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D&R Press of Elmwood Park celebrates 40 years
Dave Ransom (center) shows off examples of his work to visitors. Ransom's printing company, D&R Press, is celebrating its 40th years in business. | Joe Cyganowski~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: October 21, 2012 1:30PM
ELMWOOD PARK — After 40 years in the printing business, David Ransom Jr. and his company D&R Press are still standing.
The company, based in Elmwood Park and founded in Ransom’s garage in 1972, is celebrating its 40th year. His business specializes in digital and letterpress printing and related services.
Ransom said being in business this long doesn’t just happen on its own.
“God has blessed me so much,” he said.
On Thursday, he spread a little bit of his blessing with his employees, family and friends by celebrating the accomplishment. The business, 7959 W. Grand Ave., took over the street nearby to celebrate, providing games, music and food.
Ransom, 59, believes he’s been successful partly because the work wasn’t about profit.
“I loved doing it,” he said. “I wasn’t into making a lot of money.
“I like the challenge,” he added. “Man against the machine.”
Although he’s married with four adult children, the printing press was his first love since starting at Austin High School, where he was introduced to the printing industry through a graphic arts class. He later went to trade school to gather more experience.
He worked for several printing companies before getting his break in 1972, when he purchased his own press. He said his faith has played a major part in his success.
“The Lord helped me,” he said. “He put me in a situation where I could buy the press.”
And he worked hard, initially working for other printing companies during the day and cultivating his own business on nights and weekends. His brother, Daryl, has helped manage the business since the 1990s.
“The secret to working with your brother is to have mutual respect for each other,” Daryl Ransom said. “I’m not the owner and I don’t try to be. He’s the owner, but he respects my opinion.”
David Ransom also has the respect of his employees. Ted Micheletti said he wouldn’t work any other place.
“He is dynamite,” Micheletti said. “He really cares about people. I never worked for anybody I liked more.”
David Ransom said he plans to expand the business and hopes there will be another 40 years of work ahead.
“I want the company to survive for my kids if they want it, so my brother has a place to work,” he said.
Ransom said he’s seen many printing companies go under over the years, but God was looking out for him. He finds it hard not to smile
“I just put the hours in and the Lord did the work,” he said.
