Military service during World War II brought the founding principals of Morley Building Company to Southern California for the first time. Morley Benjamin returned in 1947 to build a few single family homes in Pacoima, then larger tracts in Lakewood and Whittier. A year later, he was joined by Sherman "Tex" Given and they remained partners for 33 years.

During the 1950s, the re-named Morley Construction Company moved into competitively bid public work, completing schools and civic buildings throughout the region. In the '60s and '70s, construction for private clients predominated, often based on negotiated contracts with repeat customers. The company built commercial buildings, recording and television studios, and thousands of apartment units.

Bert Lewitt signed on as a project manager in 1970, and Mark Benjamin, Morley's son, started as an apprentice carpenter shortly thereafter. The salaried staff grew, as did the numbers of craft workers in the field. Tex Given retired in 1980, which began the transition to a new generation of leadership.

The '80s were a decade of growth and change. The salaried staff continued to expand as new middle managers and college recruits joined the company. An employee ownership plan was created to give staff a stake in the company's progress. In 1984, Benchmark Contractors, Inc. was formed as an open-shop contractor to meet the needs of the growing residential market. At the same time, a holding company, now known as Morley Builders, was formed to help market our services.

The recruiting and training during the ‘80s and ‘90s provided the learning opportunities for Morley’s current management team and division leaders. Our financial strength has increased, allowing us to take on even larger projects. Human resources continue to be enhanced by training through our own Morley University and through external seminars and local university programs. State-of-the-art technologies permit rapid communications, more detailed and accessible records, and accurate estimate of costs and schedules. Mark Benjamin and Bert Lewitt still provide their leadership and wisdom to the current management team, and they inspire the creative construction solutions for which Morley’s staff is known.

After 60 years of progress, we are poised for an active future. Experience tells us that it too, will be a time of change and that trends we cannot now see will emerge. We are pleased to be headquartered in Southern California - the region is a focal point for entrepreneurial leaders and an economic engine for the world. We intend to provide the construction leadership, the right tools and especially the skilled, creative people to meet any challenge.