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November 25, 2009

Tradition of Inola Casting Works will continue

Family business sells to out-of-state buyer, remains locally operated

By Joy Hampton

November 25, 2009 — Inola Casting Works has sold to an out-of-state buyer, but the tradition started nearly two decades ago by Founder George Freeman will live on. Pin Pros owner Craig Fry of Layton, Utah purchased ICW but said local management will remain in place.

“Most of the sales and marketing will be done in Utah,” said Fry, “All of the production will be done here, and David (Freeman) will be the plant manager.”

David is the son of the late George Freeman.

Founded by George Freeman in 1990, Inola Castings is a small, family-owned business that produces a wide range of products sold nationally and some internationally. Housed in a building on the outskirts of the rural community of Inola, it seems incredible to think that ICW produces items such as quality jewelry and the infamous and highly collectible Rolling Stone tongue pins sold at concerts.

After Freeman’s retirement, his children David, Cheryl, and Stephani took on the operation of the company.

Tradition proud and hometown grown, Casting Works found support from local buyers in addition to their other markets. That support became very important as the economy tumbled and cheap labor in places like China threatened the market.

The supportive relationship between the community and ICW was mutual.

When Operation Desert Storm began in 1991, George Freeman got national publicity by making specialized bracelets for family and friends of service members in the Persian Gulf. ICW raised over $3,000 for the USO with sale of the Desert Storm Bracelet.

When a devastating tornado tore through Catoosa in 1993, Freeman designed a pin that helped the town raise $10,00 to rebuild. The Healing in the Heartland pin raised funds for the Oklahoma City Children's Education Fund.

Following 911, the United We Stand pin was created. Sales raised $345,000 for the September 11 fund and $56,000 for the OKVOAD.

The Support Our Troops pin was designed as a mini dog-tag. Freeman, a former soldier, wanted funds to be raised for the USO, again. Over $110,000 was raised for the USO with the sale of the SOT pin.

With the economic downturn in full swing and a decade of company ownership responsibilities weighing on the three siblings, David, Cheryl and Stephani made the difficult decision earlier this year to sell the company.

“When I prayed about this, I prayed our employees could stay and Inola Castings would live on, and it’s going to stay,” said Stephani Freeman, former Vice President of Sales and Customer Service. “Craig is going to take it to a whole new level.”

“David knows what he’s doing here,” said Fry. “I have all of the confidence he’ll keep going and doing what they’ve been doing for 20 years.”

Fry was already in the pin business. ICW offered a “casting type product” he didn’t have.

Most importantly, ICW is “USA Made.”

“I’m very passionate about that,” said Fry. “I wanted to be able to meet that need.”

Fry will come to town as often as possible, and there will be a needed transition period, but he likes the hard working community of Inola.

“It’s not a huge company, it’s something manageable that complimented what I was already doing,” he said. “I’m amazed at the loyalty of their employees.”

Inola Castings will still be taking local orders just like it always has. David Freeman and Fry will work together to make the transition as smooth as possible.

“We’re excited to get it going,” said Fry. “Right now, we’re in the chaos state.”

He said ICW has “great possibilities.”

“I’m looking forward to adding to what’s already been established,” he said.

Stephani and Cheryl will be moving into other business ventures, but they and David expressed their appreciation for the support of community and friends over the years.

“It’s the perfect fit to have David and Craig working together,” said Stephani.

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