Company founder, Abraham Vexler, fled Romania in 1887 at the age of 16 amidst social
and political turmoil. Having gained his parents blessing, young Abraham boarded a ship for the new world
never to see them again. Expecting to arrive in the United States, Abe was disappointed to learn that he
had boarded a ship bound for Montreal, Canada. Being short on cash but having a strong back and even stronger
will, Abe worked as a stevedore loading and unloading ships to earn his keep. Eventually, he saw value
in the things that people were throwing away and began collecting bottles, rags, and scrap metal for recycling.
In 1908 a recession hit Montreal and
Abe set off for new opportunities in Texas. Believing opportunity existed in moving scrap from Mexico into the U.S., he set off for
Monterrey, Mexico, the company’s namesake. These were turbulent times in Mexico, and in 1912 he was aboard a train
that was hijacked by Pancho Villa. All of the American men aboard were taken hostage and never heard from again.
Abe, being a Canadian, was spared.
Once again trying to escape unrest, Abraham settled in San Antonio in 1916.
Building a hand cut limestone warehouse at the corners of Medina and Chihuaha streets, he and a handful of hard workers and
a few horse and buggy rigs began the local scrap operation.
The next
challenge to hit Abraham was felt by everyone around the country, The Great Depression. Business had slowed to a near
halt, but thanks to a good friend and a generous banker, Franz Groos, Abe kept the plant and made it through with even stronger
resolve to succeed.
During World War II, the scrap industry was called upon
to collect and process the metals needed to support our troops during those desperate times. All three
of his sons, Sheldon, Harold and Marvin served their country during the war. In February of 1944 Abraham
celebrated the birth of his first grandchild, Jack. Two months later Abe passed away.
