In 1932, a local man began collecting scrap metal from a dump yard in Bryan and taking it to a warehouse in Houston, where the materials could be used to support World War II efforts.
Eventually, his work led to a scrap metal businesses being established, and the owner hired his son to help him run the business.
These days, the son -- Paul Madison -- carries on the family tradition, running Madison Metals with the assistance of his son.
Madison was one of three local business owners recognized Tuesday by the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce with Community Impact Awards for their contributions to the area.
Daniel Hernandez, a partner in the Hernandez Law Firm, and Charlotte Green, the owner of Chrome: A Salon Experience, also received the award.
The award was created in 2003 to recognize Hispanic, African-American, Asian, American-Indian and female business owners who otherwise might have been overlooked, officials said.
To be eligible for the award, businesses must be a member of the Chamber of Commerce, qualify as a Historically Underutilized Business with at least 51 percent minority or female ownership and must be at least five years old.
Becoming a stylist wasn't really a choice for Green, but more of a calling, she said.
"I think I was born with a brush in my hand," she said. "There's nothing else I've ever wanted to do."
Growing up, Green would turn her mother's kitchen into a salon and practice on "clients" -- her friends. By the time she was 18, she was a licensed hairstylist and had a job lined up in Houston, she said.
Before opening shop in College Station, Green said, she worked in salons in Paris and New York City.
When her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, she decided to leave her big-city life and head back to Texas.
In the late '90s, Green's sister helped her by purchasing a salon, which they ran together.
About five years ago, Green took over the business and moved it to its current location on University Drive.
At that time, she had four stylists; she now has around 22 and plans to open a new salon in the spring.
Being a woman in the business world has its challenges, she said.
"Sometimes people don't take you seriously, or they don't think you're smart enough," Green said.
But Green, a certified Redkin 5th Avenue educator, said most of her experiences have been positive, and she learns from the hard ones.
Hernandez said he doesn't like to use the word "minority," nor does he see himself as one.
"I see myself as a lawyer that happens to be Hispanic," he said. "Going up against different law firms in Texas, we don't look at ourselves as being different. When you're before a jury or a court, it's really a matter of who's prepared and what's presented."
His career includes working as the assistant general counsel and chief of litigation for the Texas A&M University System in the 1990s and, in 2004, he was named associate vice chancellor for diversity and community development for the system.
In 2002, he opened his firm, which, he said, works to defend the best interests of people and corporations from diverse backgrounds.
"We pride ourselves in working hard and representing all kinds of people, and all levels of folks," he said. "I feel humbled that our law firm has been recognized. There are a lot of other businesses that do a lot of good work."
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