2024 ARTISAN HOME TOUR

Homoly Construction’s roots can be traced back to Bela (Bill) Homoly, who left his native Hungary and settled in the Chicago area in 1903. Bela, a “House Carpenter” as per the 1920 Census, learned the art of carpentry from his father, and passed it down to his four sons. The youngest of them, Ernie, also followed in his father’s footsteps and honed his carpentry skills while working for the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Despite suffering injuries and losing some of the use of his right arm during World War II, Ernie persevered and continued to build for many more years in Chicago. Today, Homoly Construction proudly displays his original business card in our office as a testament to our heritage.

Ernie, a master craftsman, passed on his skills to his son Guy, who was brought up learning the art of construction. Guy, however, pursued a different path and enjoyed success as a professional athlete, playing professional football and baseball. Unfortunately, a knee injury forced Guy to retire from sports in the early ’70s, but this paved the way for the Homoly Design Build legacy to continue. Guy’s two sons, Andrew and Casey, joined the business at a young age and worked tirelessly, from their early years through their college days. They were involved in every aspect of the projects, with Guy often assigning them the most challenging tasks. Guy would say, “Remember this boys, get a good education, and get the hell out of the construction business!” Both sons listened, with Andrew graduating with honors in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, and Casey receiving a degree in Chemistry from the same institution. Along the way, Andrew was named MVP of the Cross Country team and Co-Captain of the Track team, while Casey played baseball for Illinois. Although Andrew entered the corporate world in Houston and Casey landed in Texas as well, Homoly Design Build continued to thrive in Chicago.

About four years later, however, Andrew had a life-altering epiphany. He pondered the thought of being on his deathbed and being asked what he had accomplished in his life. He was employed by Exxon at the time and realized that producing gasoline was not the answer! Despite grumbling during the challenging times working with his father, he realized that those were the most cherished moments of his life. He had the privilege of sharing lunch with his father and brother every day while leaving an indelible mark on the world that would endure long after he was gone. It filled him with immense pride to witness the homes and additions his father and grandfather erected in Chicago and the projects he undertook with his brother. He adored the construction process, and how he could blend his creative abilities with his engineering knowledge to create something magnificent.

At that time, Andrew had tied the knot with his college sweetheart, Cathy, who also happened to be a runner at Illinois. As they began building their family, they chose to move to Cathy’s hometown of Kansas City, where a significant portion of Andrew’s family also resided. Today, after 30 years of marriage, Andrew and Cathy have a son and four daughters, with Cathy continuing to work part-time with the company.

In 1997, following a brief employment period with a local engineering firm, Andrew founded Homoly Design Build of Kansas City. The company rapidly expanded and as a result, he required assistance from his father, Guy. After having moved to North Carolina for an early retirement, Guy was eventually convinced by his first grandchild to relocate to Kansas City and assist his son in the business. Guy subsequently joined the company in 1998 and continued working alongside his son until his well-deserved retirement in 2016.

Currently, the next generation has already assumed their place in the company. Mason, who obtained his Civil Engineering degree from the University of Missouri, paid his dues by taking on the “tough jobs” during his summer breaks. He is now an integral part of the team that aims to foster a family environment among the company, its skilled workers, and esteemed clients. Thank you for choosing Homoly Design Build!