Wearing a plaid flannel shirt and donning a full beard, Rudd Montgomery calls to mind the legendary woodsman Paul Bunyan. But unlike the famous lumberjack, Rudd is in the business of “rescuing” trees, not cutting them down. “I’ve made a business out of taking downed trees and old wood that no one seemed to want,” he explains. Whether salvaging old heart of pine from warehouses or planking wood from trees cut down by the power board, Rudd has rescued wood that might have otherwise wound up in the landfill. With a creative eye and a skillful hand, Rudd essentially recycles the wood by giving it a new purpose. From conference room tables to rustic support beams, Rudd and his small staff of three have a talent for creating wood pieces and architectural elements that are truly one-of-a-kind. A native of Signal Mountain, Rudd Montgomery founded Push Hard Lumber Company in 1997. “Like so many folks, I went away to college to get a degree,” Rudd shares, “but after working at a few ‘boring’ jobs, I realized that my real passion was working with my hands.” A fateful opportunity to work with local builder Scott Kelley put his passion into action. “Working with Scott was an amazing opportunity to learn,” says Rudd. “I traveled with him all over the southeast to salvage wood from old barns, warehouses, and cabins and then I got to be a part of their transformation into stunning homes and cabins,” he remembers. However, after a couple of years, Rudd longed to start his own business and spend more time with his wife and young children, so he decided to shift gears. He purchased a saw mill and put the mill on 18 acres on the back of Signal Mountain. “At first I focused on plank flooring,” says Rudd, providing his product to area builders. “Then I had the opportunity to create some unique wood elements for a custom-built home on Signal Mountain.” In a collaborative effort between homeowners Tom and Susan Baird and architect Faith Campbell, Rudd was able to use his eye for wood to create customized elements in the home’s construction. Using wood salvaged from the old Chris Craft Boat Company, Rudd created impressive beams for the home’s family room ceiling. He used cherry from a fallen tree to create a fireplace mantel and reclaimed heart of pine for the floors. The end result is an impressive home that incorporates the best of old and new. Broadening his range of building materials beyond plank flooring, Push Hard Lumber Company began establishing a good reputation with area builders.
“Then came 9/11 and the economy took a terrible dip,” says Rudd. Determined to keep his company afloat, Rudd used the downtime to teach his employees some woodworking skills, something that he had pursued only as a hobby for several years. “I was amazed at the response our furniture received,” he admits. His craft focused on maintaining the natural integrity of the wood, while creating something quite usable. “I really give so much credit to the Chattanooga Market for our success,” shares Rudd. “Every Sunday we would set up a booth at the market and before long we had established an incredible network.” Calls would come from people wanting him to make picnic tables and benches out of fallen trees. Others would want a coffee table from old support beams. In addition to custom work for individuals, Rudd’s company also has filled orders for customized pieces for businesses. When Henderson, Hutcherson & McCollough CPA firm renovated the old freight depot in 2005, their construction crew discovered some old heart of pine wood under some floor joists. “I knew the wood was very valuable, possibly dating back to the late 1800’s when the freight depot was originally built,” says firm administrator Shawn McKay. “We asked Rudd to turn the wood into conference and lunchroom tables, and in doing so we not only recycled the old wood, but we feel we have preserved a little bit of history, too.” Push Hard Lumber Company has also created unique tables and bars in area restaurants, such as Lupi’s Pizza and Tony’s Pasta.
With an eye for the beauty of wood and the possibilities it holds, Rudd is constantly on the lookout for wood. “I guess I’ve established a reputation for being a ‘wood collector’ of sorts,” he admits, but he laughs when he hears the words “sustainable” or “green” in reference to him. “I was ’green’ before green was even a buzzword in the industry,” Rudd admits. He sees the future of his company growing as more people become aware of environmental issues and their implications in building choices.
Collecting wood from barns, warehouses, and fallen trees, Rudd had acquired quite an extensive inventory of walnut, cherry, heart of pine, elder and white pine, which he had available for his customer’s specific needs. However, in January of this year, Push Hard Lumber Company sustained a terrible loss. “My storage barn caught fire, and we lost everything,” Rudd says sadly. Remnants of where the old barn stood remain, but the wood stored within is nothing but cinders. Like one might describe an old friend who has passed away, Rudd says he still remembers some of the patterns in the grain of the wood. “So much of that wood is irreplaceable,” he says tearfully. But out of the ashes comes something positive. “I can’t tell you how many people called when they heard about the fire. They offered so much support,” Rudd recalls. Moved by the kindness of neighbors, friends, and past customers, Rudd says he couldn’t sit around feeling sorry for himself. “We’ll PUSH on,” he states positively.
When explaining where the name Push Hard Lumber Company came from, Rudd has a spark in his eye. “I guess it was destiny that I’d get into this business,” he says. “When I bought my first saw mill, my grandmother used to smile and say ‘You’re just like your great granddaddy’.” Rudd was named after his great grandfather, Major Earl Rudd, and ironically, his grandfather was in the lumber business in the late 30’s in Quincy, Florida. The name of his company? The Push Hard Lumber Company. The tradition continues.