Historic Walker County
An illustrated history of the city of Huntsville, Texas, and the Walker County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
An illustrated history of the city of Huntsville, Texas, and the Walker County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
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❖<br />
MCCAFFETY<br />
ELECTRIC CO.,<br />
INC.<br />
Above: Clockwise, starting from the<br />
top left, Eugene, Shirley, Pamela and<br />
Robert McCaffety, December 1966.<br />
The family in 2011. Standing, left to<br />
right, Jeremy Barnes, Danny Wilson,<br />
Eugene, Cody, Robert, Jason, and<br />
Tyler McCaffety. Sitting, left to right,<br />
Amanda Barnes, Lindsay Wilson,<br />
Pam Barnes, Shirley, Frankie, Trisha,<br />
and Lindsey McCaffety. Front, left to<br />
right, Ashley and Austin McCaffety.<br />
Like many who invent a product or start a<br />
business, Eugene McCaffety realized a need and<br />
responded to the challenge.<br />
While being raised in <strong>Walker</strong> <strong>County</strong>,<br />
Eugene McCaffety met Shirley Woods. In the<br />
winter of 1954, the two married and traveled<br />
many states, while he worked in the<br />
construction industry. He was working alone<br />
for Brown & Root one sweltering day in<br />
La Porte, Texas, knee deep in mud, and making<br />
$2.75 an hour. That is when he decided there<br />
must be a better way. He wanted to provide a<br />
better life for Shirley, his son Robert, and<br />
daughter Pamela.<br />
During a visit to Huntsville he learned of<br />
a need for electricians there. Aided by<br />
A. J. Beckham and Bill Jones the journey<br />
began. In December of 1962, Jim<br />
Cates helped Gene file the paperwork,<br />
formally establishing McCaffety Electric<br />
Company. Another friend, Mutt McMillan<br />
helped Eugene’s family move from<br />
Pasadena, Texas into a house rented<br />
from Doyle <strong>Walker</strong>. This home had a<br />
small garage that became Eugene’s first<br />
shop. A 1959 Chevy truck, a few tools<br />
and the drive to build a life here in<br />
Huntsville were the few items that started<br />
McCaffety Electric. With the help of<br />
many new friends and word-of-mouth<br />
advertising, the business began to grow.<br />
In 1967, Shirley opened what was to become<br />
the lighting showroom in a small area of the<br />
shop. Materials and supplies were delivered<br />
once or twice a month by Red Arrow or<br />
Missouri Pacific Freight Lines. The average<br />
pay was $2-$2.75 an hour and a service<br />
charge was $7.50 an hour. Often, payment<br />
was rendered by the exchange of a shovel,<br />
a wheelbarrow, or even a hot meal. As Eugene<br />
recalls, he was once offered an old pick-up<br />
truck as payment for electrical services. Eugene<br />
6 8 ✦ H I S T O R I C W A L K E R C O U N T Y
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