For six generations, our family members have grown up working alongside siblings and cousins in the company. For many of us, the family business was a first job in middle school or high school. Through the last 50+ years, many DeLong family members and spouses have worked at the company at some point in their lives. Below are the individuals who have been primarily active in the business from each generation.
2nd Generation
Florabelle DeLong, wife of William DeLong Jr., who served as an owner and vice president, respectively, became inactive in the company in 1966 due to illness and deceased on May 12, 1979.
William DeLong, Jr. deceased January 9th, 1982 after an accident and brief illness, having spent 53 years with the company, the last 31 years as its chief managing partner and later president. The couple had two sons, both of whom worked in the family business.
3rd Generation
William B. DeLong, after his return from the Army in 1950, joined the company and guided the company through much of its growth in the grain and liquid fertilizer business. He suffered a series of heart attacks and strokes commencing April 15, 1975 and retired in 1982 to De Leon Springs, Florida. He deceased on January 16, 1992.
Delmar E. DeLong started with the company after his return from the Army in 1955. He left to practice law in 1966 and served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1970-1982. Upon his father’s death in 1982, he returned to serve as president until his retirement in 1994 to Ocala, Florida. He deceased June 30, 1999.
4th Generation
William C. (Bo) DeLong, son of William B., started full-time in 1974 working in the fertilizer division. In 1982, he became head of the grain division and currently serves as Vice President of Grain.
David D. DeLong, son of Delmar, started full-time in 1975 working in the fertilizer division. In 1982, he became head of the fertilizer division and served as CEO/President from 1995 to 2022; he currently serves as Vice President of Agronomy.
Charles (Chick) DeLong, son of William B., started full-time in 1977 working in the grain division and later in the feed division. In 1982, he became head of the feed division and currently serves as Vice President of Wholesale. He also is head of DeLco Transport.
Daniel (Dan) DeLong, son of Delmar, started full-time in 1977 in the feed division and served as the manager of DeLco Transport and on the board of directors until 2009. Dan deceased January 2010.
Jesse (Jay) DeLong, son of William B., started full-time in 1981 in the feed division and later grain division. He served on the board, safety board and in the feed division until his retirement in 2023.
Robert (Bob) DeLong, son of Delmar, was elected to the board in 2008 and served until 2022.
Peggy (DeLong) Peissig, daughter of William B., was elected to the board in 2008 and served until 2021.
5th Generation
Christopher (Chris) R. DeLong, son of Bo DeLong, was elected to the board in 2019. Chris has been with the company full-time since 2011 in the grain division. He was named President in 2023; Christopher currently serves as CEO/President and Treasurer of the board.
William (Pat) DeLong, son of Bo DeLong, was elected to the board in 2019. Pat has been with the company full-time since 2002 in the grain division. He currently serves as Vice President of Operations and Secretary of the board.
Jordan G. DeLong, son of Chick DeLong, was elected to the board of directors in 2021. Jordan has worked full-time in the agronomy division of the company since 2011 and is the agronomy sales manager.
Whitney (Peissig) Thome, daughter of Peggy Peissig, was elected to the board of directors in 2021.
Austin P. DeLong, son of Jay DeLong, was elected to the board of directors in 2022. Austin has been with the company full-time since 2013 and is a senior export sales manager with the export division.
Erin E. DeLong Hamburg, daughter of David DeLong, has been with the company full-time since 2003. She is head of marketing communications and PR.
Benjamin (Ben) DeLong, son of Jay DeLong, has been with the company full-time since 2013. He is the Elkhorn agronomy facility manager.
Eric DeLong, son of Jay DeLong, has been with the company full-time since 2015. He is head of merchandising in the grain division.
Gabe Burke, son-in-law of David DeLong, has been with the company since 2007. He is head of IT and software development.
Emily DeLong, daughter-in-law of Charles DeLong, has been with the company since 2023. She is an agent in the DeLco Crop Insurance division.
6th Generation
The DeLong Co., Inc. is family-owned by 4th, 5th and 6th generation direct descendants of William E. DeLong. Our oldest 6th generation family members participate with summer internships and meetings to gain experience in the company.
Board of Directors of The DeLong Co., Inc.
Christopher DeLong, President and Treasurer of the Board
Pat DeLong, Vice President of Operations and Secretary of the Board
David DeLong, Vice President of Agronomy
Bo DeLong, Vice President of Grain
Chick DeLong, Vice President of Wholesale
Jordan DeLong
Whitney (Peissig) Thome
Austin DeLong
Brandon Bickham
