Chuck and Ann Roberts mark 49th anniversary

Chuck Roberts and his wife, Ann, celebrated their 49^th wedding anniversary on August 2 on Marco Island, together with family and members of the Florida Transportation Builders Association.

The Roberts were married in Bristol on Aug. 2, 1975 at the Bristol Christian Church.

They are the parents of daughter Andrea Roberts Morris, and son Wesley Roberts, both of Tallahassee. They have two granddaughters.

At age 13, Chuck started working for his dad in the equipment maintenance and repair shop, and after working summers and weekends there for two years, moved to the road crew and started learning how to operate equipment. At age 19, he was superintendent on a 3.2-mile new construction on a rural road in Wakulla County, while also attending Florida State University. His dad would bring payroll checks every Friday, review the previous week’s work, and go over the work plan for the following week. 

While those Friday visits were sometimes challenging, they were an important learning experience for Chuck who just three years later, had to take over management of the company after his dad’s untimely passing in November 1975. He changed the name of the company from C & G Construction Company, Inc. to C. W. Roberts Contracting, Inc. in honor of his father. 

Chuck, who had just gotten married, felt he needed to help his mom, Betty June Roberts, look after his younger brother, George. Their close relationship has allowed them to work together for 42 years, and they now have all their children working in the company as well. 

In 2001, they sold C. W. Roberts Contracting, Inc. to Construction Partners, Inc. and Chuck remained president of the company while becoming a shareholder and board member in CPI. One of the most challenging, and enjoyable projects in his career was rebuilding Highway 98 in Franklin County after damage caused by Hurricane Dennis in 2005. The $10.8 million contract with the Florida Department of Transportation was completed in nine days. 

In 2013, Chuck left CPI and started a new chapter in his construction career with the purchase of Culpepper Construction Company, Inc., a general contracting company in Tallahassee. In 2014, he and George started over in the highway construction business with Roberts and Roberts, Inc., where Chuck serves as president of both companies. He believes the most important aspect of success in the construction business is the relationship you have with other people in the construction industry. 

Chuck served as chairman of the Florida Transportation Builders Association in 1996-97. He also served on the Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida board for 10 years, as well as 12 years on the Northwest Florida Water Management District Board, where he was chairman for eight years, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for six years. 

When not working, Chuck enjoys spending time with his family at their farm in Tallahassee, the mountains in Highlands, North Carolina or the beach at Alligator Point.