From 1945 to Today: A Family Lumber Yard’s Living Legacy

Roots in 1945: A Post-War Beginning

The RoMac story begins in 1945, just after World War II, when three brothers purchased half of McDonald Building Supply. Within two years, they bought out the remainder, launching what would become one of Central Florida’s most trusted lumber and building supply companies.

For the next generation, the lessons began early. “When I was about eight years old, my first job was to take things off the shelves in the showroom, wipe them down with a bucket of water, dry them, and put them back,” recalls Dan Sr. That work ethic carried through high school and college, instilling a lifelong connection to the family business.

A Career Crossroads

Although Dan Sr. always imagined returning to the lumber yard, his parents encouraged him to study law. “I wasn’t sure why, but I went,” he explains. Law school gave him trial experience and practical skills, and for a time, it seemed like his future was set. But the lumber yard remained a calling he couldn’t ignore.

1972: Trial by Fire

On October 7, 1972, tragedy struck. Dan Sr. had just returned from military service when a massive fire engulfed the yard. “We turned the corner and the whole sky lit up,” he remembers. Nearly everything was destroyed, save for one warehouse.

At the time, no insurance company would cover lumber yards. The loss could have ended the business. But Dan’s father refused to give up. “I asked him why he wanted to rebuild,” Dan Sr. shares. “He said, ‘All these people won’t have jobs.’”

A Community That Showed Up

What happened next underscored how deeply rooted the business had become. The very next day, contractors arrived unprompted, offering trucks, storage, and labor. “Some gave us free storage. Others showed up on weekends with dump trucks and loaders to clear debris,” recalls Dan Sr. “The community just pulled together.”

That support ensured RoMac would not just survive, but thrive—cementing the yard’s place as a cornerstone of the region’s building industry.

A Family’s Call in 1988

In 1988, the business faced another turning point when Dan Sr.’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. “He told me he wanted me to come run the lumber yard,” Dan Sr. says. “I told him to sell it, but he said, ‘I don’t want to sell it. I want you to come run it.’”

Dan returned, bringing along five paralegals from his law practice—one of whom still works with him today. With longtime manager Woody Wagner, who had started at the yard in high school, the business remained steady under careful stewardship.

Growth Through People

After Wagner’s retirement, a recruiter introduced the family to Don. Though hesitant at first, Don eventually said yes. “He’s been the best thing that could have happened to the company,” says Dan Sr. “He’s grown it exponentially. He has an uncanny knack for hiring the right people and making things happen.”

Through ups and downs, the secret to RoMac’s success has never changed. “This business is always cyclical, but RoMac is successful for one reason: it’s the employees,” Dan Sr. emphasizes. “We’re only as good as the people delivering the wood, building the doors, and hanging garage doors. Our job is to make sure they’re happy and want to stay here.”

Why the Legacy Endures

Nearly 80 years after its founding, RoMac’s legacy is built on more than wood and nails. It is a story of family resilience, community support, and employees whose dedication defines every delivery, door, and project.

Or, as Dan Sr. puts it: “It’s just because of them that we’re here.”