Sargent Corporation traces its beginnings to 1926 in Alton, Maine, when a young man named Herbert E. Sargent bought a used REO dump truck and set out to make a living. In the early years, he hired out his truck in the summers and cut wood and plowed snow in the winters.
1930
Sargent Growth
The demand for Herb’s work ethic, reliability, and integrity grew quickly. By 1930, he had acquired a small fleet of trucks to go with a power shovel and a bulldozer.
1957
Son Joins the Company
Herb grew his business over the ensuing decades, with his son, Jim, joining the company full-time in 1957. Jim proved to be a catalyst for growth as he continued to build on Herb’s reputation as an honest and reliable contractor.
1975
Jim Becomes President
In 1975, Herb retired and Jim became president of H.E. Sargent, Inc.
1988
H. E. Sargent Sold to Razel
In 1988, the family sold the company to Razel, a much larger construction firm from Paris, France. By that time, Jim’s son, Herb R. Sargent, had worked full-time for the company for five years as a foreman and superintendent.
1991
Sargent & Sargent Begins
In 1991, Herb R. left H.E. Sargent, Inc., and began his own site preparation company in Bangor, Maine, called Sargent & Sargent.
1994
Sargent Expands to the Mid-Atlantic
In the fall of 1994, H. E. Sargent crews from Maine mobilized to the Baltimore area to cap two landfill facilities for BFI. The owner was happy with the work, which led to us doing more work in the Richmond area. We opened up an office in Ashland, VA in February of 1997.
2005
Sargent Corporation
Sargent & Sargent grew steadily, and in 2005 acquired the assets of H.E. Sargent, Inc. Pictured here are Herb, the grandson and former CEO, and Herb, the founder. He was 99 years old when the companies merged under one banner: Sargent Corporation.
2013
Sargent Corporation Becomes Employee-Owned
From the moment the company acquired 100% of Herb R. Sargent's stock, Sargent became an employee-owned company. This enables our employees to share in the growth and profitability of the company.
2025
Sargent welcomes E.L. Vining & Son
The first acquisition in decades, Sargent looks forward to honoring the Vining family’s craft while joining the Sargent employee-owner family.
2026
A Century of Building Together
2026 marks 100 years of building projects, people, and communities. What began with Herbert E. Sargent and a Reo dump truck has shaped generations of employee-owners. This centennial year is a time to reflect on where we’ve been, recognize the people who made it possible, and carry the same values forward as we continue building into our second century.
