FMC: About Us

The Federal Materials Company supplies concrete, sand, gravel and pre-cast and construction products, and plays a major role in commercial development and residential building throughout western Kentucky and northwest Tennessee. From bridges and educational facilities to hospitals and residential homes, FMC has proudly served businesses, government and individual homeowners for 70 years.

Norman L. Hely purchased The Federal Materials Company in 1931. Hely found concrete success when the Paducah floodwall was built in 1940. FMC was one of the first ready mix concrete producers in western Kentucky, using concrete sand and mortar sand dredged directly from the Ohio River.

Hely operated two plants (Riverfront Paducah, KY and Cape Girardeau, MO) until 1972. His wife, Sue Hely Fendley, then took ownership of FMC and was president of the company until 1981.

By 1980, the City of Paducah began expansion and revitalization efforts across town. A Paducah based construction company was commissioned to pave the downtown Paducah loop and FMC supplied the concrete. Billy Harper, owner and founder of the construction company, was interested in the ready mix company; he purchased FMC from Hely in 1981. This proved a worthwhile investment. As concrete paving opportunities increased in western Kentucky, Harper controlled the source of the ready mix concrete supply.

FMC is operated by current president, Chris Bright, and a team of specialized administrative, sales and delivery professionals.

FMC is progressive and competitive, employing emerging technologies, varieties of construction products and strategic planning to expand its regional market.

The Federal Materials Company fleet contains 48 concrete mixer trucks, five cement tankers, four delivery trucks for construction products/pre-cast and four material trucks, all supported by nine plants located in Bardwell, Calvert City, Cadiz, Mayfield, Murray, Paducah, and Princeton, Kentucky, and Union City and Paris, Tennessee.