A Neligh company known for business success and community contributions has been named Business of the Year by the Nebraska Diplomats.
Blackburn Manufacturing received the award Monday at the Diplomats annual awards banquet at the Younes conference Center in Kearney.
Governor Jim Pillen and Nebraska Diplomats President Dave Rippe made the presentation.
According to Nebraska Diplomats, Blackburn Manufacturing is known for its generous contributions to the community.
“The Blackburn family and company have consistently supported education, health care, scholarships, local organizations, and charitable causes that strengthen Neligh and the surrounding region. Their success, both in growing their business and in uplifting their community, has earned them recognition as this year’s Diplomat Business of the Year,” officials said.
The company started in 1953 by E.A. “Bud” Blackburn, in the basement of the family homestead near Royal.
When Bud’s uncle Ray – who worked as a surveyor – asked Bud if he could devise a machine to attach cloth or paper to wire instead of using wooden lathe stakes, Bud experimented and built a marking flag machine that secured vinyl to a wire staff.
A million piece order came in from the Oklahoma Soil Conservation Service, and production became a family affair. Bud’s sons, Bob, age 11, and Jim, age 7, ran the machine for 30 days to complete the order.
A clipping written by Royal AP news correspondent Agnes Herring stated, “The marking flag is hailed as superior to all others in that it is economical, simple in construction, light in weight, easy to carry, may be readily seen, requires no reclaiming, and if left in the field, may be plowed under.”
In 1957, the company outgrew its farm location. Blackburn and his four employees set up shop in Neligh. By 1990, the company opened a plant in California.
Now, Black Manufacturing produces approximately 150 million marking flags annual. The modern-day version of Bud’s flag machine can make more than 6,000 flags an hour.
A nonprofit corporation, Nebraska Diplomats, Inc. has a membership comprised of business executives and community leaders. The Diplomats form alliances with other Nebraska economic development organizations to promote the state’s productive business climate and unparalleled quality of life. For more information about the group’s work to benefit the state, visit http://www.nediplomats.com.
