dawgs, and has been an important contributor to their incredible success, including reaching the championship…
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Apr
02

SMS Opens US Office

Sign

  Sweden based SMS Smart Media Solutions AB, a member of the Draper group of companies, recently opened its first US sales office in New Milford,  New Jersey. SMS is one of Europe’s leading providers of mounts and cabinets for video projectors and flat panel displays. SMS has earned its position of leadership in the…
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Mar
19

Nancy Vickery Walks to Hawaii

HawaiiWinner1

In March 2012 at Draper’s Annual Employee Meeting, Mike Broome announced a new contest – Walk to Hawaii – to encourage Draper’s employees to improve their health and fitness by walking more. The prize: an all expense paid trip for two to Hawaii. 251 employees – almost half of Draper’s staff – signed up and…
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Jan
22

Walk to Hawaii Enters the Homestretch

Hawaii_beachLai

Last April I wrote about a new contest – Walk to Hawaii – to encourage Draper employees to improve their health and fitness by walking more. All participating employees were given a pedometer to record their steps, and all who walk 2,400,000 steps or more between April 1, 2012 and March 1, 2013 will be…
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Jan
04

Major Expansion at Draper Europe

Draper Europe

On January 1, 2012 our European projection screen manufacturing subsidiary, Draper Europe AB, acquired the manufacturing operations of Tvaakersmarkisen AB, one of the largest awning manufacturers in Sweden. For the past 11 months Draper Europe has operated in two different locations, manufacturing projection screens at its headquarters in Halmstad, Sweden, and awnings, venetian blinds and…
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Dec
20

Happy Holidays from Draper

HolidayCard

 

Dec
04

A Green Milestone

Recycling Milestone

In our continuing effort to become better stewards of the environment, we have steadily improved our recycling efforts. We reuse or recycle as much of our waste material as we can, including pallets, skids, fabric shipping tubes, aluminum, steel, copper, PVC, cardboard and paper. In 2012, for the first time we will recycle over 1000…
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Nov
14

Reliving the Greatest High School Basketball Game

The movie Hoosiers, and the original game that inspired the film, were presented on the home court of the Hickory Huskers last weekend.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in our immediate area is the Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, IN. In 1985 two of my mother’s dearest friends, Peggie Mayhill and Josephine Carter, learned that Angelo Pizzo was looking for a venerable high school gym for his movie Hoosiers. They encouraged him to visit Knightstown’s 90-year-old crackerbox gym.…
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