Our History

On April 7, 1923, Walker Littlebury Gary incorporated his plumbing. Heating, and roofing business under the name W. L. Gary Company, Inc. (Gary Company) at 3111 14th Street. N.W., Washington, D.C. He issued 220 shares of stock as follows:

20 shares to Philip S. Moorhead, son-in-law, 20 shares to Clayton B. Reichard, 20 shares to Harvey Simms, 10 shares to William Spencer Gary, his son, and 150 shares to himself. His younger son, William T. Gary (Bill), received one share from his father in April 1925, the same year he graduated from St. Johns High School. The business continued this way until 1930.

On May 20th, 1930, the 58-year-old founder, Walker Littlebury Gary, passed away leaving behind quite a legacy. Gary Company had grown to 3 locations: the main office at 14th Street, N.W. and satellites at 1237 You Street, N.W. and 5516 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Walker had been known for his innovation and his dedication to ethics. In November, Walkers' eldest son, William Spencer Gary, passed away at the age of 36. The younger son, Bill, left his college studies to run the business for his mother, Roy Spencer, who was the current president. In 1941, Bill hired his nephew, William C. "Buddy” Greer, to help around the office. Buddy learned bookkeeping through correspondence courses and from Phillip S. Moorhead. Buddy eventually took over the office operations for Bill and the two were the management team through the forties, fifties and sixties.

During the forties, Gary Company joined the war effort through a contract with the Department of the Navy. The sheet metal shop was contracted to build scale model ships for the David Taylor Model Basin. The Navy would test the ships and send them back for repairs.

During the 1968 riots, the main office at 3111 14th Street, N.W. was burned down. This building had been purchased prior to 1913 by Walker and his wife, Roy and had housed the company since before its incorporation in 1923. The building could not be salvaged. Gary Company had to find a new location. They set up temporary offices with a friend, Tuckman-Barbee Construction Co., whose owners opened their hearts and offices to provide temporary quarters for Gary Company. After a few months, Gary Company moved to its present location at 225 Vine Street N.W. Washington, D.C.

In 1974, Joseph (Joe) R. Dent was brought into the office to help Buddy run the service department. In 1977 Bill, the third president of Gary Company, passed away after a battle with cancer. His widow, Anne Gary, became president, and Buddy was general manager, running the day to day operations. In 1983, Anne sold her interest in the company to her nephew, Buddy, who became the fifth president. Shortly thereafter, Buddy sold stock to Joe and his sons, Brooke C. Greer and W. Randall Greer. In 1990, Joe was named president of Gary Company and Buddy became Chairman of the Board.

In November 1991, after 50 years with the company, Buddy, as Bill before him, passed away after a battle with cancer. He left the company in the capable hands of Joe, the only non-family member to hold the office of president. Seven years later, Joe would announce his retirement and turn over the presidency to Brooke. Joe's son, Mike Dent, a project manager who has been with Gary Company since 1993, acquired his stock.

Currently Brooke is serving as the 7th president of W. L Gary Company, Inc. Assisting him in running the company are the two executive vice presidents, W. Randall Greer and Michael A. Dent. Mike runs the construction department and Randy oversees the service department. They, along with the project managers, customer service representatives and service manager have an average of over 30 years experience in the industry as well as an average of 16.5 years of service to the customers of W. L. Gary Company.

From its early history to now, Gary Company has been family owned, family operated and family oriented. The present management team would like to thank all the dedicated people who have made W. L. Gary Company, Inc. successful over the past 85 years of incorporation. We commit ourselves to continue with the legacy started by Walter Littlebury Gary; that of dedicated service to our customers in an ethical, professional manner.