Our Company's History |
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We trace our roots back to about 1909, when Frank Davidson and Edmund
G. Harris, bought the George G. Doyle Plumbing Company. They changed the
name to Davidson & Harris Plumbing Company, which was John W. Dudley began plumbing around 1899, when he moved to Salt Lake City from Montana. Apparently, he took some classes at the LDS Business College and started his apprenticeship with Carthey & Dumbeck Co. In 1904, he was employed by Will Rees Plumbing Co., where he remained until 1912. At that point, he went on his own by purchasing Irving M. Higley's Plumbing and Lighting business and renamed it the Higley-Dudley Plumbing Co. They had a shop at 109 East First South, Salt Lake City, which featured a showroom with both light fixtures and plumbing fixtures. Higley-Dudley Co. continued until 1917 or 1918 when John W. Dudley decided to quit the plumbing business and run a fish hatchery in the Millcreek area of Salt Lake City. After a year or so of the fish business, he returned to plumbing with the Will Rees Plumbing Co. He continued with Will Rees and eventually became the corporate secretary in 1922, and the secretary treasurer in 1929. In 1931, he went out on his own again and became the owner of the newly incorporated Harris-Dudley Plumbing Co. In 1941, John W. Dudley sold the company to his son, Ross
Robert B. (Bob) Dudley (sitting in the truck) completed his apprenticeship and became a licensed Journeyman plumber in 1990 and was graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Business in 1992. He is currently serving as President of the Radiant Panel Association's Utah Chapter.
The photo on the right is of John R. Dudley, the current owner, and his two boys Mike and Bob. It was taken in the doorway of the new shop (see above) in 1972. Mike and Bob are currently part owners, making them the fourth generation of Dudley's to own the Harris-Dudley Plumbing & Heating Co. In March, 2004, the Harris-Dudley Co. relocated to a new, state of the art facility. Located at 3039 South Specialty Circle, the 19,000-square-foot building features increased inventory space, fleet parking, and a radiant-floor, heated showroom where customers can view products. |