Condee earned reputation as a family business
By Marco Island Sun Times/June, 1st 2006
You see their trucks everywhere on the island and beyond. They've been a part of the fabric of Marco Island almost as long as any other business. And today, in 2006, things continue to shine bright for Condee Cooling & Electric. "It's a zoo at times, especially on Mondays" Don Condee Jr. said recently. He is the vice president of the company and oversees the entire operation, along with his father, Don Sr. "He's still the president and when he's done recovering, he'll be in every day," he added.
Started with one man and one truck
By Marco Island Sun Times/June, 1st 2006
In the late 1950s, Don Condee built and was part owner of a couple of radio stations in the St. Louis area. "We exchanged advertising tradeouts with some of our clients," said Don. "It worked like the bartering system. That was how we originally started coming to Florida." They stayed in a hotel owned by clients at Lauderdale by the Sea, and wintered in Florida for the next 10 years before making the Marco connection. Ed Husted, an old high school friend who lived in Springfield, Ill., not far from Mount Sterling, was selling lots on Marco for Deltona. Ed's job was to round up potential customers and take them to see Marco. He knew Don was flying his plane down to Florida on trips.