Glenn C. Barber, founder of Glenn C. Barber & Associates inc., began the company in 1989 after the death of the remaining major partners of Robbins and Stearns Lumber Company. Robbins and Stearns was a construction company and lumber yard whichbegan in Rapid City in 1911. J.L. Robbins came from Pennsylvania, in 1907 and started several small West River lumberyards to supply homesteaders. In 1911 homesteading was over and Robbins closed his small rural lumberyards, moved to Rapid City and opened what was then the 6th lumberyard in town. In order to move his products he started the “First Time Payment Plan” with terms for homebuyers to buy a home, long before typical home mortgage existed in this area. Robbins built the 1915 Firehouse, a well-known Rapid City landmark, as well as the first JC Penney building on Main Street. By building and financing family homes and building commercial properties for lease, Robbins and his partner Clifton Stearns were able to survive the Great Depression after World War I. Robbins’ Son in Law, Charles Keown and Cecil Urban built Robbindsdale starting with small efficient, low-cost homes for returning veterans. This has grown into an area containing thousands of homes and apartments and what is now South East Rapid City.
Glenn C. Barber joined Robbins and Stearns in 1960 after he graduated from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with an Engineering degree. After operating successfully in Rapid City for 80 years, Robbins and Stearns closed their old, traditional lumberyard and wholesale distribution. At that time they had built 3 major subdivisions. One of those subdivisions, R & S Construction Company, and most of it’s long time employees continued with Glenn C. Barber and became Glenn C.