Father-son work side by side

Nathan Strickland/FCT Chad, Charles and Larry Wells have been carrying on a family tradition working as carpenters in Franklin County. They all learned the trade from their respective father and followed in their footsteps.|Nathan Strickland/FCT

There are several names like Dad, Daddy, Pop, Papa and Ol’ Man used to describe fathers throughout history, but only a few handful have been able to refer to their predominate male role model as boss.
Each man within the Wells family has been calling their father boss for four generations.
Charles Wells, 81, got into the building business underneath his father A.P. Wells of Phil Campbell then finally learned enough to branch out from his dad at age 23.
Charles’ sons, Larry and James, got on the same career path and took up the art of carpentry along side their father.
“I’ve seen my dad go 20 years in this business without taking a vacation,” Larry said. “I guess if you love what you do then it doesn’t seem like you’re working that much.”
Before Larry Wells decided to follow in his father’s footsteps, he began doing side jobs, which resulted in an accident where he lost four fingers on his left hand.
Once Larry got out of the service in 1973, he decided to go to work for his father as a builder.
“I told my dad in ’73 I wasn’t going to do this all my life,” he said. “I haven’t yet but I’m getting close to it. I imagine since my dad is 81 and still working then I’ll probably still be doing this job when I’m 90.”
After learning all he could learn from his father about building, Larry decided to keep the tradition going by branching out with his son Chad and creating Larry Wells and Son Builders.
“I really enjoy having my son around and working together,” Larry said. “There’s nothing he can’t do. He’s a lot better than I was at his age. It’s hard to admit that sometimes, but it is true. He has really learned a lot, deals with people really well and has turned out to be a pretty good carpenter, too.”
Larry said his brother, James, and his dad still work together on building projects and 80 percent of all the work the Wells clan are involved in come from the Russellville area.
Chad Wells has been piddling around working with his father, Larry, on and off since he was 12-years old.
Chad graduated from Russellville High School in 1993 then headed into the workforce doing different jobs here and there but never could get satisfied.
“I’ve tried working for other people,” he said. “I did some landscaping jobs for a bit, but I didn’t like it as much as I like this.”
Chad said he is a father himself of a 3-year old little girl named Lexy and is hesitant on whether or not she can keep the tradition going.
“I may be able to teach her to be a contractor. She sure is bossy enough,” Chad said laughing. “I believe I would like to try and have a boy someday so that I can attempt to keep this tradition going. I plan on doing this for a long time and it would be nice to have some help later in life.”
Larry said he and his son, Chad, stay busy year around.
“We have really been blessed and have stayed busy all year long, but I’ll tell you, Chad will definitely get his vacation in on you,” Larry said jokingly as he looked at his son on break.
Larry and Chad both agree the best office is outside working with their hands.
“If I didn’t love it I sure wouldn’t be out here doing it,” Chad said. “It’s just like any other job, you have your ups and downs, good days and bad days, but it’s our way of living and this is just what I’ve been taught to do all my life.”
Four generations is a long streak and only time will tell if the tradition continues in the Wells family.
“I don’t know if Chad will have me a grandson or not, but the name will probably be changed to Chad and Lexy builders once I’m gone,” Larry said.