About Us

William Everett Lankford was sole owner and founder of Lankford Painting Company in 1928.  The company was a small owner operation involved in commercial painting until approximately 1938.

During 1938, some additional growth occurred due to industrial plants and facilities that moved into the area. The company’s first industrial plant painting started at that time.

There was additional growth in 1946 with son, J. Leon Lankford, coming into the business. The company was incorporated in 1951 as a family held corporation. The corporation concentrated more on large commercial and industrial jobs, which required additional support offices, warehouse and equipment. Slow, additional growth occurred from 1958 through 1967, with more direction to the industrial painting of refineries, chemical plants and power generating facilities.

W.E. Lankford, founder and CEO, passed away in 1964, leaving the operations and management to J. Leon Lankford. Growth continued through 1977, with larger percent of sales (80%) in industrial painting. In 1973, commercial painting was phased out completely.

Beginning in 1978, our sales volume was all industrial painting. In 1985, we handled and coated a volume exceeding 60,000 tons of fabricated structural steel. During 1986 and 1987, our volume in structural steel increased by 25%, along with a 50% increase in power generating facilities, chemical and refining plants. In 1991, our market expanded to include offshore marine facilities.

In 1995, J. Leon Lankford stepped down, transferring operations and Management to his son Jim Lankford. From 1995 through 2005, we upgraded all operations, blasting and spray equipment that included high volume air dryers and new airless and plural component spray pumps.

In 1999, we built a new 10,000 sq. ft. office/ warehouse at 618 Flato Rd. In Corpus Christi,TX. By the turn of the century, our market expanded to include DOT, wastewater and wind energy. We are experts in all types of surface preparation and coatings application such as 40,000 psi water jetting and plural component spray applications.

Today, we operate as one of the few third generation, privately-owned industrial painting contractors in the nation and our experience and knowledge in coating application is unmatched.