Jeff Arbuckle’s grandfather and owner of Adversign was Lawrence “Beedy” Arbuckle. He had a successful sign business prior to World War II designing and installing signs for Sealtest Ice Cream Soda and all types of commercial vehicles/trucks in the greater Kansas City area. He practiced the lost sign art of “wall lettering”…hand painted lettering still visible on the exterior brick walls of many of Kansas City’s oldest buildings. Beedy was drafted into the Army in 1943 and served on the island of Saipan until the war ended. He came home and began working for “Adversign Sign Company” at 8th & Grand in downtown KC. When the original owner (Robert Fixley) was injured in an auto accident, Beedy partnered with a fellow sign painter and bought the business in 1947. Eventually, Beedy bought out his partner and Adversign built and moved to a new building on Holmes in downtown Kansas City. As his three sons grew older, they would become an important part of the company. By 1968 Beedy Arbuckle and sons, Gary, Denny and Chris, were all partners in Adversign.
Through the years, many great sign painters and artists worked for Adversign. Their work ranged from hand lettering, gold leaf, screen printing and wall lettering. The accounts, back then, included Russell Stovers Candies, Hallmark Cards, Crown Center, Associated Grocers, Milgram’s Grocery Stores, Safeway, Kroger, Dolly Madison, Texaco, the Country Club Plaza and many others.
In 1980 Beedy Arbuckle retired and turned the company over to his three sons. Four years later, the sons parted ways amicably and started their own sign companies. Eldest son, Gary, kept the Adversign name and the downtown/Holmes location. His wife, Donna, became an integral part of the family business as well.
Jeff Arbuckle, Gary and Donna’s eldest son, joined the family business in 1982 after graduating from William Jewell College. He ultimately took the business over in 2014. He is proud to serve the needs of Adversign’s valuable customers and continues to grow the family business. Adversign operates out of Lee’s Summit now and serves the greater Kansas City area and has traveled to customer sites outside the city.
Our Rich History
Click on any of the images below to view a close up and better understand the traditions of KC’s premier sign companies.
