{"title":"Cunningham Gas","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA willingness to change has kept Cunningham Gas Products alive and thriving for 70 years and through four generations. It has been the driving philosophy behind the company’s evolution from a one-man plumbing outfit to a multifaceted hearth, barbecue and outdoor-living operation with two retail locations. This story of adaptation traces back to 1949, when newly licensed plumber Ralph Cunningham, established the Cunningham Plumbing Company. Guided by three principles -- work hard, be honest and treat others how you expect to be treated – he served the Houston area during the tough economic recovery after the Great Depression.Ralph’s business grew and successfully provided for his and wife Annie’s seven children, until tragically, at the age of 40, he came home from work one night, ate dinner, went to bed, and never woke up. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWith six siblings and his mother to feed, Ralph’s son Roy dropped out of high school and took over the business, helped by brothers Joe, Lynn and Fred while he was in the Navy. After his service, Roy took on a second job at the Houston Fire Department, while he and his wife Regenia kept the plumbing business going on the side out of their garage. In 1968, the couple saw an opportunity to expand their business by partnering with the local gas company as a water-heater installing contractor, earning $35.00 for each installation. Likewise, when the utility began promoting gas lights and grills to home builders, Cunningham Plumbing broadened its business focus, earning $7.00 per 35-ft. gas-line and light-post installation, and $12.00 per gas-grill post-mount installation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe business soon outgrew the Cunningham’s garage, and in the early 70s, they bought land at 18700 Carrot Street in Spring, Texas and built their first warehouse-office-showroom with a 15-by-20-ft. retail sales floor. Another momentous business shift occurred when the Dallas-based manufacturer of Falcon Grills called looking for a retailer in the Houston area. With two kids and a $35-a-month mortgage payment, Regenia balked at purchasing the 40 gas grills required to become a dealer. But Roy convinced her it was a smart risk, and their gas products business, Cunningham Gas Products, was born. The fledgling retailer soon added other gas grill brands and gas lights from pioneering brands Arkla and Charmglow, and then replacement parts, grills and lights from Modern Home Products (MHP); it’s relationship with MHP continues to this day. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe company began retailing Robert H. Peterson Company’s Real Fyre Gas Logs in 1980, after the forward-thinking Roy again prevailed when Regenia protested purchasing the minimum-required gas 100 log sets. Today, the company also retails products from many manufacturers including Cajun Grill, Louisiana Grills, FireMagic Outdoor Kitchen Equipment, Renaissance Cooking Systems (RCS) and American Outdoor Grill In 1976, at the age of 18, Roy and Regenia’s son Jeff became the third-generation Cunningham to join the family business. Jeff spent 15-plus years learning the ropes as an installer, warehouse worker, and salesman all the while attending college at night to earn a business degree. Today, he is the company president.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/5228\/7805\/collections\/Cunningham_Gas.jpg?v=1696478507","url":"https:\/\/membersdirect.com\/collections\/cunningham-gas.oembed","provider":"MembersDirect®","version":"1.0","type":"link"}