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Tag: Hugoton

Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Jan Leonard, Hugoton

Posted on by Mary Lou Peter

Buried treasure. Bonnie and Clyde. These are terms that might be found in adventure stories or action movies. Today we’ll learn about a community which didn’t find buried diamonds or gold, but it did uncover historic remnants of pioneer medicines from a century ago. What’s more, this community is believed to have once harbored the infamous outlaws, Bonnie and Clyde.

Jan Leonard is economic development director of Stevens County. He told the story of the remarkable things which have recently been found in the county seat town of Hugoton.

Old tunnels connected several of the buildings in downtown Hugoton. Most of these had fallen or filled in through the years, but in April 2018, one semi-collapsed tunnel was found under a building called the Bundy Hotel.

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Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Michael Perry – Aqua Shield

Posted on by Mary Lou Peter

Hobbs, New Mexico. A large apartment complex is being built. The roof is being installed by a crew from a company in rural Kansas. Today we’ll learn about the remarkable growth of this entrepreneurial roofing company.

Michael Perry and Angel “Luis” Guzman are co-owners of Aqua Shield Roofing in Hugoton, Kansas. This roofing and construction company is serving customers across Kansas, neighboring states, and beyond.

Michael grew up in Morton County at the rural community of Rolla, population 467 people. Now, that’s rural. He graduated from Fort Hays State, married Liz, farmed for a time and then started selling roofing products for a friend. There he met Luis Guzman who was operating a roofing crew. Eventually he and Luis decided to get together and go out on their own.

In 2005, Michael and Luis launched their own roofing company. Michael specialized in sales and Luis was responsible for operations. But what should it be named? “I wanted something that started with an A so it would be at the top of the telephone listings,” Michael said. “I’m a big Chiefs fan and I wanted to name it Arrowhead, but the guys nixed the idea.

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