The origins of Homoly Design Build and Homoly Solar can be traced to Bela (Bill) Homoly, who emigrated from Hungary to the Chicago area in 1903. A “House Carpenter” according to the 1920 Census, Bela learned the trade from his father before him. Bela had four sons and the youngest, Ernie, learned the trade as well. Ernie utilized his carpentry skills in the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) camps during the Great Depression. Ernie later went on to fight in World War II and was wounded on the Pacific front. Despite losing some of the use of his right arm due to his injuries, Ernie went on to build for many more years in the Chicago area. His original business card is proudly displayed in our office.

Ernie trained his son Guy to follow in his footsteps. Guy learned the trade growing up, but embarked on a professional football and baseball career after his Illinois State Redbird baseball team won the school’s only National Championship in 1969. He went on to play baseball for the San Francisco Giants and football for the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, and Cincinnati Bengals. A knee injury cut his athletic career short in the early ‘70’s, but this allowed Homoly Design Build of Chicago to live on. Guy had two sons and both quickly joined him in the business. Andy and Casey put in many long hours from about age 10 through their senior years of college. Working all summer and many weekends, they personally did the work of most of the trades. They poured their own concrete, framed, roofed, plumbed, wired, insulated, sheet rocked, trimmed, painted, tiled, cleaned, and landscaped virtually every project. Guy would often give his sons the toughest jobs and say, “Boys, remember this. Get a good education and get the hell out of the construction business!”

The boys listened with Andy receiving his Civil Engineering degree (emphasis in Environmental Engineering and Project Management) with Honors from the University of Illinois (typically ranked top in the country). Along the way Andy ran Cross Country and Track earning all Big Ten honors. While Homoly Design Build rolled along in Chicago, Andy joined the corporate world in Houston.

About four years later, however, Andy had a life changing epiphany. He wondered what it would be like on his deathbed if he was asked what he had done with his life. He was working for Exxon at the time and realized making a lot of gasoline was not the answer! He truly loved to build things and make the world a better place and despite a lot of grumbling during those hard years with his dad, he realized those were actually the best of times. He got to eat lunch with his dad and brother every day and leave a beautiful mark on the world that would be there long after he was gone. It gave him great pride to see the homes and additions his grandfather and father had built in Chicago and the projects he had created with his dad and brother. He loved the building process and how he could combine his creative side with his engineering knowledge of how to put things together.

Around 2010, Andy brought multiple high performance projects to the only solar installer in town as his clients had been asking for this service. During this lunch meeting, Andy realized his clients were not going to receive the service they deserved. He had the technical background and trade partners that performed roofing, electrical, framing, etc. needed to install panels. He was good friends with the “godfather of solar” in Kansas City, who had recently sold the aforementioned installation company. On the way home from that lunch with confirmation his friend would provide the design work, Andy launched Solar and Wind KC, which soon became Homoly Solar!

The next generation is already here. Mason, a Civil Engineering graduate from the University of Missouri, has paid his dues with the “tough jobs” over the summers. He joins a great team of folks who have embraced the family atmosphere we wish to cultivate within our company, tradespeople, and clients. 

Thank you for choosing Homoly Solar!