Steves & Sons: 160 Years of American Doors, Innovation, and Legacy

SAN ANTONIO, TX – February 12, 2026 – As it marks an extraordinary 160 years of continuous operation, Steves & Sons, the nation's oldest family-owned millwork company, is not merely celebrating its past. Instead, the sixth-generation door manufacturer is aggressively building its future, doubling down on a strategy that combines high-tech innovation with a steadfast commitment to American manufacturing and community stewardship.

Founded in 1866 by German immigrant Edward Steves, the San Antonio-based company has grown from a modest lumberyard into a national powerhouse producing over 10 million doors annually. Now, at a time when many competitors are reportedly offshoring production, Steves & Sons is charting a different course, investing hundreds of millions of dollars into domestic expansion, advanced technology, and sustainable practices. The milestone anniversary coincides with a recent generational leadership change, underscoring a seamless blend of heritage and forward momentum.

“We are door people, but our work has always been more than just about doors,” said Sam Bell (Tres) Steves III, the company's CEO. “It’s about history, hard work and an unwavering commitment to service, to delivering the results our customers have come to know and expect from us for generations. As CEO, I look forward to carrying on that legacy for years to come.”

Defying Trends with Domestic Investment

While the broader manufacturing landscape has seen a shift toward international supply chains, Steves & Sons is reinforcing its American roots. The company recently announced it is hiring for 130 positions company-wide, part of a nationwide expansion aimed at growing its market share from coast to coast. This commitment to domestic job growth is a core tenet of its current strategy.

“Our business is a people business, not just for those we serve, but also our team members. We are proud to be hiring for positions at all levels of our organization as we grow our team coast to coast,” said Scott Lovett, the company’s chief operating officer.

This investment in American labor is backed by significant capital expenditure. The company has poured tens of millions into its interior door plants, including a 100,000-square-foot expansion in Brigham City, Utah, and the integration of advanced robotics across all its facilities in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas. This strategy culminated in a key certification under the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA). Enacted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, BABA mandates the use of U.S.-made products for federally funded infrastructure projects. By certifying its molded interior and exterior steel doors as compliant, Steves & Sons has positioned itself as a prime supplier for a new era of American infrastructure development, gaining a significant competitive advantage while reinforcing its supply chain integrity.

The Future of Manufacturing: Innovation and Sustainability

The most ambitious symbol of the company's future-facing vision is rising in Athens, Georgia. The new 400,000-square-foot molded door skin plant, a project representing an investment of over $100 million, is slated to be fully operational this year. Described as the world's most advanced facility of its kind, it will be the cornerstone of the company’s vertical integration strategy, producing millions of door skins annually.

Crucially, the Athens plant is designed to be carbon neutral. While specific technical details are proprietary, this ambitious goal is typically achieved in modern manufacturing through a combination of renewable energy sources, advanced energy recovery systems, closed-loop recycling to minimize waste, and innovative low-carbon materials. The company's commitment to sustainability is further validated by its designation as a Pinnacle Certified Sustainability Champion by ReWorksSA for a second consecutive three-year term.

“Our commitment to providing our customers with the highest quality service and craftsmanship is foundational at Steves,” said Doug Gartner, president of Steves & Sons. “As we enter our 161st year, we will continue to fulfill that promise, keeping innovation, sustainability and excellence at the forefront of our operations.”

Innovation extends beyond the factory floor and into the supply chain. The company has launched an autonomous trucking pilot program in Texas, partnering with technology firm Bot Auto and logistics provider J.B. Hunt. The pilot uses Level 4 autonomous trucks—vehicles that can operate without human intervention within specific domains—on routes between San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston. This forward-thinking initiative aims to create a more efficient, reliable, and scalable logistics network, representing what COO Scott Lovett calls an investment in “smarter, safer, and more adaptive supply chain systems.”

A Legacy Woven into San Antonio

For 160 years, the story of Steves & Sons has been inseparable from the story of its hometown, San Antonio. This deep, multi-generational connection is currently being celebrated at the city's prestigious Witte Museum in an exhibit titled “The Steves Family: Building San Antonio.” Housed in the newly named Steves Family Gallery, the exhibit runs through June 2026 and showcases how the family’s business and civic spirit helped shape the city’s neighborhoods, cultural landmarks, and economy.

The family’s contributions extend far beyond lumber and doors. Members of the Steves family have served as mayors of San Antonio and Terrell Hills, chaired the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, and held the presidency of the city-defining HemisFair ’68 world's fair. Their connection to the Witte Museum itself is historic; family patriarch Albert Steves Sr. was a foundational donor in the 1920s, and lumber from the company was used to construct the original museum building in 1926. The historic Steves Homestead, a grand mansion built by founder Edward Steves, remains a landmark in the city’s King William historic district.

From supplying the U.S. military through two world wars to pioneering carbon-neutral manufacturing and autonomous logistics, the company has consistently adapted and evolved. By intertwining a legacy of civic duty with a relentless drive for innovation, Steves & Sons demonstrates how a family business can not only endure for more than a century and a half but also continue to lead.