I entered the U.S. Army in 1951 and married Lorraine Whitehaun in 1951. After my army tenure was over I joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and became a journeyman inside wireman. I was employed by several electrical contractors as a job superintendent. While working as an electrician I went into the coin operated laundry business in 1956 and operated 2 locations.

I became interested in the coin operated car wash business and spent one year in research before opening my first location in 1966. I soon became a distributor for a current manufacturer of equipment at that time. After realizing the opportunity in the coin car wash business, I sold my two coin laundries so that I could devote full time to the car wash industry and my customers. The industry was only 4 years old at that time. After a short time I began to produce my own line of equipment. The company experienced continued growth as the self-serve car wash business became more and more popular.

We incorporated in 1979 with my two oldest sons as partners and owners. That same year we moved to a new and larger facility.

We began to develop a distributor network in the early 1980's and the company continued to grow. Within 5 years more space was needed. In 1983 the company moved to our present location, which at that time was a 30,000 sq.ft. tilt up concrete building situated on 3 acres.

Having been an operator in the coin laundry business and the self service carwash business the money handling aspect of the business presented the biggest day to day problem. It was my ambition to develop a credit card system for our industry that would eliminate this time consuming aspect of our business. After many years of research and design the company introduced the Swipe N Clean credit card system to the self serve industry in the year 2000. The company has enjoyed a good growth over the years and has become one of the leaders in new innovations for the self-serve carwash industry.

ASSOCIATIONS:

Assisted with the formation of the Gulf Coast Carwash Association in the late 1970's and later merged with the Southwest Car Wash Association.

EDUCATION:
Graduated St. Thomas High School June, 1949
Electrical Apprenticeship School 1952 - 1955

AWARDS:
1996 Distinguished Service Award to Jim Coleman Company by International Car Wash Association.
1997 Self Serve Car Wash of the Year presented by Southwest Car Wash Association.
1999 8th Place Award out of the top 25 Family Owned Business in Houston, Texas presented by Houston Business Journal
2000 23rd Place out of the top 50 Family Owned Business presented by Houston Business Journal and Family Business Institute.

NEW PROJECTS:
Acquired six acres of land adjacent to the existing property on 34th Street where we plan to expand in the near future.

CURRENT:
Serve on the Board of Directors for Jim Coleman Company Own and operate cattle and game ranch in South Texas. Exhibit and attend ICA Conventions.