McCombs Steel - History
History


McCombs Steel Company began business operations in 1929 as McCombs Trailer and Machine. M.W. McCombs Sr. had been a contractor in public works construction. He had construction equipment which he hauled from job to job in the southeastern United States. He leased this equipment to the government during WWII and began making heavy equipment hauling trailers which led to his FIFTH WHEEL PATENT. This device allows a tractor powered PTO winch cable powered from the truck engine to pass through the fifth wheel and pull equipment on to the trailer.

His second patent was a refuse compactor and hauler. The refuse is compacted as collected and pushed from the trailer in a compacted bale-type shape into the land fill. Virtually the same principle is used today.

M.W. "Bill" McCombs Jr. served in General Patton's Third Army as a 2nd Lieutenant commanding a howitzer gun crew in WWII. After WWII, he graduated from the Citadel with a civil engineering degree, and joined M.W. McCombs Sr. in 1954 to form McCombs Company. He then began the structural and miscellaneous fabrication, service center and erection business that continues today. McCombs Steel Co., Inc. owes its success to Bill and Betty McCombs whose reputation for hard work, quality, honesty and integrity is enjoyed by McCombs Steel Co., Inc. today.

In 1970, M.W. McCombs III was employed by McCombs Co. and, in 1984, purchased the company from M.W. McCombs Jr. At this time, McCombs Steel Co., Inc. was established. McCombs Steel Co., Inc. to this day is engaged in structural and miscellaneous fabrication, service center sales, steel erection, and crane service.
In 1988, John L. Payne joined McCombs Steel. John received a BS degree in 1980 and a masters in 2000 from Western Carolina University. He now serves as Vice-President of Operations.
Richard L. Horton joined McCombs Steel in 1992. He graduated from Bob Jones University in 1992 with a degree in accounting. In 1997 he earned a designation as a Certified Management Accountant. Rick now serves as Vice-President of Finance.