Located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Our History
A Century of Craftsmanship: The History of the Johnson Companies
The roots of the Johnson Companies trace back to 1918, when J.K. Johnson arrived in the Shoals area from Prentiss, Mississippi, drawn by the unprecedented construction activity surrounding Wilson Dam and the TVA nitrate plant. Like many skilled tradesmen of the era, J.K. Johnson began humbly—working out of the basement of the Sheffield Hotel and going door to door in Sheffield, Alabama, offering plumbing services to local homeowners.
During those early years, J.K. Johnson played a direct role in the growth of the community. He performed much of the plumbing work for homes in Village 1 in Sheffield, helping support housing development tied to the region’s expanding industrial base. From the beginning, his work was defined by craftsmanship, reliability, and a willingness to take on the jobs that helped build the Shoals.
In 1919, when Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 760 was organized, J.K. Johnson signed on as soon as he was able. That decision established a defining principle of the company—a commitment to union labor—that has remained unchanged for more than a century. The Johnson Companies have proudly operated as a union contractor ever since, building a workforce grounded in training, safety, and skilled execution.
Following World War II, the company entered a new phase of growth. J.K. Johnson’s son, Howard Johnson, returned home after serving in the United States Navy and completing college at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University), where he earned an engineering degree. With a vision to expand beyond small-scale residential work, Howard joined his father in the business and focused on growing its technical capabilities and project scale.
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In the late 1950s, Howard hired Clyde Roberts as a bookkeeper, strengthening the company’s administrative foundation. Shortly thereafter, in 1960, the business formally incorporated as J.K. Johnson Mechanical Contractors, Inc. That same year marked another major milestone: the company relocated to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, constructing the facility that continues to serve as its headquarters today.
As industrial and commercial construction opportunities expanded throughout the region, the organization continued to evolve. In 1973, Johnson Contractors, Inc. was established and incorporated, allowing the company to perform general contracting services alongside its mechanical expertise. This multi-discipline structure positioned the Johnson Companies to serve increasingly complex industrial, manufacturing, commercial, and governmental clients.
Around 1982, Clyde Roberts purchased the company from the Johnson family, ensuring continuity while guiding the organization through decades of steady growth. Under his leadership, the company expanded its workforce, capabilities, and reputation across the Southeast.
In 2011, long-time employees Bill Strickland and Thomas Counts acquired the company from Clyde Roberts, reinforcing a tradition that leadership should come from those who know the work firsthand. Their tenure emphasized operational excellence, safety, and customer relationships built over years—often generations—of repeat work.
When Bill Strickland retired in 2024, he sold his ownership interest to a group of internal leaders: Janice Grimes, the company’s Corporate Controller, along with Rusty DePoyster, Derrick Humphries, and Kyle Butler, all experienced project managers. Together with Thomas Counts, this leadership team continues to guide the Johnson Companies with the same values that shaped its earliest days—skilled union labor, integrity, and a commitment to doing work the right way.
Today, operating as Johnson Contractors, Inc., J.K. Johnson Mechanical Contractors, Inc., and Johnson Electric Company, Inc., the Johnson Companies remain proudly headquartered in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. More than a century after J.K. Johnson first knocked on doors in Sheffield, the company continues to build the infrastructure, facilities, and industries that support the region—carrying forward a legacy of craftsmanship that began in 1918.
