Meet KLMC Management Co-Chair and 2018 KLMC Management Award Winner, Keith Murt.
Keith came from humble beginnings in rural Western KY. A Paducah resident his entire life, Keith learned about hard work at an early age. Beginning with bussing tables at the age of 12 at a local restaurant, the foundation was set for a long and productive career. At the age of 18, Keith went to work for Morsey Inc. in their local mechanical shop as a welder. Following the footsteps of his grandfather, John, and father, Carl, Keith was accepted into the Local 184 Plumbers and Pipefitters in 1978. After spending 11 years working for Morsey, mainly at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, working with several union crafts he decided to take the big step to start his own business.
In 1986, Keith was presented with a golden opportunity to start his own business performing work for local business owner, Jim Smith. Murtco, Inc was formed. Over the past 32 years Murtco has become the foremost plumbing and utility contractor in Western KY using union manpower to perform work. His company has worked on some of the biggest and most complex projects in the area using the union workforce delivering customers the high quality of work they expect. Keith still serves as President of Murtco with his son handling the day to day operations of the company.
Throughout the years Keith has also ventured into other business opportunities in the area. DK Construction was started in 1990 with business partner, Dale Elrod, in the Calvert City chemical plants. After Dale’s death in 2011, the business was sold and continues to perform work in that area today. He also partnered in forming Preferred Industries and CMI. Additional ventures include commercial real estate, an auto dealership and a local racetrack.
Keith has been a fixture throughout the community by being involved with several organizations including serving as the local AGC president in 1984. Some of the organizations he is still involved with are:
• Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship Program
• Plumbers and Pipefitters Health & Welfare Committee
• Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Pension Program
• Co-Chair of the Labor Management Committee
• Board member for the Marshall County Exceptional Children’s Center
Throughout all of his endeavors, Keith’s wife Karla has been by his side. They have been married for 44 years with two children, Keith Jr. and Tiffany. Keith and Karla also have three grandchildren; Conner, Chloe, and Gracie.
All of Keith’s business success is attributed to having good quality union workers and supervision to deliver a quality job.
Keith came from humble beginnings in rural Western KY. A Paducah resident his entire life, Keith learned about hard work at an early age. Beginning with bussing tables at the age of 12 at a local restaurant, the foundation was set for a long and productive career. At the age of 18, Keith went to work for Morsey Inc. in their local mechanical shop as a welder. Following the footsteps of his grandfather, John, and father, Carl, Keith was accepted into the Local 184 Plumbers and Pipefitters in 1978. After spending 11 years working for Morsey, mainly at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, working with several union crafts he decided to take the big step to start his own business.
In 1986, Keith was presented with a golden opportunity to start his own business performing work for local business owner, Jim Smith. Murtco, Inc was formed. Over the past 32 years Murtco has become the foremost plumbing and utility contractor in Western KY using union manpower to perform work. His company has worked on some of the biggest and most complex projects in the area using the union workforce delivering customers the high quality of work they expect. Keith still serves as President of Murtco with his son handling the day to day operations of the company.
Throughout the years Keith has also ventured into other business opportunities in the area. DK Construction was started in 1990 with business partner, Dale Elrod, in the Calvert City chemical plants. After Dale’s death in 2011, the business was sold and continues to perform work in that area today. He also partnered in forming Preferred Industries and CMI. Additional ventures include commercial real estate, an auto dealership and a local racetrack.
Keith has been a fixture throughout the community by being involved with several organizations including serving as the local AGC president in 1984. Some of the organizations he is still involved with are:
• Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship Program
• Plumbers and Pipefitters Health & Welfare Committee
• Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Pension Program
• Co-Chair of the Labor Management Committee
• Board member for the Marshall County Exceptional Children’s Center
Throughout all of his endeavors, Keith’s wife Karla has been by his side. They have been married for 44 years with two children, Keith Jr. and Tiffany. Keith and Karla also have three grandchildren; Conner, Chloe, and Gracie.
All of Keith’s business success is attributed to having good quality union workers and supervision to deliver a quality job.