The four men who own “Swaggart Brothers, Inc.” have a compelling story that is worth telling. Their lives were built around a strong work ethic and family bond. They were taught how to earn a living and endure tough times with true grit. Giving up was never an option. To fully appreciate who they are today, it’s important to know the amazing story of how it all began.

It started with a young couple named Merle Swaggart and Luella Baird. In order to get the paperwork to marry, Merle rode horseback through the mountains to Heppner Oregon in the dead of winter, with temperatures as low as 56 below zero. In 1938 they married and bought a ranch on the middle fork of the John Day River in Ritter, Oregon. It was there that they raised four children. Their only son, Cecil, left home at the young age of 14 to be a cowboy. He traveled to rodeos all over the United States riding saddle bronc horses for a living. On one of his trips home a young lady caught his eye in Long Creek, Oregon. Her name was Nancy, and he married her in 1957.

Cecil and Nancy started their family when Ben was born in 1964. Next came Lincoln, then John, and Blake is the youngest. Their family of six shared the ranch with grandma and grandpa. Because of the remote location they did not have a telephone until 1972. The boys were able to watch some television at grandma and grandpas, but Nancy and Cecil didn’t have TV until 1998, long after the boys had gone. Rather than play with toys or watch TV, like most children, the boys were outside doing their share of the work that had to be done.

It was important to stretch every dollar as far as it could go in those days. The Swaggarts raised a majority of their own food, including vegetables and meat. They cut their own wood for heat and many of their clothes were sewn by Nancy. She also cooked three square meals a day for her growing boys. Stories have been told about how it was too expensive to buy canned or prepackaged goods, so it was all made from scratch. Some of their best family memories happened together at meal time.

On hot summer days when the family had to run to town, it was over an hour to any decent sized grocery store. With no air conditioning in their car, they would roll the windows down while driving on a gravel road, dust flying everywhere. It is situations like this that make people tough. This is only one example of many of the scenarios that the boys were used to in their childhood.

The house that Cecil and Nancy raised the four boys in was barely 900 square feet. Although they moved into a new house on the ranch in 1998, the “old” house still stands and holds a lifetime of memories for all of them.

The family ranch originally generated income from cattle. Merle registered the “T-Diamond Bar” brand in the year he and Luella married. It was a slight variation of the Baird family’s original brand that was registered in the late 1800’s. Each of the boys spent countless hours haying and gathering cows with their grandfather. With him, they learned the value of a good day’s work. He was famous for waking them up at three in the morning, only to sit and drink coffee with them until the sun came up. He simply enjoyed the pleasure of his grandsons by his side.

Cecil and Nancy started a logging company in the 70’s that put food on the table for many years. As it would turn out, the boys not only learned how to run a ranch, but also operate equipment. It was through activities such as mending fences, hunting, fishing, farming, and operating tools and equipment that the foundation was laid for their future success. By learning the true meaning of working hard, all four boys have the confidence to make tough decisions and the endurance to see things through to the end. There is a real sense of pride in their family history and upbringing.

As a rodeo star, Cecil always had exciting stories to share with his sons, which helped give them the ability to dream big. Eventually each son left the ranch to go out and make a name for himself.

Ben helped develop the family business into one of the most successful logging companies in Eastern Oregon. He continued this entrepreneurial mindset by starting a civil construction company in 1998. That business has grown into one of the key segments of Swaggart Brothers Inc. In addition to logging and civil work, Ben is the recent past president of Associated Oregon Loggers. His wealth of knowledge and experience is invaluable in business development. He has been a key member in the creation and fulfillment of multi-million dollar projects. He is an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoys traveling with his family.

With over 30 years of business development, Lincoln has put his business knowledge and passion into creating Swaggart Brothers Inc. Lincoln started his career as a journeyman carpenter in 1984 and went on to become an insurance broker in 1987. He formed a highly successful insurance company operating eight offices in Oregon and Washington. His “can do” attitude and drive for success have resulted in significant projects throughout the western United States. Lincoln’s other passions include fishing, horseback riding and spending time with his wife and two sons.

John has over 20 years of experience in business operation and management. He brings considerable knowledge and tenacity to the company. He started working as a laborer for the family logging business and over the course of two decades he continued to rise through positions eventually becoming the Operations Manager, running the business. When John joined Swaggart Bros. he managed the logging division until its eventual dissolution in 2008, but has transferred those managing skills into the construction industry. In particular, his detailed knowledge of equipment and maintenance has aided in the superior fleet of company vehicles and machinery. When he’s not spending time with his wife and three children, John enjoys hunting, fishing and returning to the mountains where he spent the majority of his career.

Blake brings more than a decade worth of construction experience and expertise into the organization. Prior to starting his own successful construction company, Blake was a professional saddle bronc rider in the PRCA. In 1996 he formed Paul Blake Swaggart Construction which grew to become one of the largest construction companies in the region, specializing in residential and commercial projects. Blake has worked every facet of construction from labor and operations to finance and billing. With the success of his company and his vision for the future of the construction industry, he was instrumental in the formation of Swaggart Brothers Inc. Blake has proven himself time and again as a key problem solver, utilizing his extensive experience to successfully manage multi-million dollar projects. Of utmost importance to Blake is spending time with his family, whether it’s fishing with his wife and two sons, or relaxing on a hunting trip with his brothers.

When they started Swaggart Brothers Inc. in 2002 it was their desire to honor their past and make their grandfather proud. Merle and Luella both passed away in 2000 after 68 years of marriage. Cecil and Nancy still own the ranch in Ritter and have been married for over 50 years. The Swaggart family story is both unique and inspiring. Their success is due in large part to their ability to stay connected to their roots and maintain a healthy balance between traditional values and cutting edge technology.