Our Story
Three generations.
One family.
Thirty years in Durant.
From a six-year-old sorting scrap on a Fairfield farm to a third-generation business with roots across two Iowa cities.
The Beginning
It started on a farm in Fairfield
Raymond Waddell Jr. was born in 1937 and didn’t wait long to get into the scrap business. By the age of six, he was already collecting and recycling metal on his family’s farm in Fairfield, Iowa — learning early on that there was real value in what others threw away.
After enlisting in the armed services and returning home, Raymond helped run the family’s auto business, B & C Auto. In 1957, he met and married Florence, and a lifelong partnership was born — in life and in business.
Together they founded Waddell Brothers in Blue Grass, Iowa in the 1960s, building it from the ground up over three decades. In 1995, Raymond and Florence moved to Durant and started over, founding Durant Iron & Metal Corp.
Our Motto — Then and Now
“Service comes first.”
Raymond and Florence built this business on one simple belief: that every customer deserves the same honest, attentive service. That hasn’t changed in thirty years, and it never will.
A Timeline
The Waddell story
- 1937 Raymond Waddell Jr. is born — Fairfield, Iowa.
- ~1943 Raymond begins recycling metal on the family farm at age six.
- 1957 Raymond and Florence meet and marry — a lifelong partnership begins.
- 1960s Raymond and Florence establish Waddell Brothers in Blue Grass, Iowa.
- 1995 Raymond and Florence move to Durant and open Durant Iron & Metal Corp.
- 2005 Granddaughter Stephanie Langtimm joins the company — 3rd generation.
- 2013 Raymond Waddell Jr. passes away. Florence carries on the legacy.
- Today Florence, 85, remains at the shop daily. Stephanie carries the legacy forward.
The People Behind the Business
Family at every level
F
Florence Waddell
Owner & Co-Founder
Florence has been the heartbeat of this business since day one — first alongside Raymond, and for the past twelve years, carrying the torch on her own. At 85 years old, she is at the shop every single day. Her dedication, grace, and commitment to doing things right have kept Durant Iron & Metal standing through every season.
S
Stephanie Langtimm
Operations Manager · 3rd Generation
Stephanie came on board in March 2005 as office help and never looked back. Now celebrating 21 years with the company, she knows this business inside and out — from the yard to the books to the lasting customer relationships she’s built over two decades. If you’ve done business with Durant Iron & Metal, chances are you know Stephanie.
O
Our Team
Long-term & family
Many of our employees have been with us since the very beginning. They aren’t just staff — they’re an extension of the Waddell family and a critical part of everything we do. Their loyalty, skill, and dedication show up every single day. At Durant Iron & Metal, everyone who walks through that gate is family.
Honest weights
Certified scales. No games. You get paid for exactly what you bring.
Fair pricing
We keep our rates competitive and update them regularly with the market.
Every customer matters
From a single battery to a full truckload — treated with the same care and respect.
Built on legacy
Over 60 years in the metal business. Three generations and still going strong.
Work with us
Ready to get started?
Whether you’re dropping off a single load or need commercial service — we’re here.