amarillo chamber of commerce - HPN Books

FRANK’S REPAIRPLUMBING, INC.Above: Frank E. Willburn, grandfather,helping a customer, c. 1960.Below: Back row, left to right: Frank O. M.Willburn, Jack D. Willburn, and John L.Willburn. Front row, left to right: KennethA. Willburn, Frank M. Willburn, andFrank O. Willburn.Frank Edward Marion Willburn started hisplumbing business in 1953 with a small fleetof pink, white, and black trucks. He could nothave known that two generations later, overforty trucks would be traveling the streets ofAmarillo as well as other cities in the TexasPanhandle, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.In 1968, after Amarillo Air Force Baseclosed, Willburn sold the business to hisson, Frank Overton Willburn, and movedto Houston. Frank O. continued to growand expand the presence of Frank’s RepairPlumbing in the community until he retiredin 1999 when two of his sons, Frank Marionand John Leroy Willburn, assumed control.Frank’s Repair Plumbing advanced with thetimes by navigating through changes in theplumbing, heating, and cooling industry andweathering challenging economic climates.Today, the scope of work performed by Frank’sincludes service and repair of homeowners’existing plumbing and heating and coolingsystems, installation of heating, ventilating,and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Theyalso provide plumbing for new home constructionas well as light commercial projects.Frank’s began flat rate service pricing inSeptember 1998 to better serve their customers.By having a predetermined price for ajob, the customer knows the cost in advance,enabling him to make an informed decision.In 2011, Frank’s has a workforce of seventy.The Willburns believe the company’sstrong and consistent growth through theyears is indicative of employees’ dedicationto the company and to the high standard ofproviding customers with quality workand the same superior service initiated byFrank E. Willburn sixty years ago. Frank’sRepair Plumbing has received “Amarillo’s BestPlumber” award numerous times in theAmarillo Globe-News readers’ poll.As Amarillo natives, Frank and John havegreat incentive to give back to the communitythey call home. Frank’s Repair Plumbingproudly supports Opportunity School,Martha’s Home, Ronald McDonald House,and High Plains Children’s Home, amongother organizations.Frank and John, third generation owners,believe their grandfather would be pleased toknow that at least fifteen of his descendantshave chosen plumbing fortheir vocation. Currently,family members withFrank’s Repair Plumbinginclude co-owner FrankMarion Willburn, and hissons, Frank OvertonMarion Willburn, andKenneth Aaron Willburn,co-owner John LeroyWillburn, and brother JackDaniel Willburn. Theybelieve plumbing is a necessaryand respected professionand are committedto serving families in theAmarillo area now and inthe generations to come.AMARILLO - Faces, Places & Open Spaces270