This year will mark the 70th anniversary of the J.L. Houston Company of Hopkins. It was founded in 1954 by John L. Houston, after whom the company is named. After months of preparation beforehand, experimental steel tubing was made at the factory for the first time on June 2nd, 1954. The June 3rd, 1954 Hopkins Journal reported the following:
Steel tubing, experimental ones, were made for the first time in Hopkins yesterday (Wednesday) morning at the factory of John Houston in northwest Hopkins.
For the past several months, preparations have been underway to produce steel tubing in Hopkins. First, a concrete block building 28x50 was built by Houston just west of the Mrs. Jesse Albright property. William Cross erected the structure.
Before the roof went on, a 9,000 pound punch and riveting machine were swung into place. With the completion of the building, the five horsepower motor was connected and the curving roll, weighing 6,000 pounds, was moved into place. It is powered by a 7½ horsepower motor.
The factory is to be operated by Francis Hilton, who with the aid of Lester Shell and Ralph Wood, both of Hopkins, will get acquainted with the machinery and learn tube rolling. Ultimately, six or seven men might be needed in the business.
The curving machine can make steel tubing from 8 inches in diameter to 84 inch tubes. They are made in two foot sections and then riveted together, making any length tubes required.
Full scale operation will be started soon.
From those beginnings, the J.L. Houston company has grown to employ 45-50 people, the biggest employer in the Hopkins and Pickering areas along with the school. They now sell tubing all over the country.
John Houston was actively involved in the company and the Hopkins community until his health no longer permitted it in the 1990’s. His death, on October 8th, 1999, made the front page of the October 14th Hopkins Journal:
John Houston, founder of J.L. Houston Company, died Friday, October 8th, 1999.
Mr. Houston was born on May 18th, 1909 in Hopkins to Bruce and Dola McBeth Houston. He was a lifelong resident of Hopkins.
A graduate of Hopkins High School, Mr. Houston completed two years of study at Northwest Missouri State. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Army. He had served in the Italian theatre of operations.
After his discharge from the Army, he worked for Mutti Motor Company in Hopkins as a parts specialist. On weekends during the 1940’s and 1950’s, he sold car and tractor chains as a wholesaler for Lloyd Chain of Maryville as well as a line of copper and brass fittings. He was also in the corrugated metal culverts business, purchasing and selling culverts to counties in Northwest Missouri and neighboring areas.
In 1954, the J.L. Houston Company began with the production of metal products. Metal tubes were to be produced first. He and his son, Ronald, expanded the business in 1967 to include a large variety of steel tanks. Shortly after that, the company was incorporated.
Mr. Houston stayed involved in the company business until ill health in the early 1990’s prevented it.
The J.L. Houston Company is employer to 40 area people and is one of only three plants of its type in the entire state of Missouri.
Mr. Houston was an active member of the Hopkins Christian Church, served on the church board, on various committees, and as a deacon. He served on the City Council of Hopkins, a member of the American Legion, the Hopkins Lions Club, and a member of the Midwestern Culvert Association.
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