Gentry & Associates Purchases OWD

In October of 2005, Dale Gentry concluded his purchase of Oliver-Williams-Davis, Inc. This company comes with a proud historical past dating back to 1954 when Bob Oliver started a small business representing Briggs, Church Seat Company, Prior Brass, Sawhill Tubular, and later Elkay Manufacturing. Business was good during these booming post war years as Atlanta started to emerge as the capital of the ‘New South.’

In 1979, as Bob Oliver was approaching his 60th birthday, he approached a couple of young ‘start ups’ that had formed the Williams and Davis agency the year before. With a lot of energy and not much income, Bob Williams and Tom Davis had not much to loose in joining forces with Bob Oliver. So in 1980, Oliver-Williams-Davis, Inc. was formed to represent Sawhill, Church, Elkay, Dearborn Brass, Oatey, Swan, Alsons and a little saw blade company that no one had ever heard of called Lenox (American Saw Manufacturing.)

Only three years into the new organization, however, Bob Oliver developed a severe heart condition which necessitated his retirement and subsequent buy out of his interest in the company. Bob passed away in 2002.

Over the years, lines grew beyond all wildest expectations. This was made possible with hard work, tenacity, perseverance, and an excellent relationship with customers and manufacturers.

Now, with the retirement of Bob Williams in 2005 and Tom Davis moving over to the employee role, OWD, Inc. will continue on as Gentry & Associates, Inc. With a new expanded facility in Kennesaw, Georgia, the company will be able to increase service level to the wholesale trade that it’s been serving with pride since 1954. Striving to be the best it can be, Gentry & Associates will also continue offering excellent service to the great Georgia market. For more information on Gentry & Associates, call (770) 218-9358 or visit the Gentry website at www.gentryonline.com.