Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Justin Hunter
For several years, on his way home from Birmingham each day, Ben Lollar would drive by the former Walker County Heating and Air office as it sat vacant in a quiet, unassuming location outside Downtown Jasper. This building would one day allow Ben to come off the road and establish his business, Lollar Mechanical Services, in 2021 – the culmination of years spent working hard, traveling the state, and learning about the HVAC industry.
Ben grew up in Oakman, AL, graduating from Oakman High School before attending Bevill State Community College. However, after cycling through several career options, Ben’s lifelong career was ultimately inspired by his father.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I went to school for several different things, and they never stuck. The only thing that stuck was HVAC service,” says Ben. “My daddy had his own company, and I rode around with him one day, learning how things worked. And it just made sense.”
Ben completed his education at Bevill State and interviewed at an HVAC company in Birmingham on September 11, 2001, a harrowing day in American history.
“The day of that interview just sticks in my mind because I didn’t know what to do or if I still needed to go to this interview, but I ended up going to it,” Ben recalls. “It had a weird feeling, but it worked out because my whole career spanned from it. It shows that the dark ages sometimes bring some pretty good light.”
Ben spent years working from state line to state line, which resulted in missed family time. Though he was just a ‘phone call away,’ he would often be hours from home if family emergencies came about. Ben decided it was time to return home for good.
Today, Lollar Mechanical Services aids the Jasper community, providing commercial and residential HVAC installations, repairs, and maintenance. He also enjoys the more personal aspect of owning his local business and the relationships he forms with his clients.
In short, Lollar Mechanical Services can be summed up with these words: “We make a place feel good for people to come into!” WL
For Sales, Service, and Installation, Contact Lollar Mechanical Services at (205) 689-3573.
