Building Pratt: The Story of Robert Smiley and Smiley Concrete & Construction
- Cody Eastes
- Aug 16
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
For Robert Smiley, building a successful business has never been just about concrete. It’s about building something bigger for the community he calls home.
If you grew up in Pratt, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the work of Smiley Concrete & Construction.
Maybe it’s a driveway. Maybe it’s a commercial project. Maybe it’s one of the larger construction projects that have helped shape Pratt over the years.
But for Robert Smiley, the work has always been about more than what gets built.
It’s about who it’s built for.
Pratt Was Always “The City”
Robert grew up in nearby Stafford, but from an early age, Pratt felt like a big part of his world.
As a kid, Pratt was “the city.” It was where you went for the grocery store, resources and, of course, the big games.
His connection to Pratt grew even stronger when he started youth wrestling in first grade. Three times a week, Robert made the trip to Pratt to wrestle under the legendary Don Tilman.
Those early trips did more than introduce him to wrestling. They introduced him to people and helped create friendships and connections that would last a lifetime.
Eventually, Robert would participate in basketball, football and track as well.
Looking back, he considers athletics one of his greatest teachers.
The lessons were simple but important: work hard, be accountable, rely on your teammates and don't quit when things get difficult.
Those lessons would eventually become a big part of the way Robert approached business.
Taking a Chance
Smiley Concrete & Construction started in 2007, and Robert didn't exactly ease into entrepreneurship.
Within a 24-hour period, he quit his stable job to start his own company—and then got married the next day.
The first year was a grind.
After paying the debts required to get the business started, the company cleared only about $4,000.
But quitting wasn't really an option.
Robert approached the new business much like he approached athletics: take on the next challenge, figure it out and keep moving forward.
His philosophy was to take on something just outside his comfort zone. Once that challenge became manageable, it was time to find the next one.
That mindset helped transform Smiley Concrete from a company doing local driveways into a business capable of taking on major commercial and infrastructure projects.
From Local Projects to Major Construction
One of the biggest early milestones came when Smiley Concrete landed its first million-dollar contract with the Casey’s project.
That project helped prove that a company based in Pratt could handle major commercial work.
The company also worked on the new Fire and EMS Department facility east of town.
Then came the 2019 Pratt Lake rebuild.
The project came after record flooding and demanded long hours and plenty of sleepless nights from Robert and his team.
They stuck with it and finished the job, which was eventually recognized as the top project in the state of Kansas.
The project also created new opportunities for Smiley Concrete.
The relationships Robert developed with engineering firms during the rebuild eventually led to work on specialized wind farm construction and regional bridge replacements.
For Robert, it was proof that you don't have to leave Pratt to build a company capable of competing at a high level.
Dreaming Bigger: The Point Pavilion
Today, Robert's vision for Pratt extends well beyond his own company.
He's helping bring a much larger project to life with the Point Pavilion, a planned 95,000-square-foot facility that will become the largest building in Pratt County.
The idea dates back to a 2019 Rotary presentation, when Robert proposed creating a facility that could serve the community without placing a burden on local taxpayers.
The motivation is personal.
As a father of four, Robert has spent years traveling for youth sports. He's experienced firsthand the amount of time and money families spend traveling for tournaments and other activities.
The Point Pavilion is designed to give those families another option—to keep more of those activities, families and dollars right here in Pratt.
The project is intended to complement existing facilities such as Bill Keller Family Stadium, Blythe Family Fitness Center and Green Sports Complex while helping create a stronger year-round economy.
For Robert, it's another opportunity to make Pratt a destination rather than a place people have to leave to find what they're looking for.
Investing in the Next Generation
Robert's commitment to Pratt isn't limited to construction projects.
He believes strongly in supporting the people and organizations that make the community better.
That includes youth sports, local organizations and local media.
His support of Eastes Media is an example of that philosophy. Robert believes in backing people who demonstrate a strong work ethic and passion for what they do.
Ultimately, he sees those investments as investments in Pratt's future—and in the future of his own children.
Robert doesn't believe Pratt has to look toward Wichita, Kansas City or anywhere else to find big opportunities.
In fact, he believes the opposite.
“Rather than start looking outside Pratt to get bigger, why don’t we just make it bigger within?”
That may be the simplest way to understand Robert Smiley's approach to his hometown.
Building Something That Lasts
Robert's story isn't really about concrete.
It's about taking a chance.
It's about refusing to quit.
It's about learning from every challenge and then looking for the next one.
And perhaps most importantly, it's about giving back to the community that helped shape him.
The young boy from Stafford who once looked at Pratt as the “city of opportunity” is now helping create those opportunities for the next generation.
Through Smiley Concrete & Construction, Robert has spent nearly two decades building things that will physically remain in the community.
Through his investment in Pratt, he's working to build something that may last even longer—a community where families can live, compete, work and dream bigger without having to look somewhere else.
Robert Smiley isn't just building with concrete. He's helping build Pratt.
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