|
 Looking
back, Leon Eastmond cannot imagine being
born, growing up, or building a business in
any place other than New York City. It has
been the world of his dreams as well as his
realities because for over 50 years, this 73
year old business of gray steel, blue
flames, and rumbling welding truck wheels,
has been an integral part of Leon Eastmond's
life.
It was Leon's Dad,
Arlington Leon Sr., who used his blacksmith
tools that he brought from Barbados to start
this business in 1925. He chose Harlem, USA
as the founding site for his welding/boiler
and tank repair
business, and it was there that Leon spent
every weekend and school holiday working
alongside his father. As a result, he became
a proficient welder by the age of 12. He was
about 18 when the company manufactured its
first steel storage tank at the West 143rd
Street location and approximately 30 when he
was given major responsibility - financing,
product development, personnel, marketing,
sales and management.
A visionary and a
dreamer from a very early age - his
maturity, self-confidence and a work ethic
for which he credits his parents made him
set his sights on the Old Victor Steel Plant
in the South Bronx. He is now certain that
without it, he couldn't have manufactured
the first EASTMOND Federal Boiler before his
Dad's death in 1981. This meant a great deal
to him.
 Leon
repeats the phrase, “I have been so blessed;
so fortunate." numerous times during the
course of the day or week. Because of these
feelings, he became fluent in Spanish by
immersing himself in conversation with the
Hispanic employees that journeyed with the
company from the Harlem site, and reached
out, providing on-the-job training and work
for the underemployed of the South Bronx. He
saw growth in their self-images as their
productivity increased. Many of them now own
homes, and, in some cases, are the proud
parents of college students and graduates.
He believes that those to whom he has
offered a second chance have been successful
because they have adopted the "EASTMOND work
ethic".
As the father of 3 and
the grandfather of 11, Leon's commitment to
young people goes beyond monetary
contributions and the sponsorship of 6
Little League Teams. Through Harvey
Schulman's program at the Columbia
University School of Business, he did a
series of talks, addressing members of the
Minority Students Business Club. He has also
spoken to students at George Washington and
Evander Childs High Schools as well as to
the departing classes at the Casmir Pulaski
Academy (P.S.304,K) and Mother Hale Academy(
P.S. 65,x).
As far as Leon is
concerned, all of the marvelous experiences
he has had through the world of business
have enriched his life. He considers his
love of his business a gift. He believes
that individual differences and talents have
been the strength of our nation and he knows
that as the day darkens, it will unfold new
tomorrows. |
Leon Eastmond
