At a site slated to become a transportation depot for cargo near Southwest Florida International Airport, Lee Mar Building and Construction Corp.'s owner and president Butch Felts watched in surprise as a Centennial Edition Cat D5 dozer arrived on site — a special delivery from Kelly Tractor Co.
"It was a true surprise for me, and we feel like Caterpillar has been part of our business since the beginning," Felts said. "It's very exciting to be one of the few to own a 100-year machine and be part of this evolution."
With the acquisition of this limited-edition dozer painted in a bold battleship grey, Lee Mar added to its fleet a symbolic unit that commemorates 100 years of Caterpillar's legacy as a premier manufacturer.
On site at the delivery were Kelly Tractor's sales team and members of the Kelly family — Chris Kelly and Nick Kelly. For Felts, the moment was not just about adding the unique dozer to Lee Mar's fleet, but it also was a testament to the decades-long relationship between Lee Mar and Kelly Tractor.
"The relationship with Kelly has always been a strong part of our business plan," Felts said. "It's my family. That's the way we feel. When we need something, they're there for us."
Andrew Steele, Kelly Tractor's West Coast sales manager, echoed that sentiment.
"We are very excited for Lee Mar to get this piece of history, which encapsulates the partnership that Kelly Tractor and Lee Mar have had for many years," Steele said. "Looking forward to many more years of friendship with Lee Mar."
As a business that has helped shape Southwest Florida for decades, Lee Mar traces its beginnings back to Felts' grandmother, who first established the company. His parents later carried it forward, and today, Felts continues to grow the company along with his son, Luke, who represents the fourth generation of leadership at Lee Mar.
But beyond just its ownership, family at Lee Mar extends to its employees, something Felts takes great pride in.
"It's the family aspect," Felts said. "It's a family-run business, we treat employees like family, and we have long-term people here because of that. We like everybody to be happy coming to work."
That culture of loyalty has shaped Lee Mar's reputation in Southwest Florida, where the company has long been a trusted name in site development and construction since its inception.
The Centennial Edition D5 won't be a showpiece sitting idle — it's already assigned at the site to build a cargo terminal near the airport, a project that will serve as a hub for freight moving in and out of the region.
With more than 40 years of partnership with Kelly Tractor, Lee Mar continues to anchor itself as one of the most dependable contractors in Southwest Florida, according to the company, which "operates with pride in its family roots, while looking toward the future as new projects — such as the cargo transportation depot job — continue to fuel Southwest Florida's growth for generations to come."
