(Bill) Payne formed Payne Plumbing and Sanitation Company to install septic tanks and do rural plumbing. Utilizing the basic business principle of providing quality service at a reasonable price, and always remembering that customer satisfaction is our most important goal, the business rapidly grew. In 1960, Bill Payne became a licensed Master Plumber in the City of Shreveport and the plumbing dep
artment was expanded to include large residential and small commercial projects. In 1968 the National Association of Plumbing Contractors named Bill Payne the Contractor of the Year. 1970 brought the addition of heating and air conditioning to the services provided. James (Jim) Payne, (son of Bob and brother of Bill) joined the company upon graduation from LSU in 1971, and the commercial department was expanded to include mechanical work on schools, hotels, apartments, hospitals and multi-family buildings. Bob Payne died in 1977 and leadership passed to Bill and Jim, who saw the company increase business at a steady pace and in 1984 the name was changed to The Payne Company to reflect the many services now provided. It was not simply a plumbing company any more, but a company doing plumbing, heating, air conditioning, water and sewer main installation, sheet metal and process piping. The service business grew rapidly and in 1988, Payne Mechanical Services was created to handle this growing segment and today is a vital part of the corporate structure. This division is responsible for all service segments of our industry, providing startup, maintenance, equipment replacement, warranty, and regular service calls. A LINC commercial HVAC franchise was added in 1999, which provided the ability to offer complete guaranteed preventative maintenance programs for all HVAC equipment. In 1988, Bill Payne passed away, and Jim Payne became President. The company has enjoyed continued growth, and in 1991 a third generation Payne joined the company when Ken Payne, son of Jim, joined the organization after graduation from college. Today three of Jim's sons are active in the company - Ken and Kyle in the Mechanical Contracting division and Keith in the Mechanical Services division - carrying on the tradition of family involvement in every aspect from design to service. The philosophy of Bob Payne - customer satisfaction - remains utmost in all of our business decisions.
