Sundown Machine Works, 118 Nicar St, Houston, TX 77037, US

HISTORY OF JET MACHINE WORKS, INCJack and Sue Reneau founded Jet Machine Works, Inc, in 1977. The family's home was located near what has become Bush Intercontinental Airport and the company's name was inspired by the many jets that flew overhead where the roots of the company where planted.Jack began his machine shop career at Payne Manufacturing, where he was a natural at machine work and progressed to foreman at the shop.When Conrad Merrill left Payne, he asked Jack to come work for him at his new shop. When Conrad decided to go into full-time Christian ministry, Jack had the opportunity to purchase the shop with the terms being no money down and pay me when you can. Jack was able to quickly repay Conrad and within a few years, the small garage machine shop became Reneau Machine Works. In the early 1960s, Reneau Machine Works moved out of the garage and into a shop on Gatecrest Street.In the late 1960s, business continued to grow and once again moved to an even larger shop on Hardy Street. In 1973, Jack and Sue sold Reneau Machine Works to Louis Mogas, which has evolved into Mogas Industries.In 1974, Jack began designing underwater pipeline repair tools. Sam Hood, Jack's brother-in-law, convinced Jack that if he could design and manufacture good products, they would sell. Jack designed what is known as the "Grip Seal Mechanical Coupling" and Gripper, Inc, was formed to market the tools that Jack designed. Jack was awarded at least 26 U.S. patents for products he designed. In 1977, Jet Machine opened for business to manufacture the products sold by Gripper.Jet Machine grew to 85 employees by 1982, but the economic woes of the oil industry reduced the shop to 12 employees in 1984, which included current foreman, Vernon Chamblee. Employee longevity has been Jet's strength, with an average years of service with the company of 14 years.In 1983, Doug Couey, Jet's sales manager, was promoted from the shop floor to sales. With the downturn in business, it took a very aggressive mindset and commitment, to sustain even a mere existence. Jet Machine developed the attitude of quoting everything possible and figuring out how it would run the job even if it did not get it. This "can do" mentality has been a key to Jet's success.In 1983, 10 feet of property around two sides of Jet Machine was purchased for the Hardy Toll Road project, which helped the company get by in tough times.In 1986, Jack sold Gripper to Hydrotech Systems, and Jet Machine to his four children: Mark, Kyle, Tina and Danielle. This second generation still runs the company today.