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History
BERMAG’s history starts out, as with
most accomplishments, with a dream….
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Andrew
E. Bujtas at left
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Andrew
E. Bujtas (Andy) was born in Sopron, Hungary on July 21, 1930. He
was the son of a local pattern maker. Andy grew up cleaning his
father’s pattern shop every week and looking over his father’s
shoulder, he learned the trade. From a very early age, Andy was
fascinated with pattern making because he greatly enjoyed working
with his hands and always welcomed challenges.
Andy always had a dream of coming to America. At the age of
eighteen, he made his first step toward that dream by escaping out
of Hungary as communism was setting in. Carrying nothing but a loaf
of bread and wearing three layers of clothing, he told his parents
goodbye and left under the cover of night.
Andy often said that he felt he had been “carried” throughout his
life. Finding himself in one precarious situation after the other,
he always felt his life was being guarded by a higher power so that
he would one day be able to provide for and help other people.
A couple years after leaving Hungary, he met the love of his life,
Anneliesse. They were soon married and fulfilled part of Andy’s
dream by immigrating to the United States in 1952. Andy worked in a
bakery and at a dairy farm in order to provide for his family. He
became a U.S. citizen in 1956 and was hired by Worthington Pump
Corp. as a pattern maker that same year.
Andy worked diligently for several years and saved every penny he
could. After years of hard work and exposure in the industry, Andy
founded BERMAG Corp., Inc. in 1983. The company was started in
Fairfield, New Jersey. The business grew with each passing year. In
1993, Andy chose to relocate the business to Hickman, Kentucky.
After moving to Kentucky, Andy immediately started looking for
someone to manage his business and help relieve him of some of his
duties.
In 1996, Andy crossed paths with Jamie Madding, who was completing
his studies at what is now West KY Community and Technical College.
Andy hired Jamie and their business relationship as well as their
friendship grew with each passing year. To this day, Jamie describes
Andy as a type of third grandfather.
Several years later, Andy became sick and passed away at the age of
74 on August 29, 2004. During his life, he accomplished much. He
graduated from the Newark College of Engineering where he was
awarded the Mechanical Design Certificate in 1963. He served as
President of the Hickman, KY chapter of Rotary International for one
year. He donated many plaques and signs around Hickman for various
benefits. He was awarded the “Citizen Of The Year” award from the
city of Hickman in 1998. He was a proud supporter of the local
symphony and theater houses for years. Andy was well known around
Western Kentucky for his generosity and contributions to mankind.
“A good job takes a long time, but a
bad job takes twice as long.”
-Andrew E. Bujtas
07/21/30-08/29/04 |
Proud to be American!