History - Since 1916

In 1914, Steven Dodulik, the middle of three brothers, left Czechoslovakia and traveled alone to Chicago where his sister, Anna, lived. Sensing WWI approaching, his parents sent him to Chicago in order to prevent him from fighting in the Austrian Army. At the age of fourteen, Steven had no particular skills and made his living peddling wares. He moved to Milwaukee in 1916. Although he had no experience, Steven started the Milwaukee Wire Frame Company making wrought iron lamps and lampshades. During this time, Steven accumulated enough money to send for Louis, the youngest brother, and later Paul, the oldest brother. Like Steven, they both started out with their sister in Chicago and later moved to Milwaukee. The two started yet another wire business, Economy Metal & Wire Products Company, in 1932.

In the meantime, they all married. Although, only Paul had children. In the late 1940s, while Paul’s son, Louis, was in high school, Louis worked from time to time with his father. However, Louis had no intention of going into his father’s business. When Paul had a small heart attack, he decided to retire and offered Louis his share of the business. After WWII, people were less captivated by handmade metalwork and Louis realized the ways of both the Milwaukee Wire Frame Company and Economy Metal & Wire Products Company were too old fashioned. Power equipment had just been introduced and Louis was only interested in taking over their businesses if he could modernize. He merged the two companies, incorporated in 1966, and changed the name to Dodco Inc., thereby honoring all three brothers and keeping the family name in the business. Eventually, Louis had his own family: 3 boys and 3 girls. In 1974, Louis purchased the rest of the existing shares from his relatives. After Louis’ own bypass surgery in 1991, he gave control of Dodco Inc. to his sons Paul and Steven and made his other son, Louis, the legal counsel. Today, Steven is the sole operator of Dodco Inc.

Author: Louis J. Dodulik