GENERAL SIGN HAS NEW OWNER; VENERABLE FIRM RETAINS NAME

General Sign Co., a nationally recognized firm that has operated in Cape Girardeau for more than a half-century, is under new ownership.

"We have new owners, a lot of new orders and we're operating at full capacity," said Jack Koutek, chief executive officer of General Sign. "The future is looking good."

The new owner is Starbeam Electrical Supply of St. Louis, an interior graphic company.

"Starbeam has a good business and great contacts," said Koutek. "Starbeam was looking for someone like General Sign."

Starbeam and General Sign are just two of several companies owned by Adolphus Orthwein.

"Everything works together," said Koutek. "General Sign has the ability to produce huge electric signs. We have sales offices now at Mt. Vernon, Ill., and in the St. Louis area. "This sale helps a lot of companies. It's good news for our employees."

General Sign had filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in April.

"A lot of employees were being laid off at that time," said Koutek. "But we're out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy now, and our work force is back to 75 people."

Signs manufactured at the local company can be found throughout the nation, said Koutek. "This company has always been noted for its quality signs."

Koutek added that the firm "provides good-paying jobs. We certainly don't have any minimum wage jobs here."

Koutek has been around the sign business a number of years. He painted signs on buildings, trucks, and chimneys in St. Paul, Minn., during an apprenticeship after graduating from vocational-technical school several years ago.

He later accepted a job in San Antonio, Texas, and was working in that area before joining General Signs in 1988.

"I worked here two years before leaving for a job in Central America," said Koutek, who returned to General Sign in 1992.

General Sign was founded by Lon Maxey in 1939, as a one-man operation. The company, which had operated out of as many six buildings, moved to the Nash Road Industrial Park in 1988.

Over the years, General Sign did its share of purchasing other companies, including the Cape Neon Sign Co., the Zeiser Brothers Sign Co. of St. Louis, Admiral Plastics, and Flashtric, Inc., of Chicago.

At one time, the firm operated out of 78,000-square-foot building in Cape Girardeau and had branch facilities in St. Louis and Chicago, with sales offices in Nashville, Tenn., St. Louis, Chicago and Mt. Vernon, Ill.